03 Jan Welcome to Solera Artisans School
We present to you the full program for the 2025 edition of the guitar-making course at Solera Artisans School.
A different course, a special one, which will allow us not only to learn guitar making from scratch, but to dive into much deeper aspects, such as the search for acoustic excellence, often overlooked, resulting in limiting the learning only to the making of the instrument itself. It will definitely make a difference between a good luthier and a great master craftsman.
However, how can we teach that? Well, one of our main ways to do so is through the study of the acoustic and structural study of our private collection of guitars. A collection composed of 18 carefully selected guitars, made by some of the very best makers in history. These guitars will be analyzed in depth by the students of this training course, along with the master luthier, who will discover for us the keys to the excellence: the bracing, the top width, the tuning, or the wood selection, among other essential factors.
Apart from this structural analysis of the guitars of our collection, we will enjoy some acoustic shows with great guitar performers, which we regard as something essential to educate our hearing, so to speak. This way, we will be able to really know why these instruments are masterpieces of guitar making.
For this instructional endeavor, we are pleased to collaborate with master luthier Juan Antonio Barba (Francisco Barba Guitars) for the first course of 2025, which will run from June 25 to July 6, and with master luthier Francisco Sánchez, who will join us for the second course, taking place from August 25 to September 5. These two influential and prominent artisans of our time will guide and accompany us throughout the twelve-day course, unveiling and exploring the mysteries and secrets that make up the fascinating process of guitar-making. In addition, A TRANSLATOR WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THE WHOLE COURSE, for English-speaking students. For groups which require translation into other languages, another translator could be hired.
Additionally, and as if that were not enough, both courses will include a theoretical and practical lecture on the shellac varnishing process by Juan Antonio Barba—a lengthy and meticulous process, full of secrets, that completes the guitar-making journey.
Two courses have been organized for the year 2024: The first will take place from June 25 to July 6, and the second from August 25 to September 5.
The courses will last 12 days and will cost €4500, which includes:
– Individual kit of top-quality woods (cypress and pine) and tools for building your own guitar during the course. (For other wood combinations, please contact us.)
– Support manual and USB drive with explanatory videos of the various guitar construction processes.
-A folder with the 18 guitars from the Solera Flamenca private collection, including fold-out, full-scale plans of all the guitars and complete-scale blueprints.
– Right to use the leisure facilities in your free time: swimming pool, tennis court, boules, gardens…
– Lunch with the Maestro and the rest of students in a nearby restaurant.
– Acoustic show by professional guitar performers, and detailed study of the guitars of our collection, with the maestro.
– Conference and masterclass of shellac by master craftsman Juan Antonio Barba.
– Transport from the recommended hostal to the course facilities and vice versa for the whole course.
Accommodation is not included in the course, but we recommend staying at Hostal Guilleumes (located 5 minutes from Solera Flamenca VILLAGE) for its proximity and convenience. We can also assist you with the booking and reservation of rooms.
The course, regardless of the pack chosen, will last 84 hours, distributed as follows:
-From 9:00h to 13:00h and 16:00 to 19:00h: Theoretical and practical sessions. Make your own guitar and take it with you, completely finished! (unvarnished)
-From 13:00h to 16:00h: Lunch and free time.
-From 16:00h to 19:00h (5 days): Conferences and masterclasses with in-depth analyses of our private collection of 14 guitars, with acoustic show by professional guitarists.
-A full-day masterclass on French polishing with shellac, led by Master Juan Antonio Barba.
Each day, during the course, shellac varnish will be applied to a piece of wood under the master’s guidance and instructions. This will provide prior knowledge of the process in preparation for Juan Antonio Barba’s lecture, making it easier to understand the masterclass.
The guitar making process of our guitar will take place with no machinery, only handmande. Students will have all the necessary material in duplicate, with the parts finished. Besides, the wood in rough, so they can practice and learn the whole traditional process from the beginning.
The training course will be supported by some videos, played with our projector, to show the making process of a guitar, explaining the different pieces of machinery employed in a craftsman’s workshop. These machines will be useful in the future, for a quicker making of the instrument, preserving its quality and the artisan tradition.
We are more than excited!! We can not wait to start this new course, and help the new generations of luthiers. If you want to start out in the wonderful world of guitar making, or you are an experienced maker who wants to expand their knowledge with one of the best makers at present, this course is for you. Even if you just enjoy with the idea of making your own guitar while having holidays in an unique environment, while meeting new people, enjoying concerts, talking about music… THIS IS YOUR COURSE! Do not let it slip away, and BOOK IT.
IF YOU WISH TO LEARN MORE INFORMATION AND EXPLORE THE DETAILS IN DEPTH, VISIT THE COURSE WEBSIT!
625 074 877 (Jordi) – 699 146 130 (Carlos)
info@flamencoguitarsforsale.net
LIMITED TO TEN PEOPLE PER COURSE