Guitar Making Technology
Certificate of Achievement Trade & Industry · Palomar College · 2026-2027 Catalog
Guitar Making Technology will prepare students to make a living or begin a career as a maker of guitars or as a guitar repair technician. Students will begin by gaining competency in basic woodworking processes including hand tool and power machine usage, finishing, and safety. During the course work students will construct a minimum of three instruments including a ukulele, an electric guitar and a steel string guitar. Business building is thoroughly covered. This is a demanding and highly technical program. Students are expected to be dedicated, determined and committed.
Learning Outcome(s):
- Through the process of constructing several stringed instruments students will develop the expertise needed for employment in the luthier field
- Students will analyze various construction techniques and demonstrate solutions for stringed instrument making by creating and using appropriate jigs, forms, and/or fixtures.
| Course | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| REQUIREMENTS | 22 | |
| CFT 100 | Fundamentals of Woodworking | 4 |
| CFT 132A | Ukulele Making I/Tenor Ukulele | 4 |
| CFT 133A | Guitar Technician I/Set-Up | 2 |
| CFT 134A | Electric Guitar Construction I/Solid Body | 4 |
| CFT 135A | Acoustic Guitar Making I | 4 |
| CFT 149 | Hand Joinery I | 2 |
| CFT 195 | Finishing Technology/Touch-Up and Repair | 2 |
| Electives (Select 2 or more units) | 2 | |
| CFT 128 | Stringed Instruments Lab | 0.5-3 |
| CFT 132B | Ukulele Making II | 3-5 |
| CFT 133B | Guitar Technician II/Major Repair | 2-4 |
| CFT 134B | Electric Guitar Construction II/Custom | 2-4 |
| CFT 135B | Acoustic Guitar Making II | 3-5 |
| Total | 24 | |