Guitar techs and enthusiasts alike can learn how to build a custom-made electric guitar in just three days, thanks to Guitar Tech Courses, owned and run by luthier James Collins in his studio based in Winchelsea, East Sussex. Recent graduates and happy customers include Coldplay’s guitar technicians, Matt McGinn and Craig Hope. Matt says, “We went on the Strat-building course to brush up on our skills. Hoppy (Craig Hope) has lot of mending to do for Chris (Martin), whereas I needed to know more about effects and tunings, as Jonny (Buckland) never breaks anything! James was enthusiastic, helpful, and a great tutor. The course was fantastic value: we even got to keep the axe at the end.” More about the course At the end of the course, each student comes home with their signed custom-made electric guitar, guitar case and certificate. Unlike other guitar building classes, Guitar Tech Courses provide each student with ready-made high-quality guitar parts and components, so no word-working or design skills are needed. Students can choose to build either a Stratocaster- or Telecaster-style guitar, and can vary the colour, style and type of many of the guitar’s components, creating a unique instrument which is superior in sound and tone to most mass-made guitars. The structured three-day curriculum includes both theoretical and practical aspects of electric guitar making. Students also learn the details of guitar set up and maintenance, so that they can look after and make the most of their cherished instrument. The courses cost from £799. The fee includes professional tools, course materials, guitar parts and components, all of which are of the highest quality. Classes are kept deliberately small: a maximum of three students per group, so that James