Nazareth Guitar Institute & American Archtop Guitars

"There are experiences in life that resonate deeply, and our time at the Nazareth Guitar Institute is undoubtedly one of them. From the moment we stepped in, it was evident that this wasn't just a workshop—it was a journey into the heart of guitar craftsmanship. Dale and Tyler are not merely instructors; they are master luthiers with an undying passion for their craft. Their friendliness was genuine, and their knowledge was vast yet delivered in a manner that even novices like us could grasp. The atmosphere they've cultivated is inviting, fostering a sense of camaraderie among all participants. While digital platforms like YouTube offer a glimpse into the world of guitar building, being at Nazareth was immersive. The hands-on experience, the nuances of the wood, the intricate steps, and the joy of strumming a chord on a guitar you've handcrafted—it's indescribable. From the onset, I must confess my initial skepticism upon arriving at Nazareth. Seeing the pre-cut body and neck, I found myself wondering how we'd possibly fill three entire days. Oh, how pleasantly wrong I was! Dale and Tyler delved deeply into every facet of guitar craftsmanship, from headstock design to the precision required in leveling frets and setting the nut. Wiring the electronics and the holistic setup of the guitar turned out to be a thrilling educational journey, making every minute of our three-day stay feel jam-packed with insights and hands-on experience. Beyond the workshop, the icing on the cake was our tour of the Martin Guitar factory just down the road—an awe-inspiring venture into the realm of guitar legacy. To see the pride and excitement in my son's eyes throughout the process was priceless. He has thanked me multiple times, a testament to how much he valued and enjoyed our time there. Together, we walked away not just with beautiful guitars, but with memories that we'll cherish for a lifetime. To Dale and Tyler, thank you. You've crafted not just an educational workshop but a soulful experience. I walked away with not just a guitar, but with moments that will echo in the hallways of my memory forever. The gratitude from both my son and I is boundless. We're already looking forward to our next visit. To anyone contemplating this workshop: prepare to be inspired, enlightened, and deeply moved. We can't wait to return and rekindle the magic that is the Nazareth Guitar Institute."

"I attended NGI’s 9-2023 group archtop building workshop with four other attendees. My only negative criticism is that I - and at least one other attendee - was under the impression that we students would do more of the carving of the top, back and sides, and of the mortise/tenon neck joint. When we arrived we were presented with a pre carved top and back, the neck and tenon were “rough” carved, but not shaped, and the sides or rims were bent. The top and back were CNC routed, as was the neck and tenon. That said, seven days is not sufficient time to hand carve those pieces from billet stock, but a demonstration (perhaps a video demo) of carving those pieces would have been helpful and appreciated. What we students did carve / shape was the neck, and we observed the mortise being cut by use of a jig/fixture specific to that purpose. We began by attaching the neck and heel blocks, affixing the kerfing (ribbon binding) and rim braces to the sides and scraped and sanded those pieces to the proper fit. In sum, we students performed almost every operation in building a fine archtop guitar and at the conclusion of the workshop we each had a fine, complete (with the exception of a finish) high quality archtop guitar. A great amount was accomplished in a relatively short period of time. Tyler Unger and his Dad, Dale Unger are excellent luthiers and instructors. They are very experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and approachable and relate very well to their students. I didn’t hear any student pose a question that was not thoroughly answered and explained - there were no “I don’t know” responses from Dale and Tyler. They would cut/route/sand pieces for us, demonstrating what to do and how to do it, or we could perform the operations ourselves. Not only did we leave with a completed instrument, we left with a thorough knowledge of what to do and how to do it in the construction of an archtop guitar. I had some training and experience in guitar construction, and I left this workshop better equipped to build guitars, with more knowledge, techniques and a more thorough understanding of guitar building in general and of archtops specifically. While I would like to have been more involved in crafting the top, back, sides and neck and joints, I recognize that seven days doesn’t provide enough time to do so. More demonstration of those operations would have been beneficial. This is, in my opinion, an excellent workshop conducted by master luthiers who are excellent instructors. If one wishes to learn the art of constructing a fine archtop guitar, I highly recommend this workshop."

"Had an awesome time attending the electric guitar building class. I learned a lot in 3 days. Dale and Tyler were excellent instructors. The guitar ended up way better than expected. I'm a full time guitar instructor and I use it daily."

"I took the 3-day workshop on Electric Guitar Building. It was truly one of the most fun and rewarding experiences I've ever had. The atmosphere, schedule, material covered, knowledge and skill of the instructors ... everything was top notch! I am looking forward to taking more courses. This was an incredibly good use of the time and very reasonable fee for everything I got out of it! Great job Dale and Tyler!"

"I took the arch top building class with Dale and his son, Tyler in March 2016. Dale and Tyler are free and open with information and support. The atmosphere in class was congenial. Work flow was well planned and the pace felt natural. Plenty of space and tools for everyone. I have over 30 years experience as a professional woodworker. One other gentleman in the class had no experience at all. Dale and Tyler were able to differentiate instruction so that all of us received the information, guidance and oversight we needed to successfully complete our guitars. I think the class represents a great value and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to friends interested in making a guitar, no matter what their level of prior woodworking experience has been."