05/14/2026
People often ask me, they say, "hey Geoff, what are you like when you are fully caffeinated and riding on a good night's sleep?" and I'm like, "kind like I am when drilling contour holes for the back of a mandolin. Full speed, full go. No stops, no regrets." (see first comment!)
Experiencing the entire shaping of a board by hand is a right of passage and I've gotten to do it a lot, more than just the instruments that bear my logo. In a world of CNC and AI and machine delegation there is something special and meaningful to learning to speak in shapes with your tools from beginning to end. To sharpen each blade, savor each cut....
Anyhow, this is a snippet from the upcoming course I am filming for how to build an F-style mandolin via the Lutherie Academy, slated to be available later this year. Feel free to (ie, please do!) share this around for anyone who may be interested because I know there's a lot of people who are. It's only been 10 years since the A-style course, which is still available here:
https://lutherieacademy.com/courses/
Heck, get both courses if you want!
Learn how traditional ladder-braced guitars were made—and how to build your own. Guided by master luthier Brad Goodman, you’ll follow the complete process of creating a 12-string Stella-style guitar, gaining deep insight into the construction, tone, and heritage of these timeless instruments.
