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Dave's an excellent teacher - he used to teach metalwork. He's full of stories about all sorts so be prepared to enjoy him banging on about anything he fancies - Joe Waugh, his racing days, dogs, knives (he makes them too), shooting, military planes etc.
If you take course, best advice is to really plan something you like and work him hard - think of some nice details (bi-lam headtube, fancy lugs, anything a bit special) and make him show you how to do it. The chap I was on the course with had done all of this and as a result got more of Dave's time. I wanted a clean looking light tourer and once Dave was satisfied I could fillet braze without causing to much chaos he rather left me to it. I enjoyed the week a lot, and really love the frame I got, but I remember thinking I maybe hadn't made the most of Dave's knowledge.
Also, maybe get someone else to paint it. Dave did mine and it's fine, but there's a drip or two on the lacquer.
Tonts-
Exactly this. I did Dave's course ten years ago and I really worked hard on the design details.
I had him order a whole load of custom parts, stainless bottle mounts, quick changer chain catcher, stainless cable adjusted, stainless fork crown and dropouts etc.
I spent a lot of time planning and in discussion with Dave. I've done jewelry making in the past and this allowed me to convince Dave to let me use silver soldered stainless parts and dropouts. It added to the cost, but I asked him afterwards about how much he would have charged to build the same frame and he reckoned I'd saved money, which he acknowledged was pretty rare on his courses.
I'd agree about the paint though. Wish I'd gone somewhere else. He's OK, but not great.
Alex_B
Any opinion on the Dave Yates courses? I know he only does a couple a year.