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Yes, I paid by the semester for a few years. The 'beginner/intermediate/advanced' classification didn't really mean much - we just had Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday groups.
However, it was a cheaper course at the time. If I were doing it now I'd use their thickness sander to thickness the top, back and sides rather than spend weeks planing them!
I'd also be tempted to get a fretboard pre radiused - that'll save at least a week and it's an extremely unrewarding task. Let me know if you find anywhere in the UK that sells them, otherwise check out stewmac.
You can make electrics in a surprisingly small space once you know how - I build in a 4x4 shed in my garden. It's too small, but having built my acoustic without power tools you get used to those methods compared to every YouTube builder who uses planers, table saws and the rest.
christianSpaceman-
I’m in a flat. If it was just me here I’d just whack a workbench in the living room, but Mrs Sparky already puts up with all my bikes.
It’s an expensive course now so I want to finish in less than three years. Nine semesters would cost lots more than a new Martin now...
Between this and finding Paul Sellers on YouTube I’m itching to do some projects at home.
Sparky
We're able to sharpen a plane, mark it with our names and leave it in a cupboard for our sole use. In theory. I don't know what happens to them when I'm not there.
But I have bought a couple of old #4 planes. One is in serious need of a wire wheel, which I don't have here, and the other has been cleaned up with a glass sheet and lots of sandpaper. I can't seem to get the iron to sit nicely though. But maybe I just need to plane a load of soft pine and just mess around with it, get it fettled.
I'm itching to have a workbench somewhere now. No space at home though, really.
Did you just keep paying to repeat the course until you were finished?