Wannabe Luthier's Diary
Beginner notes, mistakes, and small wins — one guitar at a time.
Norbertocaster, part 1: intro, wood and tools
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Why I started, picking the wood, and the first essential tools.
Norbertocaster, part 2: shaping the body
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Template, cutting, rasping, and the first sanding passes.
Norbertocaster, part 3: sanding and the first power tool
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
From hand sanding to an orbital sander (best decision).
Norbertocaster, part 4: control cavities and chisels
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Drilling, chiseling, and cleaning the cavities (and a warning).
Norbertocaster, part 5: shaping the neck
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Templates, removing excess, and the first passes on the fretboard.
Norbertocaster, part 6: fretboard shaping and truss rod channel
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Small plane joy, waiting for parts, and chiseling the truss rod channel.
Norbertocaster, part 7: gluing the neck and fretboard
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Glue choice, masking, bands instead of clamps, and results.
Norbertocaster, part 8: shaping the neck again
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Final neck shaping passes and getting excited.
Norbertocaster, part 9: frets and the nut
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Cutting the nut slot, installing and trimming frets, and lessons.
Norbertocaster, part 10: arm cut and belly cut
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Comfort cuts drawn by hand and shaped with rasp and sander.
Norbertocaster, part 11: assembly and drilling
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Pickguard, bridge, marking, drilling holes, and lessons learned.
Norbertocaster, part 12: fretwork and side markers
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Taping, hammering, trimming, and drilling side markers with a jig.
Norbertocaster, part 13: finishing the body
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Staining, oiling with Tru-Oil, waxing, and shielding cavities.
Norbertocaster, part 14: wiring and the final result
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Soldering, first silence, quick fix — and finally: it sings.
Norbertocaster, part 15: lessons learned and cost
norbertocaster (build 1)
Start: July 15, 2025 • End: September 13, 2025
Soldering, first silence, quick fix — and finally: it sings.