It has been a while since my last update on the happenings at Wildwood Instruments. As you may or may not know instrument construction has been on hold for two years now. We closed the shop/workshop in Brunswick and relocated to Mount Franklin (near Daylesford, Victoria) at the start of 2013. It took about a year to renovate the house we bought. Well, actually there is always more work to be done around the place, so it is never quite finished! ... but thats another story! Then it was on to setting up the business again. However, with no funds left, this made the process a little slower than planned. Without a proper workshop I could not make any instruments, so I have been doing handyman work around town to earn a crust. After much planning, budgeting and compromising, my grand plans for a workshop were condensed down to fit within the existing shed on the property (almost). So this humble two car garage is now being converted into a humidity and temperature controlled workshop. There was a nasty, cracked up concrete floor in half the shed, so that has now been removed and a new slab has gone in. Of course the shed has all my machinery and tools in there, as there is no other space to store them, so this makes things more difficult. The slab was done in two halves, so I could move everything around in there. The tilt door came off and some recycled doors and windows have been put in. I am currently working on an extension to the shed, for a much needed store room and a verandah/outdoor area. There is still power to go in, then insulating, plastering, painting etc. The exterior will be lined with recycled timber, then it should be good to go!
Once this is complete, the new business concept will be launched. This will be a focus on instrument making classes. We will be offering 2 day intensive courses every weekend, where you can come and assemble your very own custom made electric guitar. Everything you need will be provided including guitar parts, electrics, hand tools, machinery, consumables and of course expert advice. You will have a choice of all the classic models, you can design and fashion your own headstock shape, choose the colour and so forth, with many options to customise your axe! By the end of the course you will have built your own custom guitar ready for you to take to the stage (or bedroom!) If/when the new concept takes off it is anticipated more instruments will be added, including acoustic guitars, mandolins, ukuleles etc.
Anyway, I need to get back to building the workshop, so stay tuned for the new and exciting adventures of Wildwood Instruments and get ready to come and build your own instrument soon!
