Shop Notes

I have a troubleshooting checklist I use when a step in my build process isn’t working the way I want it to. I call it “Mike’s Rule”. Here’s how it works. When something frustrates me, or I can’t do it reliably, I ask myself a few questions. Do I need more practice? Would a different tool help? Could I build a jig to make this more repeatable? But there’s one more question on that list, and it’s the one that changed the way I think about building. Can I eliminate this step altogether? Early in my career, I struggled with rear string ferrules. They were always slightly crooked, no matter how careful I was. Over time, I developed a fixture and a repeatable process. Eventually, I could install them consistently. Technically, I’d solved the problem. But here’s the thing… I still didn’t enjoy doing it. Even after I got good at it, the step felt like a chore. It wasn’t about skill anymore. I could do it well. I just didn’t want to. So instead of continuing to optimize something I disliked, I redesigned the process. I created a through-body string block that fits into the back of the body and eliminates individual ferrules entirely. At first, I made them from brass, but I’m not a machinist, so I switched to wenge and flamed maple. It was easier to work with, and it gave the guitars a classier, more upscale look. That one change removed the step I dreaded and turned it into something I was proud of. It became a distinctive feature that felt more aligned with my taste and identity as a builder. As builders, we’re allowed to design our own constraints instead of blindly inheriting tradition. Sometimes the step isn’t hard. It just isn’t you. Removing a step isn’t laziness. It’s finding your voice. This kind of thinking is something we lean into in the GMA community. We don’t always follow hard and fast rules. We question them, test them, and shape them into something that works for us. That’s what thinking like a luthier really means. I hope sharing “Mike’s Rule” with you gives you a new way to look at your own builds. And if something in your process feels like it’s fighting you, maybe the answer isn’t to get better at it. Maybe it’s time to let it go. Happy building,