About This Course
Welcome to the Robert O’Brien Online Flamenco Guitar Building Course. In this course Robert invites Spanish Luthier, Paco Chorobo of Chorobo Guitars, to show how to build and finish a flamenco guitar in the traditional Spanish method. Robert visits Paco in his shop in Úbeda, Spain where Paco guides you through every step of building and finishing a concert flamenco guitar. In addition he takes you on a tour of Southern Spain where he visits and interviews luthiers, players, singers, dancers, a percussionist and even an historian about everything flamenco. This course can be considered a documentary on the flamenco guitar and culture.
Paco, focuses on the use of hand tools and the traditional solera for the construction method throughout the video and not only explains, but shows in great detail every step in the construction process. In the finishing chapter he shows how to apply a traditional French polish finish using olive oil produced in his city.
This course has over 140 video lessons and approximately 26 hours of very detailed step by step instructions. Chapters can be purchased separately or receive a discount when purchasing the entire course. When purchasing the complete course you get a copy of Paco’s flamenco guitar plans. You also become eligible to join Robert’s invitation only google chat group. Here he offers advice and support as you build. There is a wealth of information available to you for free.
Please check the FAQ page. To begin just register/login and purchase the video lessons.
Click here to see pictures and behind the scenes shots of Robert's trip to Spain!
Happy Building!!
Learn about:
- Laying out and making the neck with a Spanish heel
- Selecting materials – soundboards, backs and sides
- Optimum soundboard and back stiffness
- Thicknessing and bending sides
- Assembly using the traditional solera
- Making bindings and purflings
- Slotting, thicknessing and tapering the fretboard
- Neck angle and shaping
- Finishing with hide glue and French polished shellac
- 18 hole flamenco bridge design
- Optimum setup for flamenco action
- How to make a solera
- The history of the flamenco guitar and its role in flamenco music
Thanks to Paco (and Robbie), I had a really great time following along with the video course and I would highly recommend the course to anyone. For some sections, I watched it a dozen times or so, I could almost recite you guys word for word. Trent - Australia
Feedback
×I am currently building two flamencos using Paco Chorobo’s excellent course. Doug
I have been building guitars for 15 years but I am still learning a LOT from Paco Chorobo's flamenco guitar course. It is superb! Doug
I recently purchased the Paco Chorobo course and so far so good, it's very detailed and helped me understand some basic concepts that I had trouble with before. David
I loved this course. The flamenco guitar I built using this course is super fun to play. Paul
I can highly recommend this course. It is a wonderful trip to Spain and the world of flamenco. Plus, you learn to build a flamenco guitar with Paco! Muy bueno. Steve
This is a terrific course. It’s extremely detailed and includes flamenco cultural information and interviews with Spanish guitar constructors and flamenco musicians. I liked the course and the instructors so much I went to build a guitar with them. I recommend this course without reservations. Larry
I have bought several online courses from you now. I am delighted with all purchases - Acoustic - classical and Flamenco, I am very satisfied. You have added me to the chat group and I really enjoy it After I bought the flamenco guitar course, I sent a greeting to Paco, telling him that I appreciated the way he And you teach these courses Edgar
Paco is an outstanding teacher. He brings so much understanding to the process while at the same time sharing it all so generously. Bernie
I’m building my first guitar, a flamenco, from a kit I purchased many years ago from LMI. I’m nearing the finishing stage now. After murdering two, very nice rosewood bridge blanks, I purchased the chapter on bridge building from your Flamenco guitar course. Extremely helpful! Steve
What a fun video course this is! The build information is superb; the cultural 'extras' are fabulous. Thank you Paco and Robbie. Steve
Paco Chorobo I followed your video class on Robbie O'Brien website. That is an excellent set of lessons, with great concert footage as well. Paul
Two years ago, I purchased Paco's flamenco course. I'm not usually a video course type of guy, but I jumped onto this course and wound up building a really good instrument too. Paul
I bought your course on Flamenco Guitar building and I found it to be a real masterpiece. It was very informative to see how the Flamenco builders approach construction, and a lot can be applied to classical construction. Don
I followed this course with great success building my first flamenco guitar. I had the honor of having Paco play it. I really recommend the course as it not only teaches the skills and plans to make the guitar, but throughout the course teaches the essence of Flamenco and Flamenco guitar. John
Such a good course! Trent
Good morning from Dijon France, I bought the online course « flamenco guitar building » (and I think it's great) Alexandre
Paco and Robbie’s video is excellent. I took Paco’s flamenco course at Robbie’s shop 2 years ago but I have learned even more reviewing the meticulous video. It is also very entertaining. Richard
Thanks to Paco (and Robbie), I had a really great time following along with the video course and I would highly recommend the course to anyone. For some sections, I watched it a dozen times or so, I could almost recite you guys word for word. Trent - Australia
I have been following the Flamenco online guitar course and just closed up my first Flamenco Blanca. The course is nicely detailed and while viewing, besides learning how to build this guitar I picked up some woodworking techniques I did not have. Sometimes watching how they're using tools is just as valuable as what is being taught in the section. John
If you have any interest in the art of building a flamenco guitar or just the traditional Spanish guitar Paco’s course is a must. Many thanks to Robbie and Paco for providing us this unique opportunity. Richard in Colorado
I am almost done with the flamenco video lessons you prepared with Paco Chorobo and am very happy I decided to buy the lessons - they have been so helpful (and entertaining)! Stefan in Vancouver, Canada