3-Day Lutherie Courses in Paris

Dates

2-3-4 of February 2026

Who it’s for

Musicians, beginners in lutherie, and anyone who wants a clear, practical understanding of how to make an instrument play its best.

What you need to bring

One guitar or bass (electric or acoustic).

All the tools will be shared and available at the shop.

You will be able to order the tool kit from Belforti if you want to leave with the same tools as the ones you will practice with

Duration & Group Size

3 days — 4 to 5 participants.

Disclaimer
This workshop focuses on learning a professional setup workflow and improving your own instrument. It is not a repair or restoration service. Structural issues (twisted necks, loose truss rods, cracks, major fretwork, electronic failures beyond basic components, etc.) cannot be addressed during the course. Results depend on the condition of the instrument you bring; heavily damaged or poorly built instruments may not respond to a complete setup. The goal is to teach you a reliable, repeatable method—not to guarantee a factory-level transformation of any instrument.

Dates

9-10-11 of February 2026

Who it’s for

This course is designed for:

• Musicians who want to understand how instruments are conceived and engineered
  
• Aspiring luthiers seeking a solid foundation in modern design and CAD
  
• Industrial designers & creatives interested in translating ideas into functional instruments
  
• Builders who want to move from sketches to clean, production-ready files
  
• Enthusiasts who enjoy experimenting with shapes, ergonomics, and visual identity
  

No prior drawing or CAD experience is required—just curiosity, focus, and comfort using a computer.

What you need to bring

To get the most out of the workshop, you must bring:

• A laptop capable of running Fusion 360 smoothly
  
• A mouse (mandatory — CAD work is too slow on trackpads)
  
• A Fusion 360 Free License installed and activated before the course
  
• A basic level of computer ease (navigating apps, using shortcuts, file management)
  

All other materials (references, templates, examples) are provided during the workshop.

Duration & Group Size

3 days (≈21 hours)

3 to 4 participants for close supervision

Intensive, hands-on format

What you'll leave with

By the end of the workshop, each participant will have:

A complete 2D instrument blueprint

Accurate and coherent body shapes, neck profiles, headstock design, scale length, hardware layout, and production-ready templates.

A fully modelled 3D instrument in Fusion 360

A structured, solid model that reflects the design choices made throughout the workshop. Suitable for visualisation, prototyping, CNC preparation, or manual building.

Manufacturing awareness (depending on speed)

Guidance on routing templates, offsets, tolerances, and practical considerations for transforming digital designs into physical parts.

A reusable workflow

A clear understanding of how to move from idea → sketch → blueprint → 3D model → production, using professional methods rather than guesswork.

Personal feedback and design critique

Refined proportions, corrected shapes, and practical improvements based on your goals—whether aesthetic, ergonomic, or technical.

Full ownership of your digital files

All your Fusion 360 files, exported drawings, and templates to continue developing your design or prepare it for future manufacturing.

Disclaimer

This workshop provides hands-on training using a dedicated practice neck to ensure safety and clean technique. While you may bring your own instrument, completing a full refret within three days is not assured and depends on your personal pace, skill level, and the condition of the instrument. The workshop does not include lacquer refinishing, bound-fingerboard repair, major corrective procedures, or complex restoration. The goal is to learn reliable, modern refretting methods—not to provide a full refret service.

Dates :

16-17-18 of February 2026

Who it’s for

This workshop is ideal for:

• Players who want to understand their instrument’s fretwork
  
• Enthusiasts and builders beginning in lutherie
  
• Aspiring professionals wanting structured, modern methods
  
• Anyone who wants to learn fretwork safely without risking a valuable instrument
  

No prior lutherie experience is required.

What you need to bring

One guitar or bass (electric or acoustic).

All the tools will be shared and available at the shop.

You will be able to order the tool kit from Belforti if you want to leave with the same tools as the ones you will practice with

Duration & Group Size

3 days — 4 to 5 participants.

What You’ll Leave With

• A fully refretted practice neck completed by your own hands
  
• Mastery of safe fret removal with minimal chip risk
  
• A practical method for installing frets evenly and securely
  
• A professional leveling, crowning, and polishing workflow
  
• Understanding of common failures (lifted frets, over-leveling, end gaps) and how to avoid them
  
• A repeatable process you can continue practising at home
  
• Insight into tool selection and maintenance for consistent results

Disclaimer
This workshop guides you through the complete creation of an instrument blueprint, including proportions, ergonomics, hardware layout, and a clean 2D design ready for future prototyping. You will leave with a full set of blueprints—unless your concept is intentionally experimental or structurally unrealistic.
However, this course does not guarantee that every design will result in a fully functional instrument without further engineering. Highly unconventional shapes, extreme ergonomics, or non-standard specifications may require additional technical development outside the workshop. The goal is to give you a solid, coherent design foundation—not to validate complex prototypes or advanced mechanical solutions.