MET 34900
Stringed Instrument Design and Manufacture
Class Spotlights
What is MET 349?
As part of MET 34900, you will design your own electric guitar and learn about product design, manufacturing, and supply chain management. The class is divided into teams of four or five people. Each group designs its own guitar and makes one for each team member.
If you do not know how to play the guitar, that's okay. The legendary guitarist Leo Fender, who founded Fender Music and designed iconic guitars such as the Telecaster and Stratocaster, never learned to play one, but it worked out well for him. It's helpful if you know how to play at least some - I or one of the other students can teach you the basics, and there are plenty of guitars in the lab to practice with.
The class is intended for those who want to make something, so it's okay whether you've used woodworking tools before or not. Bring any skills you have, and I'll help you with the rest.
In Engineering Technology, we make stuff.
Be a part of it!
YOU Make It
You will design and build a solid-body electric guitar. We follow the Fender style, with a flat but contoured body and a bolt-on neck to keep it simple. It can have one or two pickups, volume and tone controls, and a selector switch.
Build your first instrument and learn the basics. Once you’ve finished one and it plays, you can come into the lab and make anything you want. I’ll help as much as I can.
I’m trying to have open lab at least 8 hours per week, so people can drop by to work on their instruments after taking the class.
Who can take the class?
Anyone!
You DO NOT need to know how to play the guitar
You DO NOT need to have any prior experience
FAQs
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Just like any other class at Purdue, you must register. If you have questions about doing so, check with your advisor and point them towards the class page for MET 34900 (linked here).
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The class is typically offered during the fall semester. Class size depends on whether a TA with the right skills is available to help
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Yes - The class fee of $400 covers your parts, materials and consumable supplies. It also keeps the lab open so you can work outside of regular class hours.
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Not yet! In the past, we have been able to offer short, weeklong versions of this class during the summer for alumni and others to participate, but there is no current plans for such a class during Summer 2023.
If you are interested in participating in the future, stay in touch via our Class Newsletter for information throughout the year!
