Adam Savage's One Day Builds: Eric Idle's Guitar Case! 

Adam sums up this very special build perfectly: "It’s lovely to meet people you admire and find that they’re every bit as awesome as you’d hoped." Here's the Tweet that started it all: twitter.com/EricIdle/status/1056976940760948736

“I gotta finish this build in about 8 hours” begins to play the guitar

Seriously, when do we get to see Adam do something with James May? I bet could watch a whole series with those two together.

I was about to say "looks like it was professionally done" then remembered... no shit... it WAS professionally done 😂 maybe its Adam's vibe that makes me feel like he is just a very fun average maker with a limitless shop. But his decades of experience in making is unparalleled

51 minutes into making an astronaut suit for a guitar "Well this is where it gets complicated"

Adam: Lays foam very carefully and gently Also Adam: Beats the hell out of the foam to make it stick 😂

I love the cheeky bastard who did the subs at 43:50

18:39 "You should have put a respirator on for this!" "You're totally right." *Breathes in the fumes heavily*

I am an Engineer of 30 years experience and I can assure you that Adam is one of the best scratch build techs I have ever witnessed. I wish there were more like him...I would hire them in a heartbeat. (G'day from Australia Adam)

The style, the backpack straps, the snug foam fit are all wonderful. Kudos. I hate to criticize such a beautiful build. I really do. But..... As a violinist, I'd like to say the zipper needs to go on the same side as the handle. The reason being, if the case is unzipped, you're on the wrong side to notice. And if you pick it up while it is unzipped with the handle on the opposite side the instrument falls on the floor, but if it is on the same side and you pick it up unzipped it falls onto the foam of the side or the fabric covered top of the case. Ideally, it would have been awesome to have a double handle where you grab both halves one on either side (top and bottom) of the zipper on the size that has the zipper. So even if you forgot to zip it, you'd still be holding it closed.

"I gotta finish this in less than 8 hours of building." Proceeds to playing the guitar.

“I don’t mean to set a bad example, I’m just impatient.” -me everyday

this is honestly kinda beautiful, I love Mr.Savage and so hear him chat is so lovely. Legit, this is Bob Ross for tinkerers

1:00:27 "cleans one part of the case with a compressor" "walks over to the other part and cleans it with a second compressor"

Not gonna lie, my butt clinched when I saw Adam tracing the guitar with a sharpie and nothing to prevent it from marking up the guitar. LOL

Clicked on this expecting 5 minutes of puffed up building - 40 minutes later realised I was still watching, totally glued to the screen. This impatient viewer just made it all the way to the end of the video watching something that should have been boring but definitely wasn't. In awe of the workshop, the toys (tools...) and the skills, but most of all the 'wing it' attitude that only ever works when you're really in the zone. Eric is a lucky man, Adam is a talented creator!

To the person who put in the effort to upside down subtitle the Australian joke: you have been noticed. Well done you!

Subtitles for "you know i love your country" was upside down when talking about Australia. Well played Mr. Editor, Well played.

43:52 "You know I love your country!" is written upside down in the subtitles, made me laugh way harder than it should have lol nice touch!

I might have said this the first time I watched this but I'd love to see Adam tackle an actual guitar build. Or even a kit guitar and use some of his weathering techniques on it.

52:37 "This type of engineering. This marriage between hard parts and parts, stiff and flexible; It's really intense. " It's also in tents, Adam.

Adam. Dear Adam. Please buy yourself an industrial sewing machine. Listening to your poor Janome fight that sail cloth was heartbreaking.

Netflix: Are you still watching Me and someone’s daughter: 5:55

So I just watched a video of Adam Savage custom-make a small guitar case for Eric Idle. What a time to be alive.

Adam slapping the two slices of foam together was the closest thing to looking like he lost his cool... yet he was just gluing two things together :)

I too store my building supplies next to the ark of the covenant.

This was in my recommended for awhile, and I never really saw the title and always thought Adam made some weird giant kazoo. And I eventually wanted to see Adam build a giant kazoo so I clicked. The build was great, but I must admit I was bummed when I found out Adam did not build a giant kazoo.

Adam: "I leave for New Zealand tomorrow so I MUST get this done in 8 hours" Also Adam: *Plays with the guitar* I think we can all relate to this

I love the fact that there is no background music in this. Just Adam's voice and occasional mumbling during working and the sounds from machines and tools. It is really calming to listen cutting of fabric with scissors for example. True asmr without being one. EDIT: Cool watch also. Omega Seamaster planet ocean 600m Chronograph I think, appreciate that Adam uses when working in shop with glue and stuff.

I love the way Adam talks to himself while building. It's the same way I talk to myself while building, but with waaaaay fewer curse words.

37:17 I really appreciate when Adam gives these little asides, as Adam is an extremely competent maker in many fields, so it's easy to believe that he knows how to do anything. But when he says he actually needed to call someone to help him figure something out, it shows us that even experts sometimes need help, so it's alright for new makers to reach out for help on how to do things. We don't have to figure out everything ourselves and there are instances where it's actually better to get help than to just give it a go and hope for the best (but there are also times when winging it is the best idea too lol).

13:37 I was half asleep when watching this but when I heard this I had to open my eyes just make sure I was still watching Adam savage building something and not something worse.

45:20 That is pretty much the same face I often find myself making every time I sit at a sewing machine. What an amazing and worthwhile project! Probably one of my favorite One Day Build videos of all time now.

Adam Savage, Monty Python, AND guitars? OK!

Remember, folks, that this is a 'One Day Build', not to mention Adam's first attempt at a guitar case. I'm sure, given a little more time, experience, and guitar savvy, he would have had a completely different concept, and a much more precise build. Adam is basically winging it right now and he even says 'I should have" a lot! Using only the materials on hand, Adam did a remarkable job in a short amount of time, which was a trademark of his and Jamie's when they produced special effects for movies and TV commercials back in the day. I see the care he puts into this as affection, not a job. (But yeah, dude you need a more robust sewing machine, I was feeling it's pain!) Victorinox!!

Doesn't Adam just ooze pure joy when he is creating a one of a kind...anything? I don't normally enjoy watching handyman videos; I watch this to see Adam Savage spread his infectious happiness.

Definitely watch this at 2x speed. Still clear, but Adam's enthusiasm reaches critical mass.

Meeting Adam also proved to me that meeting your hero can be a good thing.

There is something about this video that reminds me a lot of Bob Ross painting. Very enjoyable to watch a master at their craft stretch their limits and try something new.

Hi, Adam, my grandfather was a sign artist, which included screen printing and my grandmother was a seamstress. They worked out of their home, so as a kid growing up, I watched all those processes. In those days, a product called watersol was painted onto the screen fabric for the lettering, a then a more permanent emulsion was painted over that. The watersol was then rinsed out. These days, we use photographic emulsions and machine cut acetates to do it. Anyway I have always looked at those from both sides(readable from either side, but mirrored on one side). As a result, I can easily read mirrored text. I'm 62 now, but I had this ability in my 30's. And at that time, I had gone into a record shop and picked up an Aerosmith cassette tape. I read the first three titles and went to read the fourth but for some reason, couldn't discern whether a word was god or dog. I took me a moment to realize that the lettering was all mirrored on the tape.😳😳😳

Handle is on the wrong side: when you set it down, you want it facing you to open. When this case is set down, the access side is facing away. Small glitch but significant to convenience. Awesome, unique case!

Hi Adam! You probably won't see this but I just thought I'd add my two cents in on some sewing stuff that might help you out on future projects! (I'm a professional dresser at a major US theme park, I work with costumed characters (primarily fur characters), and I spend a lot of time working with bulky and difficult fabrics. Our costumes go through a lot of wear and tear, so I figure a lot of what I do can apply here.) TL;DR sewing mumbo jumbo and finishing techniques. Adam, you did pretty good on a complicated sewing project with not a lot of sewing experience. Major props to you! First, when you are layering your pieces together, try basting the edge together with a 1/4in seam allowance to hold everything in place when you are sewing on handles and pockets and zippers and such. pretty much exactly what you did on the back piece. When sewing your zipper, because you have so much bulk in your fabric, try adding an extra piece of just sail cloth to the edge of the main piece and then sewing the other edge of that extra piece to your zipper, that acts as a middle man between the zipper and the main piece. This will take the bulk out of the zipper and make it easier to zip, and prevent the ever dreaded zipper breakage. For finishing your edges, try clipping the fabric around the curves like you did when you added the felt to the foam, it will help your fabric ease around those edges, and take the bulk out of corners. I've also seen people here in the comments suggest bias tape or serging the edges. That would also help in the durability of the case as the edges of that broadcloth are gonna fray like crazy. As I've seen other people suggest, I'd invest in an industrial sewing machine and an industrial serger. They sew much faster and it would take a bit more training to learn how to use, but you seem to be working on mostly projects that use tough fabrics and lots of layers, so a more heavy duty machine would definitely help. And final nit picky thing, the sail fabric will most certainly hold up but the white color is going to get dirty very easily with all the travel its going to be put through. I know you were just using left over fabric, but I know you use black sail fabric for your EDC bags, so that might have been a better choice if you had it on hand.

you should have laid the interior felt first and then the overlaying felt, so as to remove the edge between the felts in the cut out

As bag maker myself, I was glad you listened when you put the flat portion of the bag down on the sewing machine bed to complete it. It is the easiest way to sew parts together!! Thank you - love watching you while I sew myself. Do feel a bit bad for your Janome, You are putting her through her paces!!

theres something soothing about watching someone take pride in their work, no matter what theyre doing

This is full of some my favourite types of asmr: Casual talking *Hairdryers* General noises like spraying, cutting and banging

This episode should be called Adam spanks the foam

It’s always super satisfying to find a use for something that was meant to be part of another project, like finding a home for a lost toy.

I was a seamstress for a decade or so, and as such needed a decent pair of scissors. I was told by a co worker who had been in the industry for 50 years that the test for finding out if you were about to spend your money on a good quality pair of scissors or not, was to cut a piece of fabric and listen to the noise. The sound a a good blade on fabric is unmistakable, and as you were cutting the felt that was the beautiful sound I heard. It immediately took me back some 30 years to the all the people I worked with and the sounds of the sewing machines, cutters, sealers and scissors etc.

Adam building something:"Awesome!" "Oh yes!" "Thats what im talking about!". Me building something:"Oh no!" "Oh shit!" "Damned, its ruined, i have to do that again!"

That's awesome! I was at the show he "tried it out" at with Bobcat & Weird Al and I can attest to the fact that the guitar did in fact make it there in one piece! :-)

My mom taught me about sewing when I was a kid just because I was curious about how everything was done. Visualizing shapes in 3-D began there and is essential to building everything I've ever designed, fabricated or repaired. It's a tricky little trade. That's for sure! So cool! Eric freaking Idle!! You're a pretty amazing person. Thanks for sharing your experience with us!

Turned out super nice! Love the material choices with the used felt and sail fabric. Not often that something brand new already has so much character and history!

I'm confused on why Adam put the handle on the opposite side as the zipper. It seems backwards.

Absent any other consideration about the materials and what they need to do, making it out of aircraft plywood and sail cloth is pretty neat, for a travel case. Appropriate.

I love it! Sewing in the proximity of his lathe, tablesaw, Bridgeport mill, and bandsaw, fluent with all, and claiming to be a novice with all.

4 years late. But as a beginning guitar player and sewist - this was pure gold. Maybe it's time for an industrial sewing machine in the cave?!

Adam- if you're going to be driving pins or needles through sailcloth a lot, you might want to get a sailor's palm. It's a leather glove type thing with a reinforced palm for driving needles through canvas in sailmaking. Great looking case, the foam looked so satisfying to put together!

As a seamstress of many years, I appreciate the sewing as well as the confusion at some points. Yes, we have to think of our projects inside out and backward... and sometimes upside down, side to side, diagonally, and on the bias too. Good job! on both the case build as well as giving me a few comical moments to make my workday go by a little faster! This gives me good cause for telling my son "No I will not make a custom guitar case for your Warlock!"

Adam Savage + Eric Idle? How did this not happen *years* earlier? It's perfect!

I'm a C5 quadriplegic and I use skewers all the time for so many tasks!

Your editor liked the glue spray scene so much s/he decided to show it several times. It's like the VW beetle in Bullitt.

Tested video standard has improved. nice cut aways, The right amount of montage and happy Adam Savage

People talk about things fitting like a glove. Your case fits more like a well made holster. It protects with a perfect fit, but when it's time to draw it, the guitar is clean and ready. I really want that foam cutter. Those things are amazing. So much better than an electric carving knife.

The only freaking thing missing is that spray finish on the cloth that deters water and dirt ❤️❤️❤️❤️ what a great job, he's so good at almost every skill

Hey what if we took the "order of operations is vital and it's really easy to scrap the part" thing from machining, and added the "everything is upside down inside out and backwards" thing from mold-making, and then made it so even when you get good people don't really respect your skill? That's sewing.

I enjoyed the video and I like the case. A few things you might want to add to your sewing tricks: Starch: Used to stiffen fabric so it's helpful in turning light fabrics like your fur into structural elements. Or just getting them stiff enough to work with. Fray check: When hemming isn't an option and edges are raw. French seams: Hides all those unfinished seams with only one pass. It's not bad at all - everyone starts at the beginning and you are making good progress! When you want to push your skills, try dress pants. Sounds easy but it will really challenge your skills.

It's so amazing to see Adam just creating and putting things together for an entire hour straight. This definitely fills the void that him and Jamie leaving Myth Busters left inside my heart.

Adam Pick up so much information watching these, but one thing I would love to see is you actually saying what something - like that tape you used on the plate, you say it is absolutely the best, but leave out any details, like brand/etc? John

When I've built hard cases for things that usually need accessories to travel with them, I tend to look at "Dead space" in the container as a bit of a lost opportunity. It would have meant a bit more work, But I'd probabbly have cut a void under where the fretboard goes, Lined it with some more felt, and added a padded flap of cloth that seals with velcro along 3 sides. That would have given Eric a place to stash spare strings and the like, But without the added bulk of having an external pocket. OK, An internal void won't be as accessible as an external pocket, and would need the guitar removing to get anything out of it, but most guitar related accessories are only going to be needed when the instrument's out of its case anyway, So that shouldn't be an issue.

10 minutes wasn't enough. 1 hour isn't enough. I DEMAND 10 hour 1 day builds! :D

Hi Adam, I think finishing the seams with some matching bias tape might give it the nice finished look you're going for without having to sew a separate lining. I really enjoy watching these one day builds -- love seeing your process of figuring things out!

iI was in the Upholstery industry for about 10 years as a supply warehouse manager/salesman. I have been in hundreds of shops and saw furniture being made from beginning to end. With all your bo staff and nunchuck skills, sitting behind a sewing machine and creating that is TOUGH! Major props!!! Oh and your trimming the felt for the corners equally impressive. Dying art form Upholstery.

My mother played guitar, and before she passed she gave me her favorite guitar and yes, I even cherish the case that it’s come in. They’re a bridge to the memories we shared as I sat on the end of her bed listening to her play. Hearing you talk about sharing that first belly-laugh with your parents over Monty Python struck an all-too familiar chord(forgive the inevitable pun), and I just about damn well lost my composure. Thank you so much for content and unintentional walk down memory lane.

I'd love to see the interview with the design parameters.

You made a friggin' spacesuit for Eric's Guitar!! Awesomely satisfying to watch, Thanks Adam.

I watch these all the time on repeat. And it makes me chuckle everytime when the foam is gently laid on top of each other. Then smacked around violently.

Whoever provided the "Aussie translation" in the closed captions at 43:50 deserves a raise. 🤣

New favourite Adam Savage quote: "Guitar, Guitar shaped B O O P"

If you make several items out of several fabric thicknesses or stiff fabrics, you may want to look for an upholstery sewing machine. My parents had one, and many nights my sibs and I fell asleep to the hum of the machine. It was very powerful, as I can attest after sewing though my index finger, nail and muscle ( luckily I missed the bone). My mother taught me to sew at 10 years old. I credit her for developing my sense of design, and how to think a 3 dimensional project through construction. I have been an architect for 46 years, and I still love to make things, and I love acquiring new skills. I love watching you RU-vid videos, always interesting and educational, thank you so much.

Man how I wish I had the knowledge, charisma and skills of Adam Savage. The tools too.

Adam makes a Space suit for Eric's guitar!

If he'd have just folded the edge of the felt over on itself by a 1/4 inch or so on the side pieces, it would have looked much tidier and professionally done. As it is, the cut edge of the felt is exposed and will only look more and more ragged over time.

I'm super late to the party of comments. But he talks about childhood hero's. I'm a young dude and when I was young, Adam was one of mine. I always loved building and trying to put two and two together with almost anything I could get my hands on. Ever since I saw mythbusters, my fascination with machines happened. I'm no genius, nor any kinds of a mechanic, engineer, tailor, etc. But he's one of the guys that sparked my interest in lots of things similar to what he does on all his building videos. (I do some small mechanics at home, as in I'm working on a scooter and plan on changing a crotch rocket into a cafe racer) Thank you Adam! Ps I too shared one of my first belly laughs with my parents when it came to Monty python, had tons of it on vhs

You should name your sewing machine "Sewbiwan Kenobi"

Adam has an exceptional talent for design and even more, getting his thoughts into reality. I have to criticize one thing though, after many years of packing guitars for shipment and fitting cases, I would have given the headstock more room at the end. One fatality of many instruments is being dropped upside down and the headstock takes the thrusting force, and the weight and inertia of the instrument. The wood at the nut is very thin with the truss rod cut out right there and the nut set in, so it is a weak point. It is better to fit the shoulders of the case snugly and with the headroom prevents any contact at the end. Then, if the guitar is dropped upside down, the shoulders of the guitar take ALL of the weight of the guitar and if anything this will cause a tension force on the neck which relieves all the destructive compression force that it can't handle. All good cases have headroom at the top.

I think Adam should make a TV Series where he just makes things for people (or himself) Like one of those car makeover shows but he makes things from scratch!

I'm watching this video to get ideas for a bag for my crossbow. You're one of my heroes, Adam! Hope I meet you some day! Best regards from Brazil!

Like you Adam I also enjoyed watching Monty Python with my parents and brothers. I had the greatest childhood because of those moments. And everytime I see Monty Python even today as a 55 year old man it brightens my soul. Watching this video right my soul so much and I'm also a professional guitar player so you hit it out of the park in my world. And I learned a lot. Grand Slam keep up the great work friend. And always look on the bright side of life LOL

Adam, for future reference, learn about "french seam" or "felted seam." It is a way of finishing off seams so that there are no exposed edges inside that become ragged over time. I hope you used upholsterer's thread for the project, too. If you are going to do many more sewing projects of this nature, you should invest in an upholstery machine, as well. Your poor little Janome is really taking a beating.

26:34 "Where I keep my materials? Right next to the ark of the covenant of course."

That is quite probably, the greatest workshop in the history of the world!!

I always love to see Adam being so enthusiastic about the next step of work that he’s running to get missing tools. :D

Adam is all about getting away with his crimes.

I swear Adams one day builds give me more smiles per minute than anything else on RU-vid. And that’s aside from the joy of learning something new and watching a master at his craft. Love these videos!

I’ve watched this vid a few times, and I’ve just realised how the handle moved. Adam sewed the handle on a separate piece and I think at some point the orientation got changed🔄

I love your energy, Mr. Savage. Some people were put on this planet to make incredible things with their hands. I like seeing all the problem-solving you have to do; we see these things all finished and do not understand all the thinking and tools and experience that goes into them--it's like seeing the engine of a powerful, yet taken-for-granted sports car for the first time.

"i know it's ugly, but i'm very happy" - how i feel about everything ive ever made

Love that foam cutter! Looked it up and almost fell over at the cost!! Over $900.00!!!!!

I so love the idea of a video where nothing goes right, but Adam thinks it’s going right. So this video we are watching is really what’s going on in his head and what we, the viewers see, is a wide shot of a man running around his shop talking to him self about making a guitar case for his hero.