Carlos Novaes doesn't need an introduction in the world of classical and acoustic guitar construction. With decades of work recognized in Brazil and internationally, he is considered one of the finest guitar builders alive — the kind of craftsman whose instruments end up in the hands of concert players who can tell the difference.

Rodrigo Gomes is younger, but no less serious. A specialist in archtop acoustic guitars — the carved-top instruments associated with jazz — he represents a generation of Brazilian luthiers bringing international-level craft to a distinctly Brazilian workshop tradition.

Building Guitars documents a single afternoon in Novaes' workshop, where Rodrigo is constructing his first classical guitar under Novaes' guidance. What emerges is less a tutorial and more a conversation — between two generations, two instrument traditions, and two people who understand that making something by hand requires a particular kind of patience the modern world doesn't often reward.

The film was produced for the Custom Shop Brasil channel. The music is by Daniel Padim. Additional footage by Dan Erlewine — one of North America's most respected authorities on guitar construction and repair — adds a rare international dimension to the project.