The Art and Science of 3D Scanning Guitars: How Dockive Preserves Iconic Instruments in Stunning Detail
Guitars Are More Than Instruments—They’re Sculptures of Sound
The Jim Irsay Collection guitars on display
At Dockive, we’ve had the privilege of scanning an incredible range of guitars—from vintage acoustic treasures to rare electric icons. With hundreds of scans under our belt, we’ve come to understand guitars not just as musical tools, but as complex, sculptural works of art.
What sets us apart is more than just our experience. It’s our deep respect for the instrument and the musicians who played them.
3D Scanning Bo Diddley’s Guitar from The Jim Irsay Collection
Why 3D Scanning Guitars Is More Complicated Than You Think
While a guitar may seem like a simple shape at a glance, in reality it’s one of the most intricate and technically challenging objects to scan well.
Key Challenges in Scanning Guitars:
Multiple surface types – Glossy lacquer, bare wood, metal, plastic, and strings all behave differently under a scanner.
Fine hardware detail – Tuners, bridges, knobs, and pickups must be captured with high precision.
Complex geometry – From carved tops and neck heels to binding and inlays, guitars are full of subtle curves and sharp transitions.
Texture accuracy – Wood grain, wear patterns, and finish variations are essential to the instrument’s story and must be preserved.
Dockive’s Custom Tools and Workflows Make It Possible
3D Scanning Lou Reed’s “Goldie” Guitar from The Jim Irsay Collection
We’ve developed in-house tools and post-processing workflows specifically for musical instruments. Our team has spent years refining:
Hybrid scanning techniques combining blue laser and white light
High-resolution texture mapping workflows for true-to-life detail
Efficient hardware masking and model segmentation for better control
Streamlined alignment and mesh-cleanup systems that speed up delivery
These tools let us scan and process guitars faster and with greater accuracy than generic scanning services while maintaining museum-quality standards.
As Artists, We Treat Every Guitar Like a Masterpiece
At Dockive, we see our work as art meets technology. Every guitar we scan gets the same focus and respect as the artist who played it. We spend hours on fine-tuning every mesh, preserving every detail, and rendering every texture with fidelity.
Whether it’s a one-of-a-kind studio guitar or a touring relic from rock history, we bring our full artistic eye and technical craft to each project.
“We pour as much care into scanning a guitar as the luthier did building it—or the artist did playing it.” - Derek Miller Dockive Co-Founder
From Preservation to Presentation
Once a scan is complete, we can prepare files for:
Digital archives
Virtual exhibits
AR/VR applications
3D printing
Sketchfab showcases
Your scan doesn’t just sit in storage-it becomes a dynamic, explorable part of a guitar’s legacy.
Preserve Your Collection with Dockive
Whether you're a museum curator, private collector, estate manager, or custom builder Dockive is your partner in preserving guitars in extraordinary 3D detail. We’ve scanned hundreds, and each one still excites us.
Don’t trust your prized instruments to basic scans or one-size-fits-all services. Let the experts who understand both the tech and the soul of guitars do the work.