How to get into luthierism?

[pfox14]

Not to derail the thread, but when I started out working on guitars, I wanted to scratch build acoustics and went out and found a master luthier who taught me how to do it properly. It's all well and good to experiment on beater guitars, but if you really want to learn the art and science of being a luthier, I would try to find someone to teach me. Yes, you can learn a lot from this forum, but nothing beats the hands on knowledge you'll gain working with a master.

 

[houston]

Luthier has its roots in the Latin for Lucifer.

Cute. Lutherie is from French, meaning "building lutes". Lute is from Arabic, meaning "the wood" (same as oud).

 

[sectorix]

As with anything that you choose to do, I would suggest to first define your goal. there is a difference in making Luthierie (did I spell that right?) a profession or a hobby.

For either, the beginning should be fairly simple.. take the passion and warefare approach - because even if you love it, it is going to take a toll For many of us here, it is a hobby - which means learning from the master luthiers that hang around this forum, other forums, and mess with wood ourselves with a somewhat investment in workspace and tools. For the professional ones, there is a financial commitment, a substantial initial investment and I would also say that being an apprentice for a few years is an important step. two of the questions to ask yourself if you want to get into this professionally is 1) can you financially commit to that career path? 2) will you enjoy this work 10-20 years down the road ?

For me, this is definitely a hobby. I love everything about it, I'm willing to put spare dollars into it, and the time required, but I dont see a path for me to do this full time, nor do I want to (I LOVE my Job). And I can tell you that for me it all began walking into a guitar shop, checking out the lefty section, seeing the bad craftsmanship on top dollar brands, and deciding to pick up the interest. then spending a year here, watching people like Barnaby develop, great advice from people like Sully and Freddy to the point where I knew that even if it turns out to be something I wont like to continue pursuing - I want to at least try. A year and a half later, I'm still building and learning.

Barry.

 

[bruce bennett]

Sir, I need to ask you to step back from the ledge now. Life is not that bad.. but if you take that step then you will come to know 'life" on a much worse level.



but seriously,




DON"T DO IT!

listen to H.E.L. SHANE!

 

[j.six]

SullyGuitars - Dear Sully - Where do I start?

Sully

 

[Pete M]

I'm sure in a few years you will wake up at the crack of dawn, bleary eyed and aching all over, balding from stress, pale and obese from living entirely off of chocolate bars and ritz crackers. You're so tired you can't even see. You can barely remember your own name let alone what day it is. You're so in debt you are past caring. You won't be able to remember what life used to be like before all this. You wonder how long it'll be before you really crack it and beat to death the next person who looks at you funny in the street. You will just beg for the chance to curl up in a dark corner and die, quietly. Then you will think to yourself "Maybe having kids wasn't such a great idea..." er... ...I mean becoming a luthier...I said becoming a luthier right?...uh-oh.

 

[dougk]

SullyGuitars - Dear Sully - Where do I*start?

Sully

Along with: SullyGuitars - Dear Sully - Doug Kauer on making a living building guitars

 

[j.six]

Along with: SullyGuitars - Dear Sully - Doug Kauer on making a living building*guitars

THAT one is a great read, fo sho, yo!

 

[Big John]

PopPunk, you're in La Crosse, right? Walk yourself into Dave's Guitar Shop and ask Dave Rogers if you could be a fly on the wall and watch his guitar tech work. If you're cool, upfront, and honest about wanting to learn, Dave will recognize that and probably let you do it. Nothing beats watching it getting done with your own eyes.