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Author Topic: How would i go about becoming a luthier?  (Read 20214 times)

SamR

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« on: June 05, 2007, 06:52:53 PM »
Its come to that time now where ive finished school, finished college, now i have the option of going to university or finding a job or apprentaship.

I was thinking about what i would like to do as a career, i like being creative, i am more of an artist more than anything, i have A levels and i've taken foundation courses in art, but i would love to mix it up with my guitar side, how would i go about becoming a luthier? I sure know it isnt a career that can be taken lightly, my woodworking skills are ok last time i took woodwork in school :P even if i didnt build them, companies must need people to draw out and design the guitars. I need to learn more about the theory and how to get my foot in the door i guess... are there actually apprentaships or courses that can be taken?

samoth2

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #1 on: June 05, 2007, 07:09:35 PM »
I think there are some threads on this topic allready if you search..

SamR

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #2 on: June 05, 2007, 07:45:17 PM »
ah ok nice 1, cheers  :D

Kilby

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #3 on: June 05, 2007, 08:11:26 PM »
These guys seem to get a good reputation and do short courses http://www.baileyguitars.co.uk/

Apparently the guy from Organic guitars started off learning from these guys.

Rob...
Goodbye London !

Bob Johnson

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #4 on: June 05, 2007, 08:39:30 PM »
It's a great job if you don't mind trading off wealth for job satisfaction. I started by repairing and setting up all my mates guitars and modifying cheap right handers so I could play them left handed. Lefties were almost impossible to get in the early sixties. There are some good luthier schools about; the Totnes school has a really good rep, but I don't think it's reasonable to expect to come straight out of luthier school and set up in business. Many have tried that and failed; you've got to find some way of getting some experience straight away or be content to earn a living some other way while you steadily build up your tools and equipment, experience and a client base. Sorry about the wordy reply. I wish you all the best.
Regards,
Bob Johnson
Legra Guitars

Crazy_Joe

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #5 on: June 05, 2007, 11:06:18 PM »
I don't know anythign about this but i know someone on this board who may be able to help.
Jonathon at Feline Guitars, he does custom builds, repairs, restorations and pimping! I'm sure he will pop into this thread eventually but he would probably be a good guy to ask about it.
Black Dogs

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LazyNinja

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #6 on: June 06, 2007, 12:07:52 AM »
Move to Japan and join the ESP guitar building school  :twisted:

WezV

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2007, 08:09:46 AM »
the best way is to start making guitars!!!  And i will say one thing, its no good just being able to draw guitars - because untill you know the process of building them the designs will be worthless.

I have been making guitars for the last 6 or so years and doing repairs for about 10 - but i do it because i enjoy it.  It makes a much better hobby than it does a job.  

Now i have been building a little while i am starting to make a little bit of money here and there, and have a quite a few satisfied and repeat customers. but i am still not able to give up my day job - and i am probably a few years of that prospect.

If you really want to do it then go for it  but dont expect to get rich designing or building guitars.

There is a list of courses on the UK guitar builders forum, i have never been on one of them.  The bailey guitars one definately seems more reasonable than the rest.  SOme of them are out of most people price range.

http://www.simnettguitars.co.uk/bb/viewforum.php?f=14&sid=cc4c466121769cdc3086a56973dc18f7

SamR

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #8 on: June 06, 2007, 12:24:14 PM »
cool thanks for the advice guys, yeah it seems becoming a luthier would be a very satisfying career, but its a damn shame that the money involved barely classifies it as a job and more of a hobby. Ill check out the sites and forums you mentioned, cheers for the feedback.

rahnooo

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #9 on: June 11, 2007, 07:39:45 PM »
I'm currently at the Totnes School of Guitar Making, which has an international reputation (lots of american students come over here to do it), and from my own experience I would wholeheartedly recommend.

According to Organic Guitars promo literature, it's where the founder of that company first trained, and over half the students from the TSGM go on towork as luthiers. Which is a good indication of how good the course is.

I can only speak from my own experience, but having looked at the Bailey Guitars website, I'm struggling to see how you'd learn any substantial skills, let alone build a quality instrument in only 5 days. To put it into perspective, in that time on the course I'm doing, we'd finished instrument designs and technical drawings, joined and thicknessed the front timbers, and started work on the back timbers (for acoustics. The lads doing electric guitars were still working on joining their body timbers during the second week. But each to his own I guess.

Even a quality course will only be the first stage of training. I think the best way into the business if you are serious, would be to attend a course such as the TSGM to learn the basic skills and get an understanding of luthiery, and then beg or bribe your way into an established luthiers workshop to learn the trade from the ground up, even if you're only being paid peanuts. Having attended a course will (hopefully) make you a more attractive employee as you will have acquired skills already, and will be a demonstration of your initiative and enthusiasm.

Just for the record, I'm on my course for fun, not out of any career path (I'm a lawyer), but am thoroughly enjoying the experience, and am planning to continue making guitars in my own time once I've finished the course.  

*Rahnooo*
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WezV

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How would i go about becoming a luthier?
« Reply #10 on: June 12, 2007, 08:46:45 AM »
The totnes school does seem like a great option if you can afford it, probably out of most school leavers reach i would guess - seems to work out around £5000 for the 12 week course - although in fairness i have probably spent more than that learning to build guitars over the last few years - but i have done around 30 guitars for money - not just one!!  I have also developed my own style of building from having to figure things out for myself.