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Beginner Luthier
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Author:  Tim S [ Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Beginner Luthier
Hey guys i am thinking about taking a luthier course in nova scotia and i was wondering if anyone had any advise for someone getting into guitar making.
Author:  Josh H [ Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
Hi Tim,

Are you thinking of getting into this as a hobby or something more? A course can be a good way to learn the basics (that is what I did). After that I bought a pile of books and videos and continued my study on my own.

It looks like I'm a little over 2 hours up the road from you (Goderich ON). If you are ever up this way you would be welcome to stop in.

Josh
Author:  Mike Collins [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 12:43 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
Josh;
I like your web site!
I was in Montreal in 2007 -the first table on the left at the entrance.
Where were you?
Mike
Author:  Tim S [ Wed Mar 16, 2011 1:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
Hi Josh
I am thinking of getting in to guitar making in hopes of starting a buisness some day. Ya thats not too far from me, i would love to stop by some time and see your shop, that would be really awesome. Also i saw the website, your guitars look incredible. How did you get started selling your guitars?

tim
Author:  Brian Forbes [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:17 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
If you have money for a course, it's a great way to go. I am all self taught, but even after 5 years of making guitars on and off, meeting another luthier and learning some things hands on (last week) was a revolution for me. Seeing things in person and learning the little tricks and pitfalls to avoid is a great thing that a book simply cannot teach. I think if I had learned that way at first before continuing my studies with books and online, I would have made less mistakes along the way. One could argue that I would have learned less, because mistakes do teach alot, but being taught what to avoid in the beginning makes the entire experience smoother.

My anecdotal example is on one of my early guitars. I planed the headblock a little short when I intalled the back plate. When I looked through the sound hole there was about a 1/8th inch gap between the back plate and the headblock. I didn't think too much of it, and went along as normal. Well, after the guitar was strung up, I had the guitar slide off a chair and hit the back of the neck which ripped the headblock, neck, and sides (just the few inches on either side of the shoulders) off of the back plate. If the headblock was glued to the back plate like it's suposed to be, the whole unit wouldn't have come apart so catastrpohically like it did. It's little things like that in the beginning that are worth their weight in gold to have someone tell you that you are doing something wrong. If you can afford it, go with the class first. Best wishes, and welcome to OLF.
Author:  Josh H [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 6:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
Hi Mike, my first year in Montreal was 2008. So that would be why we didn't see each other.

Tim, I got started selling my guitars to friends for the cost of material + a few hundred dollars. I've spent most of the past 8 years working part-time at the guitars and part-time at anything else I can do to make money. In between part-time jobs I worked at the guitars full-time on and off over those years. I've now been full-time at the guitars for over a year (probably getting close to 2). I love what I do, but it sure is hard. I've heard a number of people say it takes about 10 years to establish yourself in the market. That seems about right for me. It has only been over the last year that I have been able to maintain a good order list (being always booked 6-8 months in advance). It has taken a lot of money and time to get to the point where things are finally looking up. I could go on and on but I'll save that for when you come for a visit, if that works out.

Josh
Author:  bluescreek [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 9:05 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
I am in agreement that a course is the way to go. Books are fine but you will learn so much more in a class. Not just in techniques but different jigs and methodology. Teaching yourself is often much more costly . You don't know , what you don't know , until you know it . A good teacher can take you far ahead of what you can teach yourself.
Author:  Brian Forbes [ Mon Mar 21, 2011 1:09 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Beginner Luthier
Absolutely bluescreek. You dont know that you dont know...and therin lies the problem. If you dont know that the four degree back angle you cut into the heel is going to miss the bridge by a country mile, you wont find out until it's way too late. If you dont know that water based fiishing products raise the grain a bit on the wash coat, you only find out when you are sanding your tail off trying to get the finish back to the glass smooth feel that you spent so much time working on. It's frustrating sometimes, and a class taught by someone who lost some time, hair from their head, and maybe even a little blood, can be beneficial.

We all pour our hearts into instrument making, but unfortunately sometimes it does not go as planned and we end up puting more blood sweat and tears into the instrument than we need to, making it more of a furstrating process than it has to be. We've all learned over the years how to avoid the mistakes that only time or a good teacher can show you. I'm proud to say that only a couple early instruments actually drew any blood from the process, though they all draw sweat at some point. As for tears...those came right after the blood, and only on the first couple instruments. lol
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