Official Luthiers Forum!

  Are there any forum members in south-western Ontario region (preferably not far from london) willing to take on an apprentice? It dosn't look like there are any schools in the province, so apprenticship is my best bet.

Thanks,

 Dan

[QUOTE=ToddStock]Dan:



Welcome aboard!



A couple suggestions:



- A little about interests would help potential employers figure out where you are going, as well as experience to date. Acoustic? Electric? Background in repair? Are you an expert at lacquer or other skills?



- How long do you think you'd like to commit to this apprenticeship? 3 months...six months...???



Some of the folks that have taken on helpers/apprentices might chime in as well.



Todd



[/QUOTE]

All right Todd, thanks for the direction.

Here we go, I have plenty of experience as a guitar/double bass/mandolin/dulcimer player. However rather limited experience as a luthier, hence my looking for apprenticeship. I do have some minor carpentry experience (the kind that comes from being the son of a handy-man, and working occasionally as a contractor.) Also I have two years experience teaching guitar, and about 4 months worth of teaching the violin family (thanks to a school co-op program).

I'm looking to apprentice as long as need be. I am in no real rush, and I'd rather I build up a good amount of experience (and confidence) before I head out on my lonesome.

You might not find it so, but if you can find someone in Ontario at all then odds are you're going to be paying them for the apprenticeship rather than the other way around. In North America, at least, it's a very rare thing indeed to have a luthier pay you to apprentice. Just something to consider.

I'm not sure how far from London he is, but Tony Karol (look him up on Google) takes students. The only other builder I know of in Ontario is Mario Proulx, and he definitely doesn't take students.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services

That I do indeed Bob (and Dan) .. I do not however run a fulltime type school - its more like part time long term ... My students only have one night (or day) a week in which they work in their instruments, as for most of them, its all the time they (and I) can afford. It takes about 8-10 months to complete a gutiar. I do have one student who travels from London two days a week at present, but he is being sponsored as a job retraining initiative. I currently have one spot available in Jan 2008 .. either day or evening. Then its not until fall 08 that there is space ....

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"

Alright Tony,

 I'll check out your website.

Thanks,

  Dan

Dan, Tony is a great option.

Alternatively, Sergei De Jonge has a school just outside of Ottawa and David Freeman has a School in the middle of the middle of nowhere in Tuguske, Sask. David owns a couple of houses in the this 1/4 horse town of about 100 people so the accomadations are reasonable for a 6 week course. There are a couple of schools out here in BC as well and at least one on the east coast. Plus there are LOTS of US options that can be listed if you like.

One on one with Tony would be a real treat though!

Shane

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Canada

Thanks Shane .... that cheques in the mail

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"