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Each of us bring to this craft different attributes. Each of us has to work hard to reach our goals and each has our own short comings to over come. Just for curiosity sake what is the one attribute that you feel is most important in our craft. Please feel free to explain in a post.

It seems to me that you have to continue to persevere over your mistakes and weaknesses.

It strikes me that lutherie is a lot like golf... the better you get, the more you realize how little you actually know.

Maybe that changes with a few decades of experience... but I am guessing that it probably doesn't.
bpoling38385.6492013889

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I agree with Brock. The most important asset is the ability to recognize shoddy work and the courage to scrap it and start over.

I am with Brock as well. However due to the fact that when I began I was in too big of a hurry to get it done that I did not give the diligence deserved,. That would be my second most important attribute.

Brock Makes a Very Good Point. To recognize that something you made
is substandard and have the gumption to admit it, and try hard to
improve from there is a hard thing to do, and one that never ends. So my
vote Goes to humility / perseverance.   

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

I think, like anything else in life, you need to have an aptitude for something, and a part of that is talent. I can play certain things on guitar, but I just don't have the level of "talent" to make it professionally. Not sure if you know what I mean. I hit walls in my progress where I simply can't break through to another level. I've seen people try and try to do things, and they simply don't have the God-given talent for it.
If you don't believe me, just watch American Idol.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Humility..
It tempers the human ego, which we all know can get us into situations usually not to our best interests. Humility effects all the items listed in the "poll", along with many others not listed there. An imbalance in any of those can lead us off the path of proper balance in life. Regardless of our skills, experience, dedication, etc etc...there is always someone, somewhere who can do it better, quicker, differently, etc etc.
Sort of like the Wild West...as soon as you think you're the fastest gun in the town, in comes a stranger with the "big iron on his hip"...(Thanks, Marty Robbins) and BANG, you're history.
So...do your tasks well, enjoy what you do, live life fully and be humble in all your activities.

Well said, Hank....

Don W38385.6785648148

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

The ability to remove the "Taylor" inlay from the headstock and replace it with my own so no one will know!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

***THAT WAS A J-O-A-K***

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

Well, interesting that you said that, I just forwarded a link of this thread to Bob Taylor....

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

Sure Larry...but "the sound" will give you away!

Heh..I'm gonna agree with Hank, and with lots of other folks.

I'm going to go with Persitence, with Humility running a close second. That, and a fair (but not excessive) amount of self-criticism.

There are things about my first acoustic that bother me, as there are things that I don't like about each of my electrics. The thing for me is to accept them as learning 'mistakes', move on, never to repeat the same mistakes twice, and improve with each isntrument made. Realise that what you're building ain't the greatest guitar on earth, but keep building anyway. Realise that you've got a long way left to go, and know you'll never actually 'arrive' at mastery, but will always have a long and winding road ahead. If you didn't, honestly, what would be the point? Where would the challenge lie?

Be proud of your work, but humbly so. If that makes any sense.

Hello Everyone,

I agree with all that has been said. I voted for dedication. Dedication means to me, that you are resolved to doing the best you possibly can, with the skills and abilites you have. Dedication will lead a person through good and bad times, ups and downs. And if a person is truely dedicated, they will approach their activites with a "beginners mind". Knowing that there is always something new to learn, and not assuming they already know it all.

Jeff

I agree with the previous posts. I think persistance is the most important so you keep trying to do it better or trying to get it right. However, persistance must be tempered with humility. You have to be able to take constructive criticism to continue to improve. Thanks to the craftsmanship I've seen from members of this forum, I am definitely humble.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I voted for dedication as well, but I think the most important thing (if you're making guitars for other people) is a commitment to excellence. This involves every single attribute listed, all of which we should have.

regards,
Joshua French

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

[QUOTE=Jeff Doty] Hello Everyone,

And if a person is truely dedicated, they will approach their activites with a "beginners mind". Knowing that there is always something new to learn, and not assuming they already know it all.

Jeff[/QUOTE]

Someones been reading Sir Willam Cumpiano!!!!!

I voted for dedication but what I'd like to vote for is "practice". As I continue to work on my 4th and fifth instruments I'm discovering ways of doing things that just would not have occured to me if I hadn't already done them before. I think you have to make some pretty crappy guitars to get to the point where you start doing quality work. I'm very proud of my first guitar but I wouldn't expect anyone else to rave about it although the comments on it have been good.

[QUOTE=MichaelP] [QUOTE=Jeff Doty] Hello Everyone,

And if a person is truely dedicated, they will approach their activites with a "beginners mind". Knowing that there is always something new to learn, and not assuming they already know it all.

Jeff[/QUOTE]

Someones been reading Sir Willam Cumpiano!!!!! [/QUOTE]


Hey, that does sound like Cumpiano, now that you point it out! In actuality, I have been reading Shunryu Suzuki (Zen mind, beginners mind). I will be working on my rough draft of, "The zen of guitar building" very soon!

It is a very meditative process for me. I can loose several hours in what seems like minutes while standing at my workbench.

Jeff

I think Hank Mauel hit it with humility. Without humililty comes ego. Always be willing to accept criticism and use it as a learning tool. Another would be dedication and I think that every luthier is dedicated, it comes part and parcel with the craft, however I would re-word it as "passion". We luthiers are passionate about our craft, it's why we do it!

I'm humble. Really, I pride myself in being humble.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

oopsDon W38385.8111921296

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I voted the humility. without that, i wouldn't have the dedication, perserverance(that one is what I preached most in officer survival courses) or the rest

I have a tendency to try to do things too fast. I think you have to have the patience to keep working on improving your skills. This doesn't happen overnight and it would be very easy to become discouraged and say " I'll never be able to do that". One step at a time.

One more thought. Several people have mentioned they're "less than satisfied" with x number instrument(s) they have built. Heck...there are things I don't like in my 120 instrument! You won't see/find them, but I know they are there.
But I figure if I don't learn something new each day and with each instrument, then I haven't been paying attention.
Strive to do the best you can at each level of your building activity and remember, there is nothing perfect from the hands of man.