Official Luthiers Forum!

I started "playing" in 1956...that's last century for you "young folks".
I always loved the sound of the instrument in all it's variations, so it just led to the urge to build. I started my first guitar in 1970, as a hobby, after taking apart a number of pawn shop Harmony guitars and rebracing/revoicing/etc. I got really serious after a "second" retirement in 1996. That led to setting up the shop, in earnest, as a business entity and full time involvement.

And the rest is luthiery history......

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Hank Mauel

[QUOTE=Bob Long]

Serge said something in his post that struck me... He said something
about loving to be in a music store...   I thought about how I'm hardly
ever in a music store. I'm way more happy in the woods, around a
sawmill, or in a lumber yard! I guess I'm more interested in the guitar
that "could be... rather than the guitar that already is..

long[/QUOTE]

Oh and you are right my friend, i think i visited a guitar store only once ever since i started building 2 years ago, i remember that prior to building guitars, that is how i felt when surrounded by so many guitars, mandolins, resos and fiddles back then. Now that i'm building, of course my interest of going to a music store diminished quite a lot but if an opportunity shows up, i'll go in and compare theirs instruments to what i build.

I'd rather be by a lake also!

Okay. I started playing when I was about 14.I`m now 56 and still can`t really play.At least not like some of the folks I`ve been priveledged to pick with.It`s interesting that Robbie said that a lot of his students can`t play.My son wants me to teach him to build guitars,but doesn`t play a lick.I guess it`s possible he could turn out to be a great Luthier some day.As for myself I know it`s probably too late to ever become whatever the words are.I know I`ve had a love for wood for the past 30 years and it will never end.It`s just who I am and what I do.
                              James W B

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James W Bolan
Nashville Tennessee

I know that if I didn’t play I wouldn’t have built.

I love the instrument and the fact that it can be build by hand if need be is an added plus. Having always had my hands on wood, whether it’s when renovating, building furniture, carving etc, I have fallen for the peace and sense of accomplishment working with wood gives.

I remember clearly the day I picked up Sloane’s book 'Classical Guitar Construction' and seriously pondered whether to continue my first year of university or join a well-known luthier building in Toronto at the time. I choose to continue school.

Now being of a matured age, I feel I made the right decision for me and can build guitars at my leisure.

It is fascinating to build something where so many thinks can go wrong and so may can go so right. Wood is so forgiving.   

Thanks for the thread.

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Michael Lloyd

“I was born to ignorance, yes, and lesser poverties ...
I was born to privilege that I did not see ... I didn’t know it, but my way was paved” – John Gorka

?Guitar making is a positive obsessive-compulsive disorder. When I'm not
thinking about it, I am doing it. For those of us who have the potential
capacity to build, the question is not why do we build. The real question is,
"How can we not build". We are driven. It is an irresistable calling. Luthiery is
self-actualization made tangible.

For me necessity (or perceived) was the mother of invention.

When I was 15 (circa 1975) I formed a rock band with some friends. My Sears dreadnought with a soundhole pick-up wasn’t cutting it. My folks weren’t supportive of my desire for an electric to play “hippie” music so I decided to build my own. In many ways I was a very lucky kid and now grateful my parents didn’t just hand me a guitar. The owner of the music store where I used to hang out after my guitar lessons took pity and allowed me to take tracings and measurements of a telecaster. Also Gord Smith the music store guitar set-up guy was always available to answer questions and lend me some small hand tools. When I couldn’t figure out how the body needed to be routed for pick-ups etc. good ole Gord said “well let’s just take one apart and have a look”.   My high school wood shop teacher was a great guy (ironically with the name Mr. Woods). When I approached him about my predicament he pulled out a stash of beautiful African mahogany and said it was mine to build with. He would let me use the wood shop after school and would stick around till I was ready to go home. Mr. Woods got the machine shop teacher to machine walnut fretboard dots and inlay them into a maple fretboard. When I secretly told my uncle of my project he made a single action truss rod for me and had an adjustable bridge, tele style pickguard and bolt-on neck plate machined out of stainless steel at a friends machine shop. The finish was furniture grade nitrocellulose lacquer that I secretly sprayed in a friend of my uncle’s shop. I didn’t have any money for machine heads, pick-ups or pots – when the music store owner saw the progress on my project he furnished Schaller machine heads, Di Marzio pick-ups and Fender pots, switches etc. and a guitar case in exchange for sweeping his store and running errands. Unbeknownst to my parents, I secretly built the guitar in the span of about 9-months.   No jigs, no books but the help of some wonderful people.   That’s how I got the bug initially and proceeded to build two more electrics. Those guitars went to good use – the money I made from playing in bands paid for a good chunk of my undergrad tuition.

After university the focus was career, marriage, house and kids. There was a period where I hadn’t picked up a guitar in over 10 years. With my wonderful wife’s urging I started playing again – mostly kids sing along songs. When I told her I really wanted an Archtop guitar she said go buy one. So off I marched to the 12th Fret after not having set foot in a music store in over a decade and totally clueless as to their cost. One of the sales guys asked what I was looking for to which I responded that I wanted a "real" archtop. Just my luck, they had a Benedetto Manhattan and a Ribbecke Monterrey Artist on hand. I played both and absolutely loved them. I asked how much and nearly fainted when I was told $18,000 for the Benedetto and $20,000 for the Ribbecke. When I told my wife the cost I was dissuaded in the nicest of wifely ways (NOOOOOOOOOOO!).

So once again necessity (or perceived) was the mother of invention -- a year later I had finished my first Archtop!   My most recent Archtop I jokingly call my 30th Anniversary Model.

Shortly after my first archtop was finished I took it up to my old home town to show the owner of the music store whom I hadn’t seen in almost 25-years. Seeing the guitar he beamed like a proud father and rightfully took credit for getting me into building guitars. If you ever meet Jett Landry at a NAMM show say hello for me -- he's a great guy!   

Sadly my telecaster copy disappeared. I had left the guitar at my parents place when I went to grad school and somewhere in the span of 10-years after I left home my parents gave the guitar away and I’ve never learned of where it ended up.

Arnt I heard you play and sing at ASIA 2005 and marvel at the F5 Mandolin you posted here. You haven't lost a step -- maybe a little sleep with the latest addition to the family -- but I suspect you still have the chops.

I like your backyard -- brings back memories of growing up in northern Ontario.

I have always enjoyed making things with my hands. I did carpentry to help put myself through school and since have had hobbies that have kept my my hands busy, including fine scale modeling.

My journey into making guitars began with attempting to do setups and moved to trying to repair guitars. I am not really much of a player, but my wife is. It didn't take a lot of observation to note the difference between the guitars she likes to play versus the yardsale specials that I was dissecting. After doing a great deal of reading and quite a bit of lurking on several forums, I came to the conclusion that I could do this!

There seems to be something quite magical about constructing a wooden box that is capable of beautiful sound and tingling vibration. I appear to be hooked on this hobby and the hobby is becoming more than the dictionary indicates for a simple five letter word. I'm really happy to be here.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Anthony - Mr Woods .. hahaha thats a good one, but my wood shop teacher At Sudbury Sec was Mr. Pine ..

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

This is a great thread in that it adds more colour/dimension to the folks that post and freely share ideas here.

The thing I marvel at with respect to the OLF is the varied background of everyone here. I especially glean a lot of info from the approach to building that people with an engineering/technical background bring -- Rick Davis once said to me that a successful guitar is the culmination of the execution of many smaller projects. The engineers here sure build the coolest jigs and process to their builds and certainly have an eye for process. Then somewhere along the path there is a departure to artistry. Oh well that's my financial/economist take on things.

Todd I knew you were a pilot -- but the engineering background sure comes through.

Terry had I not previously known you were a surgeon I would have guessed you were an engineer by training with all the clever jigs you build. A number of dentists I know are into lapidary (no wonder I can't spring dental burrs from them )

Tony -- I've seen you ski -- you are a better luthier!

Sorry for going off track with the theme here.

I started learning to play a few years ago and an accident happened. The
stool I was playing on slid out from under me and the lower bout cought
the stool on my way down and cracked many times, it was pretty much
shattered. I didnt even know for a second that it could be fixed. When it
was fixed I was very interested in how guitars were fixed. (This is all
before I decided I wanted to build guitars.) I was looking online at guitars
that had been broken and fixed. I dont remember the name of the luthier
who repaired the guitar but I do remember when I e-mailed him about it
he said something along the lines of "being a guitar player is almost a
must in bringing a broken guitar back to sound."   The reason I am
starting to build is that I wanted a guitar where I could pick out the woods
myself. At first I wanted a company to then make the guitar for me. Then
I realized that wouldnt be able to happen. Then I realized guitar making
and repairs would be something I would love to do. My hopes are that
eventually I can do this for a living. I dont think I could pick one reason or
another for building from the little I know of both, they go hand in hand
in my mind with understanding both ends of it. (hope that makes sense)
Finally, if one persons life was affected by a guitar that I had something to
do with the way my life has changed since I started to play, I would get
more satisfaction out of that than anything else.   

Well, actually, it was the smell of those new guitars. No, really, it drove me nuts. And despite not being that great of a guitarist, I kept buying/selling them - and shoving my face into the soundhole of as many as I could find. I was a GASaholic for sure, and I bought a lot...and over time, a few of'em needed repair work...and nobody around here does that sort of thing. So, I decided to learn to refret my own guitars because I was tired of driving 2 hours, and paying $400+ dollars, and waiting 8 weeks, for a fret job. (And don't even ASK about serious repairs, like a belly job, etc.)

Anyway, before I got around to it, I had a particularly trying medical issue with my wife. At the end of that illness, to celebrate, I commissioned a guitar from Don Williams. He made everything seem so easy, and "do-able", and he was so approachable and accomodating with my constant questions, that I decided to pursue a kit based largely on his encouragement. So I found a teacher who would help me through it (I have ZERO woodworking skills) - and I was able to finish it last year. I have been building my "shop" ever since.

And in the process, I got a world class guitar from Don, a friendship with him that I absolutely cherish, and a hobby I hope I can live up to one day.

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Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

I did it for the big money!!! Went to school thinking come out and make a fortune. Pure greed on my part. Heck former life as a Marine (not much use now for old fat spec operator's, who shoot well anymore) Can't get the golf to the needed 1 or 2 handicap to try the US Open. I can't outrun the bad guys in Denver anymore (Used to work 5 points and E Colfax for those who know Denver)So after 30 some years in those proffessions, no money and getting hurt, I thought would try something else more exciting, fun, and prosperious. Now the boss keeps the sharp chisels from me and bandaides close. But I'm still hanging in it for the big bucks. Also along with fortune, I want the fame. Maybe make more by un-retiring and going back to the Corps and Denver. But not as fun. Heck now thought of it I may try American Idol. I can play 3 songs, and sing like a howling dog. But love the building and time in the shop, so even though probably won't get fame and fortune at it, will stick with it, for know other reason, it is more fun than other things. Still do alot of golf and fly fishing though, as I think of my new bracing scheme, inventive jig or whatever to make the bigger bucks than I do now, which is well, nothing, but the pleasure of Hanging out everyday with Moll, which can have it times also ( I mean that in a good way) Hope see all you folks and other big money makers at ASIA in May. Just had another thought on the money making, would probably make more if didn't give them all away, darn I knew I was doing something wrong.stan thomison39106.9523032407

Great thread!

I started playing close to 20 years ago... (already!). I've had a continued on-off love affair with the instrument. When I started playing in high-shcool, I'd sometimes skip whole days to stay home and play 7-8 hours a day.

Then work and play got in the way and I'd stop playing, sometimes for up to a year.

Of course, I had hair to the middle of my back and Metallica had just started back then. The good ol' Metallica with Dave Mustane, not the sissy watered down stuff that came later!

I did however always have a love for the acoustic guityar as well. Dylan, Neil and especially Zeppelin. I used to own an old Harmony hand me down that was beat-up really badly. It was so bad that it was hardly playable. Then at 19 I bought myself my very first bonafide acoustic. A Takamine EN-10C! (ouch!)

A few years back, a good friend of mine had a guitar commissioned by a great young Quebec builder by the name of Michel Pellerin. I got very interested in owning my very own custom acoustic. Unfortunately (or fortunately) Michel was in the process of updating his prices. I got to thinking that with my minimal wood-working skills and head start in tools (dad was a semi-profesionnal cabinet maker) I could build my own for that price (around 3K)!!! HA! Foolish me!

Now that I've started building my own, I've been infused with this crazy urge to play as well.

So to answer the question (ahem), I was a player first and builder second, but now I'd be hard pressed to choose which I prefer. They both bring me so much joy and passion!

By the way Steve (Courtright), I love your take on it! Well said, my friend... Well said...

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I'd like to be able to prove, just for once, that money wouldn't make me happy...

I was one of those teenagers that wanted to go to Berklee and be a
musician. I dropped out of high school when I was 16 after finding a hole
and graduated via community college work. It was an amazing time in
my life. I stayed home, read theology, watched Matlock, and played
guitar. That's also when I started learning the building process. Don
Williams and I used to email back and forth all the time.

I actually got into Berklee but went to a local private school instead to
major in theology, play in the jazz band, and make guest stops minoring
in early modern history and peacemaking before picking up a second
major in media production/aesthetics.

I've always been hands on, and at this point I don't even realize making
things is different than what most people do. I love being part of the
process. It also allows me to have some nice things that I wouldn't be
able to have any other way because of money.

I'm not nearly as experienced as most of you all. I just turned 25. In the
last year and a half, I've built a snare drum, tele, an amp, and I'm working
on an acoustic for myself now.         &n bsp;        

I am an average player but enjoy the challenge. A few years ago I had a generic strat copy which had terrible intonation, wouldn't stay in tune and had crummy (sic) tone. I knew I could make it play better so I took it apart, bought new guts, neck etc and enjoyed the project and improved guitar so much I started to order parts, EBay, Stewmac, LMII etc and "assembled" more than built two electric strat type guitars. Then got a solid piece of African mahogany and built my Tele-copy but with a bought neck. Then came two SG 3/4 size from scratch for two nephews, a P-Bass. I attended the 2004 GAL and was overwhelmed. Since then I have done from scratch: 4 Dreads, 1 Dread cutaway (a sloppy venetion), 4 OM size and am just spraying up a travel size "mini dread" with 22.5" scale. I have used Mahogany, Sappele, Lacewood, Koa, Maple and grenadillo, Englemann and Sitka. The Paduak I snapped trying to bend. I have given 6 guitars away to family and friends and three I have donated to our hospital foundation charity auction. I break into a sweat when I smell sawdust. I smuggle wood into the house when my wife is out. I drool over other's websites and have downloaded inumerable lutherie "porn" which I have hidden in D:\Lutherie. I am hopelessly hooked and need professional help.Greg39106.9651157407

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Greg
http://garibaldiinstruments.com/

Greg, sorry to say that the only doctors who can help you are our own pushers! BWAH HA HA HA HA

Resistance is indeed futile!

Tony and Anthony, as you already know, i'v lived in Sudbury at the beginning of the 80's, Brian Adams was singing " Fits ya goood" and John Cougar Mellencamp was singing "Hurt so goood"!

I build because it goes with my new a beard!



Really, I build because I play, though not very well. I've worked wood
since I was a little kid building coaster cars to zip down the hills in the
neighborhood where I grew up. Later, I built some banjos (ok, ASSEMBLED
some banjos) and took in guitar repair work to help with school
expenses. Rebuilt some basket case guitars and wanted to build, but in
1975, there was little to go by. All I found was Overholtzer's book on
building classicals and I wanted a dread. Then a few years agoI found this
haven called OLF, frets.com, Kathy Matsushita's site and the MIMF. Bought
Robbies DVD, then an LMI kit, and I've been smitten ever since. Building
has gotten me back into playing, more now than in the last 30 years.
Never did build that dread.

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now known around here as Pat Foster
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http://www.patfosterguitars.com

Great pic Pat, you remind me of a teacher somehow...

I'd love to grow a beard too but i still have to be forgiven for stealing a dough roller...better wait me thinks!

Great thread.
I love what klhoush said.
Worst thing you can say to me is "You can't do that"
If someone told me i couldn't jump out of a plane wearing a bat girl suit it would have to be a case of "you watch me"..
I build because i play.
Or played.
Flamenco is my thing, and there just weren't any good flamencos around in Oz.
And I was also teaching and i was doing minor repairs..and I decided if i built a guitar it would teach me some things, and i'd get a nice guitar in the process.
Then I had an accident making guitar number 2 and chopped 2 fingers off.
Now for my new career...shorthand typist....
So that ended the guitar playing career.
It was probably really good because i was a crappy guitarist anyhow...
I didn't touch guitar build number 2 for 2 years and a friend asked me if i was ever going to finish it.
The answer was a resounding NO.
Then i got to thinking about it and decided i needed to finish what i started.
This time no machines.
All hand tools.
Well mainly hand tools.
So i did...woohoooooooo!!!!!!
Literally blood sweat and tears, and it was great to get it finished.
Guitar number three is going to be a guitar i can hopefully get my paw around....
Guitar making is like eating chips: You can't stop at just one. No matter What!!!

Cheers,
ClaireClaire39107.3134027778

Thanks for sharing your story Claire, sorry to read that you lost 2 fingers while building but it will serve as a good reminder to all of us to be very careful around power tools especially when we're tired...or distracted.

Serge

Actually I built before I ever played a note.When I was 14 My father and I put together an electric guitar kit and also an amp.This started my playing and soon my friends and I had a rock band.I've played ever since and got into building kind of by accident.I bought an old Guild that was in Baaaad shape and started trying to fix it up.That really got me into acoustic guitars and how they are made.Now,I couldn't stop if I wanted too! I love it more than I can say!Thanks to the internet and especially the OLF for moving my woodworking skills along to where I can actually build a decent guitar!Who'd have thunk it?
BTW- Great thread guys and gals! DaveAndy39107.3882638889

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

I have always been in trigued by guitars and had a natural talent for music--I never really capitalized on it though. I took lessons for a year or so as a child, but had an istructor that taught classical and was hardcore--not much fun for a youngster. My parents knew nothing of music, so the encouragement was not there.
I have always been into and quite good at woodwork and my main interest was pistols, it matched my law enforcement background. After trying to find beautiful well fitted wooden pistol grips and rifle stocks proved too expensive ar impossible, I decided to make my own. Before I knew it, I had many requests, and that led to a few magazine articles and inclusion in several books. Orders and requests began to pour in. About this time my son turn 7 and was interested in guitar, I thought geat, I'll get him some lessons. He loved it and has been taking lessons non-stop for 5 years. It was also my excuse to take lessons and begin my journey which I longed for since a child. I used the money I made in the grip business to by guitars, we went through many enjoying the journey and playing some really high end stuff. Then, as history repeats itself, I couldn't find exactly what I was looking for soooo, why not build one--sound familiar?
This led me to the OLF and we are having a blast learning and building and what we love most is the ENDLESS choices of wood and design concepts.   I've really scaled down taking grip orders and have removed my website to free up time to build guitars. We're having fun!