Official Luthiers Forum!

More of a passion builder, Hesh. Not "Hobby" doesn't begin to describe it. I'm sure I'm not the only one.
-j.

p.s. I voted hobby above anyway.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Not "hobby"...? Ugh, I miss the edit button a little.

-j.

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“If God dwells inside us like some people say, I sure hope He likes enchiladas, because that's what He's getting”
-jack handy

Hesh--

I'm definately a hobbiest even though the urge to pursue guitar building borders on obsession!    I have a list of friends and family that will take care of my first dozen guitars.

I'm not sure that I am emotionally suited to building by commission.      I have no interest in building to please someone else. I have to be honest in saying that I do this to please me. Its an expression of myself though my own hands. Could very well be that I never sell one.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

I'm primarily a hobby builder, although it would be nice to sell one once in a while to help mitigate the costs. I'm lucky in that the lutherie bug didn't bite until I was retired. So I've got time (between honey-do's and home remodeling) to work in the shop.

One question to hobby builders- do you charge people who get your guitars for the cost of materials? Seems like that would be fair to me. I've only built three so far, kept two, gave one to my son. But now I'm starting guitars I may give away, so the question of pure giving vs. charging just for materials is coming up.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Difficult to answer. I agree with J....passion to build. I clearly consider
myself a hobby builder but I do build them to sell since most of mine are
fore someone. So I checked the pro box, but by no means am I a pro!!!!

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Andy Z.
http://www.lazydogguitars.com

     !4 years full time now. Well, more like 13 1/2 with my layoff.

I am a hobbyist who will eventually like to sell guitars. Take it a day at a time, though.

As an artist I have had a quite a few commissions in the past. It's a real buzz!!!

Definitely a hobby builder.......but only until I'm satisfied that my guitars have the sound that I'm after and can stand up to the fit and finish of the pro builders here at the forum. I'd like to sell just enough to pay local taxes after I retire.....and to use up the 80+ sets of wood I've been hoarding (else the wife will be very upset).

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I'm a professional hobbyist. I've sold for material, and for profit and built for give away and for myself.

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My Facebook Guitar Page

"There's really no wrong way, as long as the results are what's desired." Charles Fox

"We have to constantly remind ourselves what we're doing....No Luthier is putting a man on the moon!" Harry Fleishman

"Generosity is always different in the eye of the person who didn't receive anything, but who wanted some." Waddy Thomson

I'm definately in the J and Andy camp.
Part time passion builder but I've been doing it for close to 30 years. All that part time has to add up to something..right?
I have had a hand full of commissions but those have helped pay for Zoot and tools.
Lookin forward to the next 30 years.

Thanks for sharing all the tricks and tips everyone!

Wade

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Wade
Nashua, NH
http://www.wadefx.com

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Waddy

Photobucket Build Album Library

Sound Clips of most of my guitars

definitely a hobbyist. but we all have visions of granduer, don't we!?
talking to a local pro, even he said that some of the charm was lost for him when he started producing 20+ guitars per year. he still loves it - just aware more than a few years ago that it is now a job, with good days and bad days, good months and bad months, like any job.
and to gene, you'll find old threads about this in the archives, but here's one answer to your question.
i sell for the cost of materials plus the cost of new tools. my guitars don't yet look first class, but they sound and play pretty close to it. so i don't think that asking $700 - $1000 is too much. keeps me in wood and the occassional new tool, adds a bit of motivation to spend my free time being productive, and is still a HUGE value for friends and family. also keeps me from growing bitter if a friend gets a guitar that i spent so many hours working on, just to leave it in the case under his bed.
phil

Even though its not a full time thing yet, its definetely heading that way. So I would say pro....

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

Seriously obsessed/addicted hobby builder. if Id started alot younger I'd defintiely be doing it professionally.

Total Hobby for me too, but obsessed is a good word to describe
Tracy

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Tracy
http://www.luthiersuppliers.com

At this point in time and progress, I`m still in the hobbyist stage, and not so sure that I`d like to go pro. Sure I`d like the occasional commission, but I wouldn`t want it to be my bread and butter. I`ve burnt out in other trades and don`t want to ruin something that I enjoy by overly indulging.

We`ll just have to see as my skill and confidence progresses with time.

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Give me 50 cents worth of regular.
Check my oil too, if you don`t mind,,,

Purely hobby for now, although I did sell one already... The next few will be for me... However, with the investment in tools and whatnot, I would like to become a bit more serious, but now without having gained much more experience under the belt...

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

I just sold my first commissioned archtop guitar and am now reapplying for amateur status Where is the box for retired pro

Gene -- if your guitars are pretty good there is absolutely nothing wrong with selling them to friends and acquantances for the cost of materials. If you give them away for free chances are folks who don't have an understanding as to what goes into building one really won't appreciate it. Those that do understand and appreciate it -- money isn't a substitute for the joy of handing one to someone. Ask Hesh, he's done it.

Folks that glibbly say, how about building one for my son or daughter -- start thinking a fair multiple of your material costs. (My multiple is 3x).

    I have built so many guitars that I've forgot! I have such a grasp of tonal qualities of strengths and specific gravities of probably 200 differrent kinds of woods! I tested and become quite adroit at all aspects of building guitars, of processes, and materials!

   My experiences probably dwarf just about everybody elses on this forum. I don't like to talk about it much because I try to be humble! I'm probably the most proficient and experienced luthier there is... my own mind!                

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Billy Dean Thomas
Covina, CA

"Multi famam, conscientiam, pauci verentur."
(Many fear their reputation, few their conscience)

I'm in the same criteria as a bunch of you.

I'm an obsessed hobby builder who sells what I make for cost plus a bit.

I have a mortgage, a wife and 4 kids who need the full time job as well!!

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My soundclick xx luthier blog xx luthier soundclick

   It took me a few years but I am a pro at this point. My builds are commisions . Once you get established you will be surprised from where the works comes .
    Anyone that does make it owes a debt to the many people that helped along the way. To all my mentors like
Dave Nichols , Dale Trach , Steve Kavocik , Dave LaPlante I owe you all a debt that must be repaid by sharing the things I learned.
Thanks
john hall
blues creek guitars

For now, I’m a hobby builder. It’s the only fair way to describe myself at this point.
However, my dreams and aspirations, are to be a pro at guitar building some day.

Right now, I’m a pro at custom home building. I’m hoping that my engineering skills, attention to
detail, and my desire to build flawlessly, will bleed over into my guitar building quest. Of course,
I have no idea when that will happen. But, I’m gonna keep on plugging away! (No pun intended)

I truly believe, I will get there. It’s just a matter of time. So, today a hobbyist. Tomorrow..........

Robert

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Everything has beauty, But, not everyone see's it!

I'd class myself as a semi-pro. As with any craft occupation it's very difficult to make a decent living out of building guitars unless you're one of the lucky few. I have a part-time job to give me a regular income but the majority of my time is spent building.

Bob Benedetto said something to the effect that you will never build a great guitar if you only build one a year and the only way you will get to build a lot of guitars is to sell them.

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Pete
http://www.petewoodmanguitars.com