Official Luthiers Forum!

I've supported myself for the past 5 years doing nothing but guitar building. Not getting rich, but getting by nicely. Don't count the hourly wages, because the hours don't really count. Count the paid up bills VS the unpaid bills...

What am I doing wrong? I hate to think I'm the only "pro" here? And no, you don't need a factory to do so(at which point you're no longer a luthier, anyhow).

I'll admit that being 100% dept free helps my situation, but I'm not alone in that respect either, I'm sure.

I hope to join the ranks of fulltime luthier one of these days but not till I start getting some of those retirement checks I've been working for. Mario, I'm sure your not the only fulltime luthier around this forum but your definately in the minority. I'm on the fast track to being mortgage free and as soon as that is done, I hope to have a lot more time on my hands or maybe a lot less if I can sell some geetars.John How38365.5403587963

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=John How] but not till I start getting some of those retirement checks I've been working for [/QUOTE]

That's cheating! You'll have a primary income to support your secondary income. <g>

And it only cost me 40 years of my life. John How38365.5573842593

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

Uh, yeah. I'm not even 40 years old!

More cheatin'. Ya got a head start!

Really, I think you got the headstart. Your already doing what you want to do. I have to wait till I have another means of support before I get to start my dream job.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

[QUOTE=Mario]
I'll admit that being 100% dept free helps my situation, but I'm not alone in that respect either, I'm sure.[/QUOTE]

Mario, you might be pretty lonely there in 100% debt free land!

Really, that would no doubt be the key to moving into it full time. No debt! Probably lots of experience building guitars wouldn't hurt either.

Jeff

You-da man Mario!

Congrats. There's always work for the best and brightest.

I'm 100% debt free too, but I live a very modest lifestyle -- my wifes '91 corolla has 260K miles on it. My house is only 1000 sq ft & it has a basement.

etc.

Less than 40 and out of debt -- my hands to ya

Actually the CNC programming comes from an auto-CAD file converted into a DXF file.

Most guitar drawings are done with CAD anyway, aren't yours done with CAD too?

On the other hand, the modeling is used to develop the prototype design. It's pretty incredible what computer modeling has done to engineering design. A tech can push a computer button and do what an engineer used to do. Modeled designs are state of the art. You get about everything you are looking for without having to build it first -- the right sound quality, material strength, minimum weight, dimensional stability, minimum material use, and maximum performance.

I believe Tacoma is state of the art in this respect -- I must say I am very impressed with their new technological designs. I can hear the difference.

Mine are definately done with CAD (Carbon Analog Device)

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.