Official Luthiers Forum!

Forgive me if there has been a topic on this before, but I didn't see one and I thought it'd just be something cool to help members both old and new get to know each other a bit better. I know I certainly would like to hear about some of your experiences and the reasons that drew you to this path. I guess I'll start off.

I'm 23 years old now and growing up in NYC, I've never really been around much woodworking aside from the occasional carpenter. The vast majority of my life has been spent in a photo lab and taking pictures (my father owns a photo lab in The Bronx). I had always wanted to learn guitar, but my parents never allowed it, instead signing me up for piano (typical Korean-American thing to do) courses and eventually trumpet. It wasn't until the summer between Intermediate School and High School that I first picked up a guitar at church and I was instantly drawn to it. I soon found myself completely absorbed in playing guitar, often playing upwards of 8 hours a day. I'd always had a love and appreciation of music and all of the arts, but there was some magic in playing guitar for me... the way it felt in my hand, the variation of tones between different guitars... It's difficult to explain. My parents were fine with me playing guitar, but they flipped when I told them that I wanted to do something that involved music as a career. They shot that dream down pretty quickly and I understand them somewhat. They are first generation Korean-Americans that came to this country and struggled a lot so that their children would have better opportunities and an easier life... And here I was saying that I wanted to get into something musical (not exactly known for making money like being a doctor or lawyer) ^^;;

So I went to college and struggled a lot, constantly changing majors, failing courses from lack of interest, and switching schools to find something that I wanted to do. Eventually I gave that up for a while and decided to work full-time while cooling my head and finding my path. I realized that while I don't want to be mooching off my parents or someone else for the rest of my life, I can't help but love music. And perhaps more than music itself, empowering others to play and spreading a love for music. I believe that building guitars, repairing broken guitars, and helping people to maintain their instruments is my path for accomplishing this. While I've yet to complete my first guitar, I hope that one day my instruments will inspire both musicians and other luthiers to further themselves in their fields. Perhaps one of these days, my dreams will be realized, but I should probably hurry up and finish up #1 before I dream more, eh? ^^;;

What about the rest of you? What drives you?

You may find this one interesting:

http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=15406&hilit=

I pretty much have zero woodworking experience. I got into this just because I also really just like music, especially the guitar, and I am kind of a "how it works" freak. Nothing too romantic about my reasons and I cannot say that I am striving to do this full time or even ever to sell one (I also am on my first build). I hope I build something that sounds good and that I will have for a long time - beyond that I don't know. You certainly sound very enthusiastic, which is a very good trait - use that to stay motivated. Good luck and post some pictures (if you haven't already)!
Christian

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Time is a great teacher, but unfortunately it kills all its pupils - Louis Hector Berlioz

Chansen / C hansen / C. Hansen / Christian Hansen - not a handle.

Christian

Professionally I am a proctologist and business was starting to sag so I thought that I would join this forum........

Seriously I have wanted to learn to build acoustic guitars since I was a kid, a VERY long time ago......, and always thought that I would do so when I retired.

Several years ago I was bored out of my mind and believe it or not a television show, American Chopper, got me interested in building something, anything, based on themes. It occurred to me that I need not wait to retire to start to learn to build guitars now so I purchased a Stew-Mac d*ead kit and got to it.

Back then I had a bathroom in my condo that had never been used for anything except storage so I set up the bathroom as a shop and eventually built 10 guitars in there....... Perhaps I should have been a urologist.......

I had never worked with wood prior beyond radio control airplanes and had no tool experience either. It's a wonder that I didn't seriously injure myself.

These days I live and breath guitars and am hopelessly hooked.

For me an 8 year desire was realised when we settled in our current neighbourhood and my house happened to have....a small purpose built workshop....

I didn't plan for this workshop when we moved. I put two and two together and decided that it was now or never.

I love the path that I'm on. Never thought I would trade paint and canvas for wood and steel.

My apologies. ^^;; I must've missed that. I suppose someone should delete or merge this thread then? >.<

But then again, I'd also like to know how your experience as a luthier has been along with why you all started. XD

I was one of Hesh's patients and could not fine anyone to irritate me the same way so I followed him here

again on the serious note I played most of my life. A little semi pro in my younger days, I learned wood working via my grandfather early in my youth. when I was 40 I developed CTS and my playing slowed down to a trickle. I started by building a couple kits and fell in love with the craft and have been doing this every since

Good one Michael!

I'd been a player for the best part of 40 years, and decided that I really needed a couple of George Lowden guitars. I then persuaded myself that it would be cheaper to make them myself...... You all know the rest of the story!

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

No apologies. Just thought youd be interested. Any new stories would be great.

My recap. Long time bass and then guitar player who need a new hobby after the bands faded away and peopel got married and had kids. As an engineer I love to create and buying nicer and nicer guitar became expensive. Now I have a severe case of WAS, so theres no turning back.