Official Luthiers Forum!

Well hey everyone,

I am new to the forum, and completely new to luthiery. I'm 16 years old and have been playing guitar for between 2 and 3 years now. For the longest time I focused on electric, with acoustic every once in awhile. But for the past 4 or 5 months, I have probably picked my electric up maybe twice a month. And that says a lot since my one acoustic does not sound good at all!! So now I have had this innate curiosity to how acoustics are made and what makes them sound how they sound. Its a dream of mine to be a luthier for a career, and since I'm 16, I think I should start now. I have basic guitar knowledge, at least most of it I think, but I really do not know much of anything, so I'm asking if anyone could give me ideas of how or what to do to start, and of course I would love to hear how all of you got started to. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!!

Teenage Luthier

I am a teacher at a high school and a part time luthier, I have build 3 electrics, and 9 acoustics. The best thing I would get you to do is read read read. Then get a $90 kit from Grizzly.com that will allow you to put together the basic components and help you see how everything "fits" together. You will need some coaching on that because the directions are a bit skimpy. Buy a book or two. Watch some luthier youtube vids and keep looking. If the kit goes good and you still are interested and you want to try and build something from scratch. Build a mountain dulcimer. I know you probably are saying "what is that and do I want to play it", but it will give you a great primer on how to bend wood, get tools together, fit stuff, do fret work, and actually not spend that much in the way of funds and time.

I have taught 17 kids how to build dulcimers and 10 putting a mandolin kit together. There is a lot of ways you can learn. My humble suggestions are to get your feet wet without a major investment. I have a few classes here and there if you are interested you can pm me.

If you are good with your hands and like solving problems a career can be very rewarding although like teaching not very much in the way of high cash returns.

Good luck and keep asking questions

Karl

that's great advice from karl!! the reason to read x3 is because every author will show you either different ways to do the same thing, or will suggest a different order in which to do them, or both. when it comes to building guitars, being aware of different techniques and different orders of operations are both important to learn. so read, read, read.

the youtube suggestion is also great. super tips from robbie obrien lately, and also very good stuff from nigel forster that gives you a 'real time' (more of less) idea of how some of the processes go.

another thing you can do is check out stuff like "shop tours" or "process" sections of individual makers web sites. again, seeing the same step of the process done in a bunch of different ways can be really helpful and will help you get your head around some of the steps of building.

good luck - and don't forget to check out the archives here. there's a lot of great stuff available.

phil

Well, 16 is a great age to start.....I built my first guitar at that age (42 years ago) and I'm still building.
There's a ton of info and sources out there to learn, and this site is a good place too.
I'd strongly recommend starting with a kit. It will keep those fingers of yours safer so you can continue to be a player too.

Here's a pic of me at 16 and my first guitar.

Best
www.guitarsbydavidlaplante.com

There are a bunch of great books out there to get you started..

I like to read so I'd start with Cumpiano's "Guitarmaking, Tradition and Technology".. After you've read it cover to cover ( 3 times ) read everything you can get your hands on.. Stew Mac and LMI have tons of good books, and try searching them on Barnes & Noble or Chapters you can often save some money or even get them used.

If your more of a visual guy, John Mayes has some good DVDs as well.

I also agree with the idea of starting with something a little simpler.. It will give you a chance to get a taste without quite as much of a commitment. If a dulcimer isn't your thing try a ukelele. You can get a kit or if your looking for some inexpensive wood to experiment with there are a few of us here who can help you out.

Either way stick around. This place is great and with this many people here you'd think as a group we have the right answer for every question... right?

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A tour of our shop (Somewhat outdated)
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Hi

I'm 17 and just over halfwayish through my first build.
What i did was bought and read:
Cumpiano and Natelson technology and tradition
Alex Willis Step by Step guitar making
Jonathan Kinkead Build your own acoustic guitar

once i had read all of those books and started to read them again, i started looking at tools and kits that i would need, i throughly searched the garage and house for anything usable, and also started looking at kits from places like Stewart McDonald, LMI, eventually getting one from Craft supplies (learn from my mistakes, dont get one from Craft Supplies), but i didn't have much choice as that was the only place i could find in the UK that did kits.

Also, use these guys here when ever u need to, they are all brilliant knowlegeable and willing to answer any questions u have!

most importantly, have fun! enjoy every step and learn at every oportunity.

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Hi,

Heres you a u-tube link. Pretty good info just to see the process from start to finish.
http://www.youtube.com/user/bobloblaw1701

You may consider trying a kit from Stew Mac or LMI, especially if you don't have access to a shop full of equipment, benders etc. The kit is kind of expensive, but it's probably cheaper than starting to scratch build from, well, scratch. They take care of the tough stuff you need special tools for: Side bending, neck carving, fret slotting and a few other things but there's still plenty of work to be done.

You'll still need some hand tools and at least a laminate trimmer (little router) but those don't cost too much and you'll use it into the future as well.

I'm building a Stew-Mac 000 and am very pleased with the instructions, kit quality and DVD that comes with it. the instructions can be downloaded here: http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Kits/Acoust ... ml#details

If I had to guess starting with nothing tool wise, you could put this kit together for about $1000 total ($500 for the kit and $500 for tools).

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

Welcome to the OLF guys!

In addition to what the others have said hang out here and ask lots of questions. The membership here is VERY helpful and although I agree with reading all you can find I personally believe that 80% of what I have learned about guitar building came from this forum and it's very generous membership.

Great to have you here!

Also consider John Hall who is a sponser and has nice kits and will help you as you need. He will do the kit as you need IE: bent sides, thickness etc.

I am do acoustics, but getting into other models soon. I love the dulcimer and my wife plays, that is one instrument that appears easy to make and will allow you to get some basic skills. I plan on making a few soon and have good wood sets in the wood room. There is a good market for them here in Branson, MO. but not plan on them as a line going for in the market, but fun and get out to some kids.

If this is something is a few years you want to continue, look at the various schools. I did Bryan Galloups and it is a great school. I think he is also setup with MI. dept of education and Fed education for grants, loans etc. Other schools out there which I am sure very good, I am just aware of what Bryan does., If going for a career, think the 6 month or longer school si way to go for long term. Once out, and Bryan helps here, look for an apprentice job or job with a known shop. I know Dana Bourgeois has hired several folks from Galloup and other places. This will build your skills even more and when go on your own, also not only building skills much better, have an idea about this business and how to do some things in that area. Some college's out there like Red Rocks in Denver where Robbie O'brien and Mike Snider teach. I think several others also.

One thing and from 6 kids and old age. Get college education and if can throw in the building with it the better. You just may and probably will need the education if this doesn't work out for you or need back up. Check out schools that may offer that as a program, like Red Rocks. College will never be a problem for you in the futue, not having it can.

You can't learn to much and going to fast will not be a good thing if want this as a career. All good things come in time and effort. The more effort the more sucess. I wish you luck and hope you carry through on this. It is great to see young folks wanting to learn and carry on this craft.

Your at a prime age and if you have the fire in the gut and ability your ahead of a lot of us. I have been at it 7 years or so, but started late. I went to school and worked with guys in their teens and now early 20's. They did the school, but more important they got much more schooling working with great builders. Do that a few years and you will learn so much more and be a more complete builder when set up your own shop. There are folks out there who will put effort in you, if you will put the effort back, as that is how many times they get the pay back. You help them in their shop for sucess and they then in time want you to have the same ability and sucess. I know. The boss has put way more into it for me than I ever have or will be ever to give back, but others out there like Bill and world and lutherie better for it.

Last but not at all least LEARN REPAIR AT THIS YOUNG AGE. I think (really more know) you will be a better builder if you can do repairs and restoration work. I actually like it better, and wish had more knowledge in that. It will also pay the bills while waiting out the commissions to get where you don't need that income, whenever that is, if at all. What Hesh said also. While into this before schools and whatever, lot of help here.

If you wanna start up faster then, lets say, buy tools needed etc then check out John Hall as others mentioned, at blues creek guitars, on his webpage it says he´s giving classes, and the price for those are real good, here´s a link http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/classes.php material included !! . that would get you in the right track, to see if this is for you and get you a first class guitar in the same time !.

2nd option, like others said, get a kit.

3rd. Do like me and spend all your savings, and let all you earnings go to buy tools/machines and woods. .

Lars.

Well thanks for all the great responses guys!
I honestly only expected maybe two or three small responses but all of that was really a ton of help!!

So I have looked on Amazon for books, probably going to buy Tradition and Technology plus another book sometime tomorrow. Thanks Stan for the name of that school. I've searched google for luthier schools and have come up with only a couple schools. I haven't taken a look at Red Rocks yet but I plan on it in a minute here. If anyone knows of any other legit luthier schools I would love to know of those. My dad and brother both have accumulated tons of tools in the garage, I haven't been one to work on cars too much like them but I think they would have most of the non-special tools somewhere between them that I could borrow. And as far as college goes, if I end up going to a non-luthier school, a traditional university, are there any majors or courses that I should take that would be useful as far as guitar building goes??

Welcome. All great advice already, so I won't try to improve on it. But as far as schools goes, that I can help with. If you aren't familiar with Stew Mac, you ought to be. They are one of our sponsors so you will find them up top. They have a free info section that has a ton of information. One of the articles is a listing of luthiery schools.

For books, check out http://www.powells.com They are a used bookstore in Portland OR. Let me rephrase that, they are a huge bookstore. If you can't find what you are looking for, you can asked to be notified if they ever get a copy in. It can be days, weeks or years, depending on how rare the book is you are looking for, but they will get in touch with you. I've found a couple of special books that way.


If you are planning on hanging out here, which we all hope you are, would you mind adding your name at least as a signature? It just makes things a bit more personable.

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Aoibeann