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What are the 3 worst mistakes you've done as a luthier, either concerning building or the business in general? feel free to give more than 3 :p

1) Some days I think it was a mistake that I had not started building guitars a lot earlier in life;
2) Other days I think it was a mistake that I had started building at all; and
3) Every day I think it was a mistake that I ever believed that I could build a guitar myself cheaper than buying one.

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"Building guitars looks hard, but it's actually much harder than it looks." Tom Buck

Not following a "gut" feeling and refunding $$$ to a customer that I just didn't feel right about. Never again!
Wish I hadn't quit building guitars to build only mandolins.
Glad I quit building mandolins to resume building guitars. Guess that's not a mistake...

#1 : I had a bad feeling regarding an operation on the bandsaw, but did it anyway. Crushed my thumb tip.
#2 : Forget to lock depth on the drill press and pass trough an electric body.
#3 : Bought too much wood.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

would you sale it?

For me really the only thing I sometimes think was a mistake was spending a bit more money than neccesary for some tools, but at the end of the day I have reliable stuff that will last a long time, some it like the planes for example should last a lifetime.

1. Stabbing myself with a 1/4" chisel
2. Stabbing myself with a 1" chisel
3. Stabbing myself with a gauge.

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ELEVATE || Next Level Lutherie
http://elevatelutherie.com
&
http://ensorguitars.com

When I was a teenager,I once drilled 7 tuning peg holes through a Fender style peghead. I ended up using the center hole for a string hold down for the top 3 strings.

1) Thinking that there would only be the top three mistakes...

2) While building a batch of two geetars I forgot to change the form in the Fox bender and bent the wrong size/shape...

3) Thinking that only cool people build guitars - my mistake was that only VERY cool people build guitars.... (and you thought I was going to say what??? )

4) Sorry I always take liberties so here's a forth... Assuming that the marked thickness on fret slotting files is accurate - it's not - not even on Grobets... Measure each one with a micrometer and then remark them accordingly. If for example you assume the OEM markings to be correct AND you are using a file very close to the string size the string may not sit all the way in the bottom of the slot. And if your 53 and have the vision of Mr. Magoo you may not notice that the string is not seating properly and keep filing, and filing, and filing.... Can you say time to throw out your nut blank and make another one.... To add insult to injury this has happened more than thrice to me.....

1) Not accepting the project as a learning opportunity and quitting because it wasn't up to snuff.

2) The body shape I use has a radius where the neck meets the body, meaning that it isn't perfectly square. I sanded the radius into the neck block, but when I glued the neck block to the rim, I didn't ensure that the tenon was square and centered (it wasn't). I couldn't get a proper alignment out of the neck, but I did get one that was close enough that the guitar's functional.

3) Even with the Saddlematic from Stew Mac, locating the bridge and making sure everything is where it needs to be is still somewhat tricky and could benefit from a third arm.

The top 3 mistakes...!
1. Thinking I might like to and be able to build a guitar.
2. Starting to build guitars.
3. Not participating in the 12 step program for building addiction.
Tom

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A person who has never made a mistake has never made anything!!!

i've only made one mistake in my whole life.
one time i cut a board too long.

#1 Taking a phone call while a side from my most prized set of Brazilian was in the bender with the heat on "HI".

#2 Carelessness with a 5/8" chisel. Went between 2 fingers and cut both of them to the bone. (What really pissed me off was ruining the neck heel!)

#3 Locating a bridge for long scale on a short scale guitar.

Mike Franks
www.mjfranksguitar.com

1) Used a router that was set brilliantly and actually trusted it. Ended up slicing the midsection on an electric out and shticking a new one in. Worked out well. I don't use a router for much anything anymore. I got two more channels in my workmates from router blades slipping out. I'm using a drill press for a lot of that stuff now.
2) Biting off more than I can chew. "You can do this crazy design, I just know it!" (tries it) "AGH! $200 and I got a ruined instrument on my wall!"
3) Didn't make enough of my own tools. If I'da built a buncha buncha cam clamps for example, I'da saved me some money. I also coulda gotten advice on molds and forms sooner. I got that sorted out supposedly but it'da helped me out a while back. Wish I did some radius dish-ing a while back too. So many headaches.....

No major injuries however!

Selling the '54 Les Paul (circa 1971)
Selling the '54 Strat (same)
Not buying all those '59 sunbursts when they were under $1K.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

1. 15 years ago, changing tuners on a 12 string, drilled a little hole through the headstock, the customer was blind, filled the hole, didn't tell the customer.
2. 15 years ago got discouraged from guitar repair and building after drilling a hole through some one's headstock
3. Every time I looked at my unfinished guitar parts over the last 15 years, said I should finish this thing and didn't.

First thing I did right recently, pick up the parts after all those years and finally finish it,
Rob

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http://shastaguitar.com/
http://www.kalimbakit.com/
http://www.youtube.com/user/comfyfootgr ... ature=mhee
http://www.facebook.com/robert.renick.7

At this point most of mine are getting out of sequence (usually due to some interruption). Last one was installing the truss rod and spline when I still needed the slot for the fretboard locating jig.
Another common scenario is trying out a new procedure or jig on the real thing before doing it on scrap.
The last and MOST dangerous is not walking away from a build when that voice in your head tells you it's time to quit for the day.
Terry

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

For me the nature of the really big ones are almost always the same: not leaving well enough alone.

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"...you have to get over your strict adherence to your largely imagined notion of absolute perfection..."

Well is this supposed to be 3 mistakes total , or 3 on one mando , cause THEN i have to decide which mando

( 1 ) recheck neck angle BEFORE gluing up

( 2 ) Make sure that a small piece of wood didnt somehow get under your planer BEFORE turning it on , thereby creating a line drive back at you at approx 2'8" above the floor .

( 3 ) Not putting more effort into learning to play at a younger age , now have to depend on a friend for intonation and sound feedback.

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
Never met a STRONG person who had an EASY past !
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