Hey chaps,
I've been thinking about moving into guitar building for a while now, although I'm not sure how to go about it.
Some background on me:
I'm 17, and in my first year at 6th form studying BTEC Business (Extended diploma), Biology A level, and Philosophy and Ethics A levels.
Following 6th form, I'll be looking at universities although I'd rather not go. I'd like to take a gap year in order to save up money, and then go to do something music related, such as a Degree at ICMP, or an apprenticeship with an established luthier.
I'm fully aware making a living out of guitars is incredibly hard work if you just have the one income source, so teaching guitar and being a luthier as well appeals to me. Especially if it allows me to have an originals band in the evenings too.
What I'd really like to know is, Where can I learn to be a luthier? and is this a pipe dream, or can I make it a reality if I really strive to be the best? (Which I fully intend to do!)
'Awibble'
Vintage v400mh mahogany topped dreadnought acoustic FS - £100
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Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.
Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.
Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com. Facebook too!
Not that dear either so I'm told.
Talk you out of it? OK... when I grew up I had a group of mates (there were 6 of us). We were so close we were like brothers. I took a lot of stick because I took a job in a studio whilst the other 5 went off to luthier school. Anyhow all 5 were brutally murdered in separate incidences over the years by right wing tree-huggers. I on the other hand am still alive and kicking.
and aren't most tree huggers left wing???
another way of looking at it is do you wanna ruin your hobby by making it your job ?
other people have already said the rest really... it is tough, go find out how many guys make their living at it fulltime.. not many.
remember, do it for fun.
this is what I did before I started - https://www.linkedin.com/pub/jaden-rose/a7/989/76
The young do not know enough to be prudent, therefore they attempt the impossible - and achieve it, generation after generation.
Believe it or not that's a really common misconception.
http://i1284.photobucket.com/albums/a579/imadray/Treehugging_zps4fa2cda3.jpg
Nil Satis Nisi Optimum
Vintage v400mh mahogany topped dreadnought acoustic FS - £100
just as a counterpoint to what's been written here (not that it's bad advice). I bought my fiddle of a lady who runs her own luthier business, her business model consists of (in ascending order of income) making violins/violas/cellos, restoring old ones and selling them, selling new violins of various grades, carrying out set ups, repairs and services to violins and bows (things like rehairs). She also sells ancillary stuff like strings, rosin, chin rests, shoulder rests, bows and so on. She works from a large shed in her garden (which was incredibly cramped, she's probably at capacity now). I would say (without prying into her finances) she does OK, she makes a living doing something she enjoys. I would say she's only able to do this because she can set up in her back garden, if she had to pay rent somewhere I guess it'd be more challenging.
Where she wins is she is well respected in the area (she's also the only specialist in the North Devon area) and people are happy to give her business over the internet box shifters.
I guess my point is that it can be done (as it clearly is being done) so I say go for it, you'll have to work hard at it, and at first be flexible about your income streams but it is doable. The last thing you want is to get to 50 and look back with regret at the things you didn't try. You only get one life and no rehearsal, so you gotta get it right the 1st time.
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
Think this was it: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01wgcdd
I'm not locked in here with you, you are locked in here with me.
do wtf moves you, have at it.
look up those "what people say on their death beds" quote pages. one of them is "I wish I'd been braver and done what I really wanted to".
there's every chance your journey will lead somewhere different to what you expect, that's OK.
go to it.
Many guitars have a re-sale value. Some you'll never want to sell.
Stockist of: Earvana & Graphtech nuts, Faber Tonepros & Gotoh hardware, Fatcat bridges. Highwood Saddles.
Pickups from BKP, Oil City & Monty's pickups.
Expert guitar repairs and upgrades - fretwork our speciality! www.felineguitars.com. Facebook too!