Official Luthiers Forum!

Kinnead book - Build your own acoustic guitar with plans, and this forum.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Dont be discouraged by these guys. Keep looking, there is nothing like being in a guitar shop.

And that is suppose to mean what? That people are putting him down by giving him suggestions on how to get started building on his own ?

Don't you think he would have a much better chance finding that one mentor if he already had some build experience under his belt?

Or are you suggesting that he does nothing until he finds that one mentor?


Maybe your wording about "these guys" could have been a little less pointed...

Could it be that "these guys" are people that actually know what they are talking about?

Cheers,
Bob

Ok, let's lighten up. At any rate it would probably the best 2 find a more production oriented small shop. Where somebody could teach you something and then just let you do that all day long.

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Pat

+1 or Robbie's course. Follow his video and you can make a great guitar and learn a lot. The forum here is a huge help. Just read old post about what you are working on and follow daily and you will get a great education. It will soon be obvious that there are a dozen + ways to do everything.

Good luck building.

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EddieLee

I am a Roberto-Venn grad, so coming from someone who wasn't entirely self taught I have to say given your knowledge of repair and tool base your more prepared to get into building than you think. Electric guitars are cabinets with frets, acoustic guitars are a little more intricate but fretting is very similar. As far as bracing it's very much trial and error for awhile until you get the "feel" for it. I second all of those who have sId just get your hands dirty with it and see what happens. You won't be perfect the first time or second or third and so on, it's a continued process for all of us. I don't regret the experience I had at a luthiers school but to be honest financially I can't say it was justified. I could have equipped my shop entirely for what I spent going to school. Good luck and welcome to the forum. If you have specific question feel free to shoot me a PM and I will help as best I can.

PM me,
I know someone in London who is a fine creative instrument craftsman and I think he's had a number of folks through his shop in an arrangement similar to what you are looking for.
He's also a very fine fellow.
We met at the Romanillos course in Spain in 2007.
Best

Not all classes are the same for sure.
There are so many different techniques. I hope you find your mentor.

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

Toonces hit the nail on the head with his first post. I'd go as far as saying he was a little gentle as it's not just a waste of time for the mentor, it has probably cost the mentor either opportunity or cold hard cash.

The reason courses cost what they do is that the luthiers providing them have figured what giving the instruction costs them and price the courses commensurately.

Remember the new golden triangle of cheap-fast-good. If you want good training within a reasonable time, you're going to have to pay for it. If you're willing to take your time, there's plenty of resources (such as the OLF) that are essentially free that will allow you to train yourself. The cheap and fast route shouldn't be of any interest to you...I hope.

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