Official Luthiers Forum!

It's not the first time that I read comments stating that if an inexperienced builder sells his "less than perfect" guitar(s) it will hurt the profession as a whole. I have no idea why that would be…
Don't you think buyers, as well, should do a little bit of homework? If spending $x,xxx (or $xx,xxx) in a hand made guitar, wouldn't you have the urge to try to inspect the builder's work first hand, or at least go to one of the boutique shops and play/see/hear a few of the top names, just to get an idea, to compare?
Secondly if a lad sells his "not-top-notch" labor of love to a friend/acquaintance for as much as a crappy import sells at GC, isn't that far better for the society as a whole? Personally I think it's cool to buy handmade things, especially when meeting the maker.
Luthiers tend to forget that for most people, even a not-perfect guitar is quite an achievement and something to be proud of. A lot of players still cherish their '60/'70 Gibsons or '70 Martins, and you can't say it's because of the craftsmanship…
It has nothing to do with individually trying to do our best and progress in the craft. One has to start somewhere, and it's usually the bottom.
As to why some (rare) individuals start a website and call themselves "luthiers" before even finishing their 1st, I view that as a sign of the times: the Jiminy Cricket syndrome.
One of the major transitions between childhood and adulthood is to realise that to get something, one has to work at it.
Lastly, regarding Brock's comments about marketing, allow me to be skeptical. Luthiery, as other artistic endeavours, does not automatically attract the more socially active and extroverted members of society… Rare are those who are good at what they're doing and good at promoting it.
It doesn't mean one shouldn't try, but still… Word of mouth is still the best marketing tool, especially now with the internet. About the size of the market, it is not infinite and like most things, has a beginning and an end. The guitar is a very popular instrument (again), but that may change and affect the profession as a whole, as a major recession would.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Interesting thread of opinions, worries and woes.

For me personally, I don't care if others offer to sell their first build, or three hundreth. I think anyone that has the drive to invest their time and a little money in doing something for themselves deserves a little support, if not encouragment. I build and sell full time for profit, I don't see any of these new first timers hurting the little market I have in this trade. As laurent stated, word of mouth is the best advertising. If the product you sell is not up to par, then by word of mouth, these will not succeed. Personally, I don't think anyone has ever ordered a guitar from me based on my crappy website. But I manage to stay busy from the word of others.
Working in the construction industry for 20 odd years, I realized there were no up and coming craftsmen to replace the older ones. Today a man needs only a tool belt and he is classified a carpenter. No training, no skill, just a desire to earn $15 bucks an hour and a foul mouth. That's a carpenter.
However on this site I see many others building their first, third, tenth guitar, most with no formal training, which to me is a good sign that the guitar as we know it is subject to change and evolve with the creativity of new thought and ideas. From the new guys and girls that have a passion and an unbiased approach to acoustic instruments. Let's be honest, if someone else long in the tooth in this trade teaches you how to build, well, you're probably not going to stray from that ideal. But the new up and coming builder may just have a new concept on the entire philosophy of acoustic guitar. I like seeing the new creations. Otherwise we will have nothing to choose from but a swarm of martin and taylor knock-offs.
I have to actually read the label or the headstock logo on most guitars just to find out who made it, most look and to some degree sound alike. Sometimes you get the chance to see a new concept or style, I appreciate that.
Seems some builders want everyone to think that building a guitar requires climbing the mountain and being enlightened by the acoustic guru. This isn't rocket science. It's a musical instrument, I am not deluded by that fact.
Maybe I've spent enough time around wood and tools to see what it takes to cause harmonious vibration, but it still appears to me that some don't want their hard work to be lessened by the efforts of a free thinking and motivated first timer.
If these new builders don't attempt to sell their first, with all the flaws and quirks, how will they ever sell the next or twentieth.
Ever seen pictures of the first electric guitar.....keep building everyone and maybe I'll get a chance to buy one of your first ones.

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Nehemiah Covey
www.coveysacoustics.com

Peter to answer your question!
Everyone wants approval of what they do !
It's built into us!(don't ask)
New makers need that just as much (if not more) than those with more experience!

So let's cut them some room-the responces from players & makers will let them know where they stand!!!!

Mike

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Mike Collins

I have seen first guitars that were worthy of selling and others from builders that have built 20+ guitars with so many flaws I wouldn't dare show them off.
But that was not the question... my question was not whether you are ready but WHY?

In my case, I love building....think about it constantly and when I build times seems to fly. Why do I offer my instruments for sale? because I want to take it to the next level and hopefully leave a legacy behind and feed my family while I'm here.

For some its to "sponsor" their next build (AKA addiction)

WHY do you want to start a guitar building business? ( not "are you ready yet?")
That was the initial question.

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Peter M.
Cornerstone Guitars
http://www.cornerstoneukes.com

I'm a hobby builder so I don't feel a need for a web site or to otherwise market my instruments. Somehow I still get a lot of requests and I do manage to sell the few instruments I build every year. Perhaps it is because there are so few of us instrument maker types up here, who knows. I don't feel like the world is beating a path to my door or anything, but I could certainly sell more instruments if I could build them faster. But until I'm able to do that, I keep a low marketing profile (I spend too much time reading and typing on the internet, though!), and work on improving my 'product'.

I don't build to create heirlooms or 'tangible items' or whatever, those concepts sound very American and foreign to me. I'm attracted to the combination of art and engineering aspect of this craft, but the real reason I'm building is I feel in love with guitars a long time ago, this is just another way to keep me 'involved' with my sweethearts now that I don't play so much any more!

I thought this Vonnegut quote would fit somewhere in this discussion:

"The arts are not a way to make a living. They're a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or how badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven's sake."

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I don't think this will speak directly to the subject of this thread, but it comes close. I don't really aspire to be a professional guitar builder. I've got a job that I love (working for myself as a professional advertising consultant and graphic designer). But I absolutely LOVE the process of building a guitar. I will keep doing it on a hobby basis until I die. I will use the building process to explore lots of my own design concepts and to hone my craftsmanship as I go along. In the course of doing this, I will acquire quite a number of guitars that I can't possibly get around to playing every day. Ergo, I'll need to dispose of some of them, and I'll probably do it for the cost of materials, as long as I know that, like beloved pets, they are going to good homes. Eventually, I might even charge a bit of a premium if someone is willing to pay it. But I'm getting way ahead of myself. Yes, I have more guitars than I can play every day, but I've only built two of them. But I already have a customer standing in line to buy my hand made archtop whenever I'm ready to part with it. In my personal perfect world, I'd always have three guitars finished, and one in construction. I'd always keep the two best finished ones for myself, and dispose of the third to an interested buyer. And I'd always have that next one about ready...down in the shop. This is just a notion from a strictly hobby builder, but I can't tell you how many full time pros I've read about who got into the business in just this way.

I think you answered your own question… Must be pretty similar for everybody.
Except for the legacy thing, personally I couldn't care less.

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Laurent Brondel
West Paris, Maine - USA
http://www.laurentbrondel.com/

Bravo, Terry! You nailed it!

Hi guys.
First post here since forever. Can't be everywhere.

What'cha gonna do? Try and talk me out of building by shaming my output numbers?

Quality should rise to the top, but there is a guy (out there) making and selling OSB guitars, what'cha gonna do?

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