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I mentioned that I am apprenticing in a busy, college town shop in another thread and Filippo thought that was interesting and mentioned that he was apprenticing too and had been doing so since 2005. He didn't say with who though. In yet another thread he asked me to talk about what I am doing in my apprenticeship so here is a bit on that.

My apprenticeship with David Collins started about a year ago and the focus is on guitar repair. Some of you will recall Rick Turner's assertions that repair is a great thing to learn and I took Rick to heart on this and sought out an apprenticeship exactly for this reason.

It's impossible to list what I have learned to date but what I can say which I believe is the most important thing anyway is that I have been learning a new approach or a new way to think about problem solving when approaching a repair. Of course this approach translates beautifully to building, my primary focus in my own shop, as well.

Each guitar that I work on starts with a really comprehensive inspection of the instrument including checking every single fret to see if any of them are loose. Of course you can only fix what is within the scope and budget of the owner but many times issues not addressed are related to or clues for what the main issue may be. So for all of you computer programmers out here it's the same thing that we learned in terms of defining the problem first.

The work varies of course from guitar to guitar and can range from new guitars that are not as playable as they should be right out of the box to guitars that are twice my age.... and completely unplayable now but perhaps a beloved family heirloom that some folks are going to really be happy when their departed loved one's favorite guitar is once again singing.

You can tell that I appreciate the romantic side of helping bring some of these very cool old guitars back to life... And of course the smiles that we often see when the owner picks up the guitar are priceless.

So here are a couple of pics of a 1930's Gibsonesque (different name on it but either made by Gibson or copied from a Gibson) archtop that I am currently working on. Sorry for the not-so-great photos I took them with my IPhone. It has some cracks, needs a neck reset but is kind of on the line in terms of how bad it needs a neck reset, and it needed a complete fret job and releveling of the board. Some of the frets in the first and second position were so very worn that they were nearly worn through.... It was amazing that anyone would play this guitar in that condition but the wear level proves that someone just kept playing it anyway...

The frets were pulled and great care was taken to not chip away the BRW board. Removing frets is pretty easy and a little patience and good technique can really save the board from chipping.

Notice the divots on the first couple of fret positions? These were far worse before I started the board leveling process. It will take me a while to relevel this board and focus additional attention on the areas with the worse divots. The goal is not to make this guitar like new again and no finish repairs will be made. But the goal is to make it completely functional again and having it playing perhaps better than it ever has. A very worthy goal I will add.

You can also see from where my sanding beam is hitting the fret board that three is a dip in the board too. All of this will be leveled out, the fret slots will be recut or touched up where necessary, and new frets will be installed, leveled, crowned, and sanded and shined.

Once the fret work is done we will decide if a neck reset is to be done. Since there is an effort to remove or reduce the divots in the first couple of fret positions the emphasis on the sanding beam is toward the first couple of frets. This may change the fretboards angle when completed enough to belay the neck reset, if not it gets done.

Here are some pics:





I also wanted to add a word about apprenticing if I may please. I have been asked a number of times why I wanted to do an apprenticeship. Folks said to me that my guitars are in their opinions great, nothing fails, they play well etc. so why now would I want to do anything that might leave anyone with the impression that I am just starting out.

The answer is that in terms of repair work I am just starting out, well a year into my apprenticeship now, and more importantly learning repair makes me a better builder. Why? Because I can see why some guitars fail now, what construction methods did not work, what designs did better than others, etc. It's fantastic experience and I am very, very fortunate to have this opportunity.

In addition it's VERY fun work too, not even what I would call work since I enjoy it so very much. And unlike building a new guitar the process of repairing a guitar can be completed much faster and then you move on. As such it's not as potentially boring as building can be at times when doing the same old things on every build.

If anyone is interested in this kind of post I would be happy to in the future post about some of the more interesting guitars that I have the honor of helping to be whole again.

Also anyone else who is apprenticing, Filippo ???, if you would be so kind please as to let us know about your apprenticeship it would be much appreciated?

Thanks!

Thanks for sharing that with us, Hesh. If I ever get the time, I'm sure there is a ton that could be learned doing repair. Seems like there'd be a lot of pressure, working on someone's baby. My wallet is the only one who gets mad if I screw up a pile of wood.

I build for fun and for the foreseable future will be keeping or gifting mine. I'd be nervous selling any because I don't know how they'll hold up and more importantly, I have know idea what I'd do if there was a problem. Sure, I can always make another, but that's a terrible business model and I'm sure wouldn't satify many cutomers.

Of course a couple of years ago, building a guitar was unimaginable, but I learned that.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

That is neat Hesh. Please post some after photos!

It looks like you have a fabulous opportunity to learn from some vintage guitars. I'm jealous!

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http://www.booneguitars.com
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-Boone-guitar-builder/488208541257210

Hesh: Good for you man, looks like your chasing your dream. You are so very lucky to be able to have a dream and have the nerve to go for it and do something about making it happen.Have never done any repair work of any extent except on my own guitars.Being a GOOD repair person in my mind has to be much harder then being a straight builder.So many different problems ,situations and different guitars to sort out and come to a solution that both workable and affordable for the client.Just to support your own conclusion I'm sure your going to grow both as a builder and a repair person.IF you have the time I'm sure the guys and gals here would love to see more of the adventures of Hesh.All the best with the rest of the apprenticeship.
Tom

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

Heshie,

Great post! I wasn't aware that you were apprenticing with Dave. I think that is a great learning opportunity and a chance to work with a great guy. Congratulations on this new aspect to your guitar career.

Best wishes,
Max

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Max Bishop
Brighton, Michigan

Hesh and Fillipo, Great posts - I love to see what it takes to bring these old guitars back to life. I have always repaired my instruments (early efforts were not too pretty) and now I do some repairs for friends too. I've started a repair/restoration on my 0-16NY that I bought new in '68. This may include a neck reset so I'll be posting and looking for advice as I go.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

Hesh--

Great post. I remember you saying a year or so ago that you were apprentising with David. Its really cool to hear that you are still doing it. Learning repair is very beneficial to building. Having butchered a barrel of old Yamaha's I find that it can be fun, too.

Having spent a couple of summers working in logging camp in the early 70's, a place where the scriptwriters for Deadwood would have been considered lightweights, I can also say that Rick is an absolute gentleman! He did have much to give, just was looking for those that were willing to receive, IMHO.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

Hesh - great post! I think what you are doing is fantastic - I wish someday I will have same type of opportunity. I think the moment we stop trying to learn is when we begin to die intellectually!

I'm always willing to learn anything new. And besides learning to repair can pair some of the bills for the rest of what we want to do.

Mike my friend I could not agree with you more and I'll add that I have been known to say to folks that when you stop dreaming you die..... Hey you should stop by the shop, David's Collin's in A2 some week day when I am there and I can introduce you to David and give you a shop tour. Talk soon.

Hi Jim!!! We miss you in the People's Republic of Ann Arbor my friend!!! Yes Rick was right on a lot of levels and regardless of the delivery the message was valid. It's not easy to be an expert and try to lead folks to water when you know what you are talking about but at least Rick's message was intended to be of value and not shameless self-promotion. He is the real deal!

Deadwood rules and I watch it every week!!!! Sunday at 9:00 PM on 101 on Direct TV!

Hey Steve - one of my problems when I started doing repairs is that David said that I was TOO careful that I might hurt or scratch something.... The surgical mask and booties were probably over the top too.... Anyway he took me outside and told me that I need to learn to treat the guitar like my.... well if you PM me I will finish the sentence.... True story BTW....

Hi Max - I'm still sorry that you can't make lunch on the 10th but we will get together soon I am sure. Hey this apprentice thing is great for me and since I have been living and breathing guitars for several years now, 24/7 it's a productive use of my time and great fun.

Hi Tom and thanks for that my friend. It certainly is my dream and you nailed it on a bunch of levels. Repair kind of has a way of showing you where the rubber really hits the road and what works and what doesn't work..... My own thinking has had to change a great deal but that is nothing new when you are me.... I absolutely will start threads about my repair adventures whenever something interesting is on the bench.

Hi Stephen - absolutely you will get some "after" pics too and I will bring a decent camera for those so you can see some macro shots as well.

Thanks everyone!

This is a fantastic thread and very inspiring. Lately I've been dreaming about pursuing this exact type of professional training or apprenticeship and it's nice to see that it is actually possible. I hope you will both continue sharing your experiences.

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George :-)

Earlier in life, I tried to apprentice with local experienced builders and repair people... in all instances, I was refused (I even tried to volunteer... Free...)

Even now, I have run into the occasional "Pro" builder.. It seems like invariably during conversation, they always complain about folks wanting to apprentice... and the trouble of having these folks bug them and constantly having to turn them away.... etc.

I think that it takes a special combination of Person and Shop to be able to handle apprenticing... A combination of Master Craftsman, Supervisor, and Teacher... and Many 1-man shops only excel at that 1-thing... Craftsman... Many Luthiers and Repair guys run 1-man shops because that is what they can emotionally/mentally handle... They hate working for others and they hate being the "Boss" (Or maybe they theoretically like working with others, but it just never seems to work out..)... so it is only Them, and maybe someone who does the books for them on the side... Maybe they try an "Apprenticeship" and that 2nd fellow slows them down for that 1st 6-8 months... or just wasn't the right sort of person for them to work with... Maybe they gotta go back and correct someone else's work... So they just forgo the relationship and any benefits that come along (Being able to do 2x as much work, being able to take vacations, have someone else to do tasks that they hate doing... like sanding out finishes... etc.)

I honestly wish I had an opportunity to do what you are doing. Unfortunately, Life has a way of getting in the way... I just can't swing Family Life + Day Job + Guitar Hobby + Apprenticing... so for right now, I will have to just enjoy piddling around with building.

Thanks

John

I have no idea how other apprentice relationships are handled in Lutherie but I certainly agree with you John that it takes a special Luthier to want to have/teach/put-up with/tolerate.... an apprentice.

The pay, for me, is the knowledge imparted and the opportunity to learn from repetitive tasks.

As a guitar builder myself my opportunities to say set-up or fret a guitar only happen as often and as fast as I can build the next guitar unless I take in repair work. Even then it takes time to get established and I'll add that in a region with massive unemployment folks are not as keen to pay for having their guitar repaired as they once were - priorities.

There is an expectation on the apprentice too even though it's to-date not discussed in my gig and that is that I will anticipate that I need to be a bonus of sorts to the Luthier that I am apprenticing for. What that means to me is to be reliable, require little direction, self-starting, exercise great care with the property of others, and generally go with the flow in the shop understanding in advance that I am a guest and that it's a privilege for me to have this opportunity.

You will be asked at times to do things that you are not thrilled to do but such is life and I usually can find something positive in anything that I do. Most of all though in addition to the new things that I always have an opportunity to learn and do as mentioned having the mules to perform repetitive repair/set-up tasks on/with is great experience and practice for me.

Lastly although again everyone is different my impression is that what made this decision possible in my case is that I had developed some chops on my own and could demonstrate same through my guitars. Others get educated at a Lutherie school and then seek apprentice opportunities. In any event the point that I am trying to make here is that I seriously doubt that Luthiers take on, very often..., apprentices who cannot demonstrate some level of chops AND a commitment and devotion to Luthierie that may border on obsession.... In short you need to be able to bring value to the endeavor from day one too.

Most of all though it's great fun!

Hesh... you been sneaking into my shop again... taking photos of my 50's arch top restore in progress for your own diabolical purposes?





Wait... it couldn't have been you. The floor still has sawdust on it.

By the way... why is the toilet paper is kept so close to the instrument repair station in that shop? ... on the other hand...

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Chris Oliver
Infinity Luthiers
...in the shop.

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