Official Luthiers Forum!

I agree with the things that most people have said above - especially about focusing on the process rather than on the product. I have a demanding day job, but the way that you get absorbed into a luthery project is a wonderful antidote to the stress that follows you home from work. I also love the way a half-made instrument just sits and waits for you on the bench even if you don't get back to it for days or weeks. And you can pause in the middle of a bad day and think of the bit of carving or clamping that you are going to do tonight or this weekend and it gets you out of the moment.

A further thing that I really value is the community of kindrid spirits that gather across this extraordinary medium of the web forum. I visit my favourite few websites on a daily basis. There is a great generosity of spirit and a totally selfless sharing of ideas on most of the forums. It makes me feel really good about the positive aspects of humanity. I imagine that it would have been extremely hard to be a hobby luthier in the days before online communication - especially if you are in a fairly remote location. But now there is a wealth of fantastic information at your fingertips.

Nigel, I have been inspired by a few of your youtube videos. My last 3 guitars have had soundhole bindings because I saw you do one. Everyone who plays those guitars comments on what a cool feature it is and says "how did you learn to do that?". Well, you taught me. We have never met, and I live in Australia. How cool is that?
(BTW, just ordered a copy of your book)
Cheers
Mark

lutherie , gives me a sense of accomplishment, that I do not get from any other activity ,except raising children.I was first exposed to lutherie 40 yrs ago , when I had 2 handmade guitars built for me.That sparked my interest. I slowly began to acquire tools, wood instruments $$, schooling (cabinetmaking)) etc etc.The rest is commentary.

Nigel, first let me say that I have visited your website and that you build some incredible guitars of superb quality and tone.

I've been working on my first build for not quite a year...off and on when work and doing things with my kids don't preclude doing so. I attended an open house for luthiers at John Hall's home in PA last year. There I saw guitars that folks had built themselves and inquired as to what it would take to do a serviced kit build. It seemed like a reasonable project for someone like me that has no wood working skill. I like a challenge

My first build has been like a roller coaster ride....thrilling and stressful at the same time. Each time I perform a task I hope in the back of my mind that I hope I don't mess this up. Once the task has been performed and the guitar remains looking good its very rewarding. My original plan was to build one guitar. However since I've purchased so many tools, I have to build more than one. I think now I have 9 guitars planned.

Not having a reference as to what my guitar should really look like or the perils involved with performing each step because of my inexperience has been overcome because of some folks in this forum but mostly because Jim Warwick an OLF member that lives in my area has been gracious to answer all of my questions, provide instruction, and allow me to come over to his shop to do the work on my guitar while he looks over my shoulder ensuring that I'm doing this properly. His input and guidance have been invaluable. I'm really excited and happy with how my guitar has progressed to date. Another friend Rob Mock, wood worker extraordinaire and guitar store owner has also helped me significantly. He's even built some of my cauls for me

Its not my intention to build and sell guitars. I hope to be able to build really nice guitars so I can keep my kids in guitars and maybe provide an underprivileged child that wants to learn guitar with one. I recently bought a guitar for a young man that wanted to learn to play guitar. His family couldn't afford one so I provided the guitar. Now he plays at his church and wants to teach others to play. I think that's pretty cool.

It's a fun new hobby for me. I really do enjoy it. Can't wait to finish the first one and start 3 more.

Marc

Keeps me humble!

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http://www.presnallguitars.com

There has been some great stuff in this thread, it's good to know that despite the ups and downs (don't know about you lot but I've not run out of new ways to mess things up yet!) that making instruments can bring a good bit of peace and joy into folk lives.

It's interesting to see too the variety of ways this manifests, and also the variety of aspirations. As far as occupations go I've known little else than lutherie, but it seems to be released from commercial pressure - to build for enjoyment has much to be said for it, and may offer advantages.

Any thoughts?

nigel


http://www.ypdbooks.com/photography/366 ... 00333.html

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nigel

http://www.theluthierblog.com

My entire career has been in advertising as a creative director, art director and graphic designer.
I love this career and I get great satisfaction helping solve problems for other people, but I need creative outlets that are separate from my professional creativity.

I do enjoy playing music and I have a small jazz combo with a few like-minded friends. It's a nearly perpetual "rehearsal" band, because if we started gigging it would become another work obligation.

For at least 30 years, I wanted an archtop guitar to play the music I love. The prices of the good ones always put them out of my reach. I started learning to build instruments with the ultimate goal of building the archtop of my dreams. I started small, and worked through a number of instruments and tool projects while I honed my skills. I eventually did build my dream guitar, but by then I was hooked on the process, from design all the way to the string up. It won't be my last. I've always got some sort of instrument project in the works. At the moment, it's a mandolin project. So, for me it's the creative outlet, the process, and the satisfaction that comes from doing something as well as I can...and then doing it better the next time. And the praise of my friends feels pretty cool, too.

I might eventually sell a few instruments just to make room for more, and to get the cost of the materials back, but I don't ever want this to become a job.

I do have immense respect for those who have managed to be luthiers on a fully professional basis.

Patrick

It may for some...but I believe that is determined by one's character and this will vary radically between personality types. Lacking heroic initiative, I've concluded that in order to achieve meaningful growth I have to place myself into situations that require performance or failure. That's certainly the nature of stage performance at any rate. I grow best when my choice is to do or die. It's stressful, of course, but I'm not dead yet.

If left to build a guitar without financial pressure I'd take much longer to achieve a good result.

I'm very lucky to be in both worlds at the moment. I have the luxury of maybe 6 years before I have to bring in some money from building. Since there is no real imperative to making money at the moment I've been able to focus on artisitic development and learning the ropes at my own pace. After a few years the pressure will build and I'll have to get serious about selling and marketing. Frankly, I'm a little worried about becoming lazy in this situation and I acually look forward to the pressure to make sales. I've only sold two guitars to date.

Confidence plays a role here. For me, there is only a limited confidence attainable when building for myself. I'm not sure this is axiomatic but I believe building to one's own expectations can't generally attain a level of competence that building for paying customers will. Arguable perhaps...but I believe this is true on the whole.

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I read Emerson on the can. A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds...true...but a consistent reading of Emerson has its uses nevertheless.

StuMusic

Waz looferie do for me....nuffin.

Waz me do for looferie...pretty much the same...nuffin.

Thats because me ain't gotts no loofiers skills and is probably too old to learn any.

So me just sit in me dojo and make sawdust, occasionally throw wood scraps on the floor for the doggie to chew, and post me B.S. here for to lead you newbies down the garden path with me babblings, B.S. and other insanities.

Anyways a dude has to have a hobby. Is just as good as collecting bees in a jar or counting grains of sand on a beach.


blessings
Padma

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Audiences and dispensations on Thursdays ~ by appointment only.


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