Luthier - An Endangered Species

Baxter and Jonathan talk about the looming issue of the aging repair and guitar techs. The average age for a guitar repair person is in the late 50's and that is going to be an issue when you need to get something repaired or replaced on your vintage guitar.

[@ericwarrington6650]

I'd jump into an apprenticeship or training to do this in a minute...there's such a need for this now especially since 16 million new players in 2021;alone...that's alot of guitars...I bought 6 last year alone..

[@russellzauner]

Apprentice to the best cabinet makers you can find. Hartley didn't do the instruments, he just did the electronics. He hired cabinetmakers and in particular a guy named Chip Todd designed the T60, which arguably set the style guide for the entire T series. Peavey also evolved as a company, moving from the original slabs and logs to lighter designs; later in his active career he said in interviews that they did the "mass = sustain" thing because everyone else was and were always gradually moving to lighter and lighter designs, realizing that a maple cap on a basswood body actually has *improved* sustain over just a thin hardwood body alone or even a thicker slab because it decouples you from the instrument, actively reducing damping of the natural signal regeneration in the instrument, or rather, sustain. There's a balance that can be found experimentally once one realizes that this is the case (use a laser to check vibration quality, we don't have to touch some things to measure them anymore, makes it easy to test a LOT of samples very FAST).

[@Donholleyglobeaz]

I want to be a luthier! I told my wife this and she was like: aren’t we Baptist? 😆 My dream: become a luthier and work for Baxster!

[@simontemplar3359]

As a Lutheran who aspires to be a luthier, I thoroughly enjoyed this joke. :)

[@davidmrgn443]

I said the same to my wife expecting her to tell me how silly that idea was, to my shock she's been encouraging it more and more. So here we go on this voyage. Good luck to you in yours if you start it!

[@timnewman1172]

@@simontemplar3359 this lifelong-Lutheran agrees...

[@robertpennington1019]

Classic…

[@ActionGuitars57]

The worst part of being a luthier is that people always want to give you a hard time about what you charge. I have been doing this work for 30 years and my labor rate is $50.00 an hour. People complain about that. They'll pay $75 h$100 HR to get their computer repaired. I love fixing and rebuilding guitars, but people today have no patience and they don't want to pay for craft men ship and skills. I have repaired and rebuilt and built guitars for folks from all over the US and have met many great folks, but younger players are impatient and always trying to undercut what they have to pay for quality work.

[@justinrayguitars6024]

You sir are absolutely correct.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

Fifty an hour doesn’t seem that bad when you consider what a mechanic charges per hour. If it took you all day to fix my guitar, considering what might require 8 hours to fix, $400 would seem reasonable.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

Depends I mean When they bring a Squire to you a $200-400 guitar and cannot change their own strings, the work sometimes out weights the cost of the guitar labor and they cannot handle that. People are dumbasses.

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

I hear the same thing in the furniture world. I repair furniture, have been for about 10 years. People think 50 an hour is too much but don't understand what it takes to actually do it. It's definitely frustrating

[@jfrankcarr]

Like bar gigs, they still want to pay 1970's prices for guitar work.

[@markkozielec2200]

When I first went my luthier, I told him I wasn’t a patient person, and that he should charge me accordingly. We came to an agreement, and he’s never had my guitar for more than a few days, but I’ve also never needed to do anything major. Pickup swaps, and setups. I also tip him well. Usually 40-50% of my bill. Because of this, he even delivers my guitars back to my door. Gotta support these guys.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

You bothered a Luthier for electronics?.....damn dude, seriously either a tech or DIY it, that is like taking a tesla car to a Nuclear Engineer to perform maint., most Luthiers that have a large client base don't usually waste their time on that kind of small stuff.

[@markkozielec2200]

@@nocturnal101ravenous6 You’re funny. It’s easy money for him. I’m not practicing electronics on $3000 guitars, and he gets paid well for his services. Services I don’t wanna do myself. That’s kinda how life works.

[@mattmattga]

@@markkozielec2200 Smart man

[@vainestlamb5917]

@@markkozielec2200 I mean when you've got the money and I also agree I wouldn't try to wire a $3000 guitar either and I've practiced a little bit

[@markkozielec2200]

@@vainestlamb5917 My cheapest guitar is an American Silver Sky, that I paid cost for, and I have no interest in touching that one either. Like you said, since I can, I’d much rather support a local business.

[@nikolaki]

I use this post to honour Terry Relph-Knight, a luthier in West London, who passed away last year. Knew him about 3-4 years. My plan was to give him every single one of my instruments and let him do his thing. Sadly that didn't happen but a good number of my guitars/basses were Terryfied. He wrote up in depth logs of almost everything he did to the instrument. I still enjoy reading them. He was a voracious learner and investigator. A lot of what I needed involved replacing the sorry excuse for wiring manufacturers put in left handed guitars. He would simulate the circuits I'd ask for using SPICE. He owned a gauss meter - i know the strength of every pickup of mine that passed his hands. He would find things wrong with guitar I didn't even realise, fix them and he didn't charge the earth or put mark ups on parts. And when I'd pop over to his home to drop off or pickup an instrument or amp it would inevitably lead to long discussions over any number of topics. And long emails too. I never rushed Terry because I knew the end result would be worth it. He wasn't pretentious like some luthiers I've come across. Miss you Terry.

[@Tsudkyk]

I’m after reading this, I decided I’m going to write detailed logs for repairs from now on- and provide a copy to the customer. I would love if a customer showed up with these logs so I could review them before starting my initial inspection. I imagine it could help boost the guitars resale value as well- it shows the instrument was taken care of. Thanks for the idea Terry, rip.

[@oig40203]

It's funny, I think of Luthiers as people that build guitars. I refer to people that repair guitars as "guitar repair dudes".

[@ericwarrington6650]

Guitar techs are what they are called...they don't build them..they maintain and mod them...kinda the difference... obviously these skills and industries overlap

[@richsackett3423]

@@greggallandrew1097 Good bad.

[@kkzooi]

Since there is no luthier anywhere where i live, i just started doing all the work needing to be done myself. I started out with doing basic setups on all my guitars. Got me an old crappy guitar to learn how to do fretwork, took me 3 times to get it right but now i know what to do and it plays like butter. Electronics are very easy so no problem there. Schematics for certain types of wiring can be found everywhere online. I refinished a guitar, had to do that twice to get it right. I wouldn't call my work professional but decent. It's good enough for me and i know how to make my guitars play right. I have not done any major or specialized jobs (IE neck reset or placing binding) Just get yourself a crappy cheap guitar, be patient and eventually things will start to make sense.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I’ve been doing the same thing. I bought a squire classic 70s strat. I changed out the pickups, I refinished it in nitro, I think the neck was supposed to be an American neck, it’s beautiful, Birdseye all the way through with flame all down the back of the neck. It just has a couple small blemishes under the finish that probably got it rejected and sent to Indonesia. Now I’m not sure if they do this, but how else would such a beautiful neck end up on a squire? Anyway, I leveled the frets and I’m on the fence about changing the wire. They are the tall frets, im used to mediums on Les pauls and like them more. It’s a fun hobby and I love tinkering on things, im a carpenter by trade.

[@SuperBakersk8er]

Thats how alot of stuff in life is, keep at er and your skills well evolve as well as everything else!

[@nedsdonutshop]

When I was a teenager my parents had their kitchen remodeled. The cabinet maker/carpenter (and friend of my dad) also played fiddle. We would jam, and whenever I needed instrument repairs I'd call him. He repaired and restored everything from fiddles and guitars to some Ludwig drums from the 1930s that I had. He did great work and seemed to really love bringing new life to old instruments, but there was just more money to be made renovating kitchens and restoring woodwork in old houses.

[@AmericanVetMusic]

I’m 42. I apprenticed under my guitar mentor for five years between 2016-2021 until he passed away. He owned his own guitar shop and he wanted to pass it on to me when he retired but, that never came to fruition. He taught me how to do things slowly and correctly. Most of all, always stand up for yourself. I miss him dearly. I just bought a Les Paul Junior that I’m going to set up and name after him.

[@skipfantry5059]

I'm a luthier. It's a tough gig. 'Luthier' means a bunch of different things. A good service/repair guy is a luthier. A designer/builder is a luthier. When I was born a fender cost $200-300 - trying to get a player to part with $2300 now is all but impossible. But the craftsmanship and skill necessary then is still required now, and that is what a US made guitar by a guy in a shop actually IS worth. And the $50-60 bench costs are a bargain for the skills required. We're harder to come by because it's REALLY hard to stay in the game.

[@bproc5715]

Yep

[@bproc5715]

So true, I stopped in 2001. Thinking about going back though.

[@sarelreynolds7342]

I'm coming close to the end of my 3 year apprenticeship as a luthier studying under the only two Taylor gold accredited luthiers in africa. Our que is a week for setups and close to a month for structural and cosmetic repairs. When people think of luthiers they think of old men busy planing a fretboard with a Stanley plane form the 1800's... It's an exciting time to be or get into this business with how how advanced CNC and 3D printing technology has gotten and the old men need us youngsters to figure out the new technology. Anycase shout out for the video and I hope to receive whisky from a customer one day. Your videos keep me sane playing in the background while i'm busy cutting nuts and saddles.

[@richardbloomer-davies9824]

I'm a Luthier from Birmingham UK, and you are on the money with this video! I work in a city that has JD guitars, who built Tony Iommi's guitars and built guitars for Angus Young. That being said... I've been in business for 2 years now, with the blessing of the legendary luthiers in my area, it was very much a torch passing excersise, but also a lot of my clients get freaked out because i'm a young looking 35. I have to speak though my work to placate some clients.

[@swingset1969]

I do amateur/part time work as a luthier, and had worked in a shop renting space to make money doing it. It's a great way to go broke and be frustrated, unless you specialize and get a name for yourself. But, anymore, the prevalence of tools/instruction and general knowledge has democratized guitar repair to the point that I think it's a non-starter for a guy just coming up. And, maybe that's not a bad thing. I started doing it out of frustration that I didn't have a good luthier nearby - the two in my area were notoriously slow and hard to deal with (don't get into that line of work if you have personality issues and hate your customers, folks), and I learned literally everything the hard way. Eventually learned under Dan Erlewine and I'm glad I did, but I don't think you need that anymore at all. In fact, I encourage young guys to learn to DIY and will happily share my knowledge now.

[@raiylab]

Anyone in Michigan reading this, visit Northcoast Guitars in Grand Rapids on Wealthy Street. Russell Olmsted owns the building and has made my guitars play like never before. Super nice guy, always working on something cool.

[@TaftysGuitars]

This is my new favorite video. I’m at the point now that I’m considering taking an apprentice because of how busy my shop has become. But it really has to be the right person. Like anything else really. And I’m going to start taking payment in whiskey and cookies.

[@vegashdrider]

I’ve been doing my own luthier work for many many years, I think it’s one of those thing you have to love doing, I literally was the proverbial kid that took his radio apart to see how it works, back when people still had radios, I was amazed to see the pulley system for the station adjuster, you love tinkering or you don’t

[@timbrooks3003]

I purchased a 1954 Harmony Master from Casino Guitars several months ago. It needed some work. So, I invested in some tools from Stewmac. I replaced the frets, nut, bridge, keys & straightened the neck a little. Now, the Harmony plays great. Thank you Casino. You gave me a good deal on a vintage guitar & I can now do my own guitar setups!

[@dimebagjosh2007]

Hey! I'm from Princeton, WV. Only about 1hr 45 minutes away from Charleston. Was so happy to see you guys speak about my run down state. Yall keep on keepin on and we love yall in WV!!! I lost it at the women joke.

[@216trixie]

I started learning lutherie several years ago to repair my broken headstocks. Srsly, watched alot of Dave's World of fun stuff. I played for decades not realizing I could set up a guitar and have it play the way it should. Really helps when I gig a lot and my gitters need maintenance.

[@donkennedy7682]

I use Dan also and have known him since the early 80's. I consider him a friend. He really cares about doing a great job. He showed me some binding tips recently too. You should do a video on his personal collection. He has some great Strats.

[@PhilM-lk1mt]

The luthier I used, past tense since he just retired, was great. He built violins, cellos, guitars, mandolins, etc. And he charged too little. I am going to miss him. Good luthiers are worth their weight in gold.

[@justinrayguitars6024]

You guys nailed it with this video. Guy brings guitar"Im in no hurry I have 10 other guitars". Three days later"How you coming on that guitar." Haven't even opened the case.

[@SuperBakersk8er]

Iv seen the opposite happen too

[@swingset1969]

Mostly this is solved with realistic timeline/communication. When they're telling you they're patient, you re-affirm it with "Ok, realistically I'm not going to touch this for a couple weeks, but I will absolutely have it done by X". And, then you communicate. 99% of the times I've had problems with customers and timelines, it was my own fault for not giving them a clear timeline or living up to it. Sure, some customers are difficult no matter what you do, but when you tell them clearly and live up to it, you always have that to fall back on.

[@narbonneguitars9331]

Thank you for bringing that stuff to light guys,...the biggest problem with people an luthiers is the industry (any industry not just guitars)is the word technician doesnt matter what the job your a technician...seriously its ridiculous, an so many technicians consider themselves luthiers because they turn screws an string guitars ...repairs an building guitars is like apples an oranges ...they are not the same ,an, D.I.Y. motto with the age of kit guitars in mainstream today ...an I myself being a luthier ( full guitar maker an repairman)ita hard to find an individual who wants refretting knowing they can buy a neck already fretted for half the price of refrett ...I see so much repair work that is redoncoulus!!! Because we live in a DIY, an save some money thinking ...it took myself a real long time personally to consider myself a luthier ,...a luthier should be self sufficient in all not just one aspect of guitar ,repairing ,making an refinishing ...an as you have said in the wrap up ,theres the write way an the half fast way...a real luthier doesnt know the half fast way..that's DIY.a penny pincher ,a guitarist with expirience ( not newbies)should be able to do what all guitar store techs do ,setups ,neck tweaking ,action intonation ...

[@jldkrank]

Where I live there's tons of luthiers, which is strange because it's a small province in Canada. But there's more musicians per capita in Canada vs the US anyway so maybe that's why. Frank Brothers Guitars, Cinder Guitars, Ironside Guitars, Sawchyn Guitars, Beardsell, Halcyon, Hillacre, Revv Amps, Phaez Amps, Traynor Amps. That's just off the top of my head. We in a golden age renaissance up here.

[@shepp7988]

5 days I wonder where you all had been I miss waking up with my coffee and sitting on the (JOHN) laughing at Baxter

[@oldejack]

guys, excellent work. I shant've know until watching you guys that Luthiers are repair guys. gonna bring my EPI LP to a Luthier at GC for a clean up!

[@moxy9896]

Jonathan, Welcome back..You were missed..

[@RByrne]

I knew a guy, he was actually a friend of my Dad's and I used to look after his furnace and A/C. He showed his workshop and he was a Luthier and made beautiful acoustics as well as amazing cellos and bass etc. He had profession players all over the world he made them for and he really enjoyed it. Had I not already been doing the Refrigeration/heating I would have got into this. I may still, who knows?

[@d0ctox]

I'm 23 and I've recently taken up luthiery as my full time job. I live in a smaller town, so the pay isn't so great, but it affords me a great lifestyle. I initially thought it would be hard to earn clients' trust, being so young, but all my customers are happy to see some young blood and always respect my turnaround times and rates, mainly because I move guitars in a matter of days, not weeks like the other guy in town....

[@indytheshredder]

always great to start my morning with a new casino guitars video ☕️😃

[@bubasknr]

Thanks guys! It is a struggle keeping up with everybody's internet buys. I'm going to make it down to your store sooner or later.

[@notrare_png]

Im 20. Really interested in becoming a luthier, just have been incredibly nervous about reaching out to any professional for help to learn. But this video almost gives me the courage to try

[@chrisdavid1588]

Life's to short to not try. The only thing better than playing a guitar is working on / building them.

[@smelltheglove2038]

I would offer to work for free. A sort of apprenticeship.

[@benlogan430]

My friend went to the luthier school in Minnesota and got a job at a top guitar manufacturer instantly. Works a schedule he likes for a great wage. Go to the school and fix and build my friend. Two years later and he’s making top end acoustic guitars and living the dream.

[@arcarioandsons]

Funny you mentioned Ayn, she is a huge part of why I decided to pursue becoming a luthier. Her book and the movie adaptation she helped make both of which are fantastic for the fountainhead really hit home for me, I've wanted to build guitars since I was 13 but I never wanted to build shit, I never wanted to make kit guitars or copy someone else which I could have done but instead I worked really hard breaking my back doing all kinds of jobs to try and build up my shop so I could make guitars the way I feel they should be made... It seems like everyone is fighting over who can recreate the best copy of a 50s and 60s fender or Gibson but nobody talks about trying to compete with Stradivarius... I feel like the guitar exploded going from a parlor guitar, to the dreadnought, to the strat and les Paul and then everything kinda stopped there... I think it's about time the electric guitar moved into the future and someone stopped giving a shit about what fender and Gibson did and started giving a shit about making the best instrument ever made by man.... That time is now gentlemen, prepare yourselves... I am coming!

[@raf475]

I drive about an hour one-way up a long winding Mountain Road to a good guitar tech/luthier instead of going to the local GC for guitar service due to prior bad experiences with them years ago. Worth it!

[@chris_2714]

My luthier runs a "build your own guitar" course one person at a time using all the tools he uses. Great way to learn all the intracacies of building and setting up a guitar.

[@jamestunedflat8942]

I'm wanting to become a luthier. Getting some practice on my own guitars. Lots of videos on KZbin that's helping me along the journey.

[@jaorte10]

There's no steady paycheck for most luthiers. I'm a hobbyist guitar builder. But I also do set up and repairs for my friends,family and word of mouth customers. It's a hobby. I'd starve to death if I had to rely on that for trade. And it wouldn't be fun anymore. It would become stressful. And I'm a master electrical contractor with enough stress already. Good luck to those who choose luthiery as their main source of income.

[@Grindermetalhead]

I've read that Ayn Rand book you're referring to and I wish I could get those two weeks of my life back. You're a smart man for skipping it.

[@Tsudkyk]

I started modding cheap when I was young, then I decided to go up to Washington state for a week to shadow a guitar builder I know. I helped him with a build and learned a ton of skills relating to guitar building. I’m now building custom guitars and performing maintenance/ repairs for customers. Quality work takes time, it takes attention and patience. There is a reason we charge “a lot” for the work.

[@JKChiaro]

I am coming to see you guys in a couple of weeks. What is the best day during the week? Are there certain days you get most of your new stuff in? Can't wait!

[@revivalmusic8063]

I watched this video as I, a 31 year old "luthier" guitar tech, sat at my bench setting up a Les Paul that I repaired a headstock break on.

[@lyndelguitars9478]

The book is "Atlas Shrugged" and the place they all went to was in Colorado as I recall.

[@robertwillett4122]

Yes, you guy's are so right. I'm in construction and I see specialized things, are fading away. Whan I firststarted playing, I learned on an acoustic. When I learned all the cowboy chords on top of the neck I figured I would go buy a real guitar. I Washburn made in Chicago, I needed a basic set-up. When they told me it would be at least 3 weeks, to me that was unacceptable. So a got a 50 dollar pawn shop guitar that was terrible. That was my testing for experience. I'm also a finish carpenter (by the way that trade is serous lacking, new kids think there finish carpenters because they know how to install pre-made crown molding lol) so you guitarist out there, your going to have to learn yourself, unless you want to wait 6 months. An electric guitar isn't as hard to keep right compared to an acoustic. There is a you tuber, kinda old school twford. This guy is very good. You have to learn how to repair a broken headstock or a simple set up. You may have a guitar right now and hate it, but it may not be set up right. If it was chances are you would like it, if not love it. One sixteenth of an inch can make a world of difference, she said at the picnic.

[@kurtisr2339]

Growth in the pool of luthiers/techs is coming. We're just not that far along the curve yet. It's a likely downstream effect of the current massive sales numbers / growth in the player base. Also, I'd suggest there are more boutique / bespoke builders than ever, electric and acoustic. Arguably, we're living through a new Golden Age.

[@chasmenear7130]

Luthiers are created out of apprenticeship, and/or practical need (as in my case). Judging from the number of builds/repairs illustrated here on KZbin this past few years- I seriously doubt that we are 'endangered', but locating one that is worthy in your particular location can be challenging. Word of mouth, and trial and error come into play on that one. Generally, it is never a bad idea to try and figure out how to remedy a problem on your own- which is the very thing that led me into restoration.

[@kevincoleman5745]

Dan hooked up my Martin and strat. He took great guitars and made them twice as good. Absolutely incredible luthier and a great guy.

[@darthdurf9611]

Dan elderwins book I bought from stewmac 15 yrs ago, has walked me thru every repair I ever needed to make

[@Black-Jack-2022]

I agree! it takes time to "fix" gear! I discovered (set-up) and it is great!!!😮

[@duanewelsh5611]

Good call. If I were younger I'd consider it for a career. 1 really good guy here in Wichita, always very busy!

[@WorldsOkayestGuitarPlayer]

It's pretty similar in my trade. Not a whole lot of people getting into repair unless it's tech related it seems

[@mikegreen2417]

My guy is good, but don't expect to get it back anytime soon. 8 months, still waiting on a Martin neck reset. If your watching this Scott, Any update?

[@ranzablevins7593]

Excellent vedio .with improved inexpensive guitars being made. The need for quick and easy set ups and repairs are a thing of the past. The fill money is lost. This leaves more skilled repairs .which dosent give a new apprentice time to buld a bace to build his business on. New tech will need a multiple tallents to buld a business.

[@tylerrichman9]

Lee Chapman (Aleyas Instruments) is based in Charleston WV. He makes some world class mandolins and guitars. Also, Charlie Powers of Guitar CPR in Fairmont WV is one of the best instrument repairmen in the buisness. Both are super nice, knowledgeable guys.

[@rickychau7687]

I follow the scene in Japan and the situation seems much better than in the West. Most of the smaller boutique builders do both repair work and building guitars. While there are quite a few old luthiers, quite a large number of younger luthiers have begun to make their name in the last few years. You also have a few under 50 year olds that have came from the bigger factories striking out on their own. The former custom shop manager for Kanda Shokai (Zemaitis) started his own brand Bizen. A big factor is ESP. ESP is known just as a guitar maker in the west but in Japan, they run a chain of retail stores that sell not only ESP but many other guitar brands. In the big cities near the ESP stores, ESP run their Guitar Craft Academy (GCA) (luthiery school) as wll as ESP branded music schools. I believe you have to finish the two year program at a GCA school to work at the ESP factory or the retail stores. This creates a steady supply of new talent that feeds the various Japanese brands. The major Japanese stores all have full repair services. The new Ikebe store in Shibuya has a beautiful repair workshop on the 3rd floor.

[@msspi764]

A lot of the luthiers I know are the older guys, one in Kentucky who fixed one of my guitars, one in Mississippi who restored a fiddle of mine, Emory Knode in Catonsville MD who is the store owner of Appalachian Bluegrass and pretty much a full time luthier, I’ve driven 2/3 of the way across the country for him to rebuild a family fiddle. But then there are folks like Jo Miner, a young woman learning to fix and build instruments in Utah, and the young woman in Guitar Emporium of Louisville who is one of the better luthiers there. So there’s hope, but in places where acoustic instruments live because they need regular TLC and the repairs are almost always more exacting. Look in places like West Virginia and Kentucky where you can’t throw a rock without hitting a musician.

[@Scurtsy1964]

I dream of my grandson becoming the Greatest Luthier in the Galaxy!

[@WayneMemphisMojo]

Memphis has a really long waiting time for guitar work. It has tempted me into doing some stuff DIY style (then messing it up bad enough to require the Luthier attention)

[@ulisseslopez2335]

I am lucky enough to know one. The gentleman is elderly and a little slower nowadays. Allanoke guitars in Visalia CA.

[@dw7704]

At a local guitar show we’ve had luthiers & techs to advertise their business, but also to answer questions Most are also working on a guitar during the show & you can watch

[@simontemplar3359]

I'd love to become a luthier, but I haven't got the first idea where to go or how to start. I'm way deep in the corporate gig and the time has come to bail. What would you do? Apprentice with one? There's a great luthier in my home state (Noll Guitars) that I'd love to learn from, but is that a thing? As always, great video!

[@MinivanMegafun100]

I know someone who did full time guitar and amp repair work for years. He quit and went to work in another industry. The main reason he quit? Having to deal with musicians. Think about how many flaky, shady, weirdo, losers that you have come across in bands or the scene. Now imagine having them bring their guitar or amp to you for service. The stories he told me. The worst part of it though is the deadbeats. People would drop stuff off with him, he'd do the work, then tell them it's ready and the cost for the work and they ghost. Musicians bring stuff in for work and then they don't have the money to pay for the work. So stuff would sit in his shop for months and even years. He couldn't handle the deadbeats and arguments over how much the work cost anymore and quit.

[@bubasknr]

Preach it

[@pierheadjump]

⚓️ Thanks Casino 😎

[@davehansen5092]

I have done a lot of woodworking. And I'm more than happy to do anything "electronics" to my guitars, but I definitely want to learn enough luthiery skills to at least take care of my own instruments into the foreseeable future. I've narrowed down the "herd" to ones that I feel VERY connected with, and wouldn't want major changes repairs in anyone else's hands... (at least no one that I know currently) - accepting luthier rec's

[@Andluth]

I am a luthier for 30+ years. There are LOTS of kids coming out of Roberto Venn and other schools with skills but lack the will to stick with it and desire to continue to learn. I was lucky enough to work at good guitar factories while I built up my skill. I also don't take in work that I cant touch in the following two weeks.

[@rodrossi9749]

Oddly enough, I'm from WV , and I've been repairing guitars for 30 years..... You definitely can make a living, but it's not easy. PS: I now live in Gettysburg PA.

[@davegallagher7428]

I’m very fortunate I have Northeast music and they do great repairs also my local GC has a great luthier there, as a matter of fact I’m having him put a cunife humbucker in the bridge position on a Telecaster for me (already did the neck position, I love those pick ups) I try and take my business to both of them because I know I am fortunate to have two great ones within 10 minutes of me.

[@determineddoug2945]

Hey guys in California bay area here and don't mind traveling a few hrs for a good luthier who would you recommend in California? Thanks so much

[@jeffsquires6620]

If you live in a city you are definitely in a better position. When I was in Toronto I had my choice of 6 high quality Luthiers. Where I live now I would have to ship or drive for 8-10 hours. The waiting is the killer for sure.

[@mr.astrophysics9115]

The luthier I do business with is incredible and in business 45 years

[@dudyherbek]

I would love payment in moonshine, or chickens. In the last 25 years only money. Great video guys.

[@jvanb231]

It seems like Roberto-Venn is graduating a number of good folks. I know two graduates of Roberto-Venn and they are both excellent. One is around 50 y/o but the other is around 30. I don't think the situation, at least in Phoenix, is as near as dire as you describe :)

[@philsequeira3180]

At 56, it sounds like a great career move!!

[@waynestore67]

Randy Shartiger is a youtuber luthier in West Virginia. A very knowledgeable and entertaining guy.

[@KonwTheTrut]

I’m actually looking at a potential job here in town where I can learn a lot more luthier work than I already know.

[@rickmoore52]

Yep, all the luthiers I know are older guys getting close to retirement. Many are musicians, but restoring/repairing guitars became a good money side gig and then became the main gig. There is also a shortage of appliance repairmen and that pays top dollar.

[@nicoladolby2154]

We’re I 30 years younger I’d do a luthier apprenticeship. Actually, in my fifties I’d like to do it now!

[@smelltheglove2038]

Stew-Mac channel has lots of great “How-To” videos.

[@shanewalton8888]

That Burl's Art guy seems young but makes incredible guitars.

[@edcataldo7019]

Great Luthiers and tube amp techs are getting hard to find. I’m one cheek at best and have cobbled together my equipment on too many occasions

[@xF1revolution]

I've looking into dropping the 20k to do the Master Program at Galloup School but that's a large chunk of my down payment for a home as well as a step or two down in pay from my software sales job. Can't help but feel I'd enjoy that so much more though. Been finishing and building kits and have spent wayyyy too much money on tools.

[@jroley2204]

You will not regret it.

[@TVoltG]

As in my profile, I build everything I play. But over the years I learned not to deal with customers and be a public luthier. Repairs, setups and such is fun, but the customer stress is not worth it to me. And I get the stresses of these folks, they want the best for their instruments as cheap as they can get it and returned within a week. And if that doesn't happen, they have social media to tear you up. Woot woot.. Less stress is worth more to me than doing this to the public. I work for a few and build for a few and they get a great return on their investment. But I would never take on anything that I can't return or build within a couple of months. Less stress. But I do agree that some charges a little too much for some work.

[@russellzauner]

In my state firewood cutting permits are cheap, like 18 bucks for 6 cords in some counties. Here, generally you can harvest anything within 100 yards of any roadway (even forest service/paper company roads) or abjectly where it blocks paths. The type of wood you collect is unspecified, so if I wanted to roll around and just collect downed scrub oaks or alder (insert your local wood), any hardwoods really, then I can take them home and learn how to get my own damn woods as well as understand what good wood is when receiving it from someone else, and by then you've carved, burned, bent, steamed, tarred and feathered in more ways than there are days in the year every type of regional wood you can lay your hands on, literally, now *you're* the expert. Once you're the expert in something, you'll meet a lot more people. Since you're an expert in some areas luthiers would be just drinkin beer at the bar shootin the breeze would be chatting about, you're more likely to run into people who will teach you the skills you want to learn. I've learned many things in multiple disciplines and while I can't teach you how to luthier I can help you learn to learn and that, well, dumb as it sounds helps you learn. It was the most important thing I learned.

[@cautiousoptimist1926]

I would add amp repair to this discussion. My next amp will surely be solid state or a hybrid that only uses preamp tubes. There is only one option within an hour of my house for amp repair. Four more if I'm willing to drive 2 hours into Portland, OR. The wait times are several weeks.

[@ericwarrington6650]

It comes down to either hands on learning from someone passing down the skills and trade or more formal schooling to gain the info and know how but left largely to develop the skills yourself based on the information...too little interest from broad population...I would LOVE to train or learn this...

[@merockunot]

My Father was a VERY WELL KNOWN Luthier in So. Cal for 30 years....I had every opportunity to learn as a kid and just wasn't interested....took up Guitar last year at 54 and now all I want to do is be able to work on Guitars lol

[@nathandyess1340]

I want to learn this skill as an apprentice

[@contrabandjoe7974]

My Luthier is grumpy "get off my lawn" MO... But does some BAD ASS work.....

[@bobbyramsdell6534]

Im 21 and in luthier school right now:)

[@hellodrjeckyl]

Almost heaven, West Virginia Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River Life is old there, older than the trees Younger than the mountains, growin' like a breeze

[@richardlynch5632]

Andrew White, Morgantown, WV., makes incredible guitars😉😎👍 He is much younger than I🤣😎👍

[@joojoosasa]

I'm having a hell of a time figuring out how to get started as a luthier. I'm not convinced that the school route is the way to go. In your opinion, what is the best route to take in becoming a luthier?

[@TVoltG]

Just start working on guitars. I started by buying project guitars years ago. Neck breaks and such. I'd rebuild and sell em. Advertising locally and build a local base is the key. Work deals at first to build a long life customer. Never promise anything you can't deliver. Never sell yourself short for the money.

[@216trixie]

I started watching a lot of Daves World of Fun stuff and practicing on my cheap guitars.

[@joojoosasa]

@@TVoltG So I've been working on my own guitars for a few years now. Setups, minor woodwork, minor fretwork, rolling fretboard edges, etc., but I could really benefit from constructive criticism/direction from an experienced luthier.

[@wrobinson1702]

I don't know that I completely agree. Luthiers have ALWAYS been older guys. (at least as long as I remember). Most luthiers were originally players/performers who eventually drifted over to the other side, in part because it's more of a "9-5" experience, and in part because they've realized how difficult it is be a fulltime guitarist.

[@zombieprivates]

A GOOD luthier is an endangered species. There are plenty of imposters out there..

[@Kur0y4m4]

I bet the job would be more attractive if there were fewer videos on YT telling folks they don’t need Luthiers. ;)

[@syx9986]

I've never been sure about how to start. I put off my dream of lutherie to continue living another dream of a medical career. I live in a city with lots of guitarists, but nearly no independent luthiers. Should I go to school in another state? I'm in my mid 40s and recently left medicine due to health issues. Where would I start?

[@markinthemix6055]

I looked into a luthier course / program in Nashville at Musicians Institute around 4 yr ago. The program cost…. If l remember correctly, was 16K. Well, l did not go 😒 l have completed 3 parts guitars that are incredible since then.

[@richsackett3423]

All the luthiers are in Canada. Thank goodness for the internet.

[@CavemanWithAStringStick]

Fellas, I’m 27 and a decade ahead of this curve

[@TractorMonkeywithJL]

Sounds like I should learn to do my own setups. Hello, StewMac? I'd like to place an order.

[@InTheoryApps]

Get your wallet ready

[@nerdicmem5720]

20 yrs old. Been training to be a luthier since last year while also in college. I’m now asking myself after watching this “why the hell am I majoring in Mechanical Engineering?”