Talk me out of wanting to become a luthier!

Danielsguitars

Hertz32 said:

Hey chaps, 

 I've been thinking about moving into guitar building for a while now, although I'm not sure how to go about it. 

 Some background on me: 

 I'm 17, and in my first year at 6th form studying BTEC Business (Extended diploma), Biology A level, and Philosophy and Ethics A levels.

Following 6th form, I'll be looking at universities although I'd rather not go. I'd like to take a gap year in order to save up money, and then go to do something music related, such as a Degree at ICMP, or an apprenticeship with an established luthier.

 I'm fully aware making a living out of guitars is incredibly hard work if you just have the one income source, so teaching guitar and being a luthier as well appeals to me. Especially if it allows me to have an originals band in the evenings too. 

What I'd really like to know is, Where can I learn to be a luthier? and is this a pipe dream, or can I make it a reality if I really strive to be the best? (Which I fully intend to do!) 

@WezV @Felineguitars @Jaden ;

I went to Merton college for 3 years to learn and it's a long old slog so working part time whilst doing guitars is a good way, depends on your finances and circumstances, if you live at home etc

Good luck 

pmbomb

haha. only if he's not starved to death in the meantime!

interstellar

there is the old joke about the luthier who won the lottery..............he kept on making guitars until the money ran out..

I say do it, there is a living to be made if you are good and flexible, i.e. repairs etc, lessons what you need is a low overhead set up!

pmbomb

you could argue that with the upcoming wave of automation wiping out masses of jobs, doing something that already competes with (in effect) the automated/very cheap product, but in a market where some customers are willing to pay for 'hand made' is a good bet.

Ravenous

pmbomb said:

you could argue that with the upcoming wave of automation wiping out masses of jobs, doing something that already competes with (in effect) the automated/very cheap product, but in a market where some customers are willing to pay for 'hand made' is a good bet.

Some of the earlier tales in this thread would indicate otherwise!

Danielsguitars

you've got to be flexible imo and maybe do finishing, some guitar making tuition etc,  I even got asked when my workshops finished if I'd like to do some work for a company that reclaims church pews and re purposes them 

I won't finish my workshop for a good couple of weeks and I'll see how it goes, i just didn't want to work for someone if i can help it and don't care about the money as long as I make a small living I'm happy

WezV

Well my view hasn't really changed in 3 years.   

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

Well my view hasn't really changed in 3 years.   

What was your view 3 years ago 

WezV

The third post in this raised from the dead thread

Danielsguitars

WezV said:

The third post in this raised from the dead thread

lol, I must remember to read the whole thread in future but my attention span is not so great these days 

I'd probably agree with what you said,  I was chatting to Damien probett last year and he said build tele's and strat's, I'm not mad on them but his advice is the same 

I might not even end up doing much guitar stuff, there's lots of ways to keep my workshop running, tbh after my son went I haven't got the patience for a normal job which I couldn't care less about

further

"but the cliched 'making my living from my hobby' is, in reality, a myth."
Oh I don't know,I was a publican for 30 years.

Funkfingers

pmbomb said:

if he's not starved to death in the meantime!

Reality. 

Plukky

Funkfingers said:

pmbomb said:

if he's not starved to death in the meantime!

Reality. 

I think he joined the air force... I might be wrong...

Hertz32

Plukky said:

Funkfingers said: hi

pmbomb said:

if he's not starved to death in the meantime!

Reality. 

I think he joined the air force... I might be wrong...

You're not sadly now finding it difficult to play or fiddle with guitars at all now given the living situation I'm in however I still drop by every once in a while.