Official Luthiers Forum!

I always wondered about peoples previous experience. I personally had zero (unless you count high school woodshop) but am in the process of 3 and things are turning out nicely. Slow, but nicely. I often find myself needing things explained

Just very rough carpentry work around the house with hand tools.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Since I can remember, I learned from watching my father doing mechanical things on vehicles, building and repairing things. Summers I went to work for him as a carpenter apprentice, and for a few years full time. (he's a building contractor) His father and Grandfather were woodworkers/handy

seems like the yes, serious hobby option is missing.

Built my own homes and lived in them for most of my married life of 32 years. Cabinets, bookcases, restoration of older homes, etc. Plus, I'm an electrician, which if you must ask, is a really boring job. No telling how many holes I've bored.

Good question Frank,

I had none. Not only am I trying to learn how to build guitars, I am trying to learn how to use tools, learn about wood, learn about finishes, learn about measuring, learn a new vocabulary, learn, learn, learn! But I love it!   

Jeff

No guitars, yet. My first thoughts of a career was when my dad had been laid off, and was helping a neighor/contractor while going to school for accounting. So, I wanted to be a carpenter (not accounting!) Ever since I've felt the drive towards the mechanical; auto body repair, machining, sheetmetal working, welding/fabrication, and general tinkering. Unfortunately, in most of manufacturing "Time is money" and I tend to be time consuming and fussy (except in mind-numbing production). This and my love of music has led me to lutherie! Sorry so longwinded. Darin Spayd38411.9402430556

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DES - Shepherd, MI

I'd have to say 'none', really; I'd helped my dad put together little side tables, but anything more than gluing pre-sawn boards, drilling the odd hole in a wall, and assembling flatpack? No. Didn't even know what to do with a plane or a chisel first time 'round. Considering that, my first electric turned out fine, and things improved from there. I'm just glad I didn't start with an acoustic :-)

Just the usual DIY that an underpaid academic has to do around the home. Although, since a child I have enjoyed the intricate manipulation of tools and materials, so I guess not a big leap.

Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

Woodworking was may hobby for 15 years and I'd made quite a bit of furniture and other wood working projects. I'd also played guitar since I was 12, (Wow! 40 years new Feb). I saw Cumpiano's book in the book store and the rest is history.

Virtually none. Wood shop in 7th grade was the closest thing. For many years after I first hit the workforce I day-dreamed of doing woodworking. I was a draftsman back then, so I drew a few plans for some furniture, and even subscribed to WOOD Magazine. But I had no tools to do anything with, so it remained a dream until many years later when my wife and I bought our first (and only) home. During that time I built one piece of furniture for the house at a friend's shop while I was unemployed. That's it.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

No previous experience with me. I had never done anything involving woodwork, but I had always loved mechanical things. At age 15 I started doing research on guitar making, built my own work bench and have been going at it every since.No previous experience with me. I had never done anything involving woodwork, but I had always loved mechanical things. At age 15 I started doing research on guitar making, built my own work bench and have been going at it every since.

Colby, do you still have that workbench?

Working with my grandfather cabinet building as a kid, 10 years model RC airplane building and flying, DIY and 35 years in manufacturing engineering.

Learned from my grandpa...a carpenter...back in the 50's. Yes, that WAS a half century ago. Still have and use some of his chisels I inherited. Then model airplanes and HO railroad...that got me into fine details.   Then a house remodel, a new home built and all the raised panel wainscot, mantels, bookshelves, etc therein. My dad has trouble with which end of the screwdriver to use, so I guess the "genetic factor" skipped a generation.

Colby, how long have you had that echo?

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DES - Shepherd, MI

Sure I have that bench in my shop now. My words “been going at it every since” was a little misleading I guess. I’m only 19 now.




About that echo. I typed the message, got distracted and came back and typed it again in the same post. HOW DUMB!

I have been a carpenter for 22 years now and most of that time was spent repairing desks and furniture as well as constructing cabinets for the public school system. So I am fairly well versed in woodworking. It can still be a bit of a challenge to build guitars. Precision and know how, I find are the things to learn in these endeavors. I find it to be a fun challenge each time I work on a guitar. I thoroughly enjoy the whole process. I hope I can continue doing this for a long time yet, Lord willing.

Lots of plastic models as a kid. Then lots of model rockets. Then quite a few RC model airplanes. There was a tiny bit of woodworking sprinkled in, but nothing to speak of. Now, after 16 years of jockeying a desk and keyboard, I'm working on my first instrument in my spare time.   

Eric

None of the categories really fit me, but I've got experience building many things. I started as a farm
boy with a dad who could (and still can) build or fix anything he set his mind to. I did a lot of different wooodworking, some limited metalworking, and got into the RC airplanes also. I'm now working on a full sized airplane, but that will take a decade to finish. Based on the RC experience here, it looks like we need to have an OLF fun-fly

Never messed with woods much except semster or so woodshop in high school. Never played (still don't) guitar,although my dad is very very good player. Intrest to start building was from ebay of all places. Seen a guy with guitar #4 for sale and commented only problem he had with it was the finish (who hasn't at some point said that)I was retiring from cops and USMC and VA said do a voc rehab thing would be good. I always wanted to do something artistic or building as everyone in my family is good in music, art or something and I wasn't. I out of clear after buying investment(collector) guitars on ebay remembered the ad and started thinking of that. Checked out almost every school for about a year and settled on Galloup. Went there and was good. Thing about 2 month school at my age and lack of woodworking knowledge, I learned enough to be dangerous. Kind of like the karate folks who get one level and think they can take on world and then get hind end kicked. After a bunch of firewood at home things starting now to set in. Going to do somehting is very near future to cont building and learning at same time if all works out. Colby all of my classmates except one had only graduated from high school and 18 to 19 years of age. My roommate who is now 19 works for Bourgeois and doing well. He likes the pay and I guess as he learns and gains experience it can get pretty good. Your age and knowledge is to your advantage for a lot of years of great building.

I started with no woodworking skills either. I didn't even know what a 1/16" inch on a tape measure looked like! I had seen block planes, but had no idea what they were used for. I didn't even know what a band saw looked like. Now after a year of building 2 guitars, I know a lot more, but not even 1/2 of what I should know! But I am happy to have a hobby that requires one to search for answers, and to constantly look for ways to improve the building experience. I will continue this hobby as long as I can afford it, which may not be very long at the rate I'm collecting wood
Tracy

Wood collection seems to be the greatest weakness of a luthier.

Maybe we should start a support group called "wood collectors anonymous"
Tracy

I have been woodworking since I was a kid. I helped my dad remoldel our house. I have built some furniture pieces and have built a few additions to houses. The level of detail and accuracy with guitar building and repair far exceeds anything I ever did. Even the furniture stuff. Not much room for wood putty and caulking compound on a guitar.