Official Luthiers Forum!

I see some of the work you guys do and it is awesome which led me to wondering how long you have been building and how many guitars (or other insts) you have built?

Willing to share this info?? Just a reality check for people like me who are in the amateur world and comparing progress against some of the work we see out there. I know I would be less depressed when I produce a bomb (which I have several on my wall of shame) but knowing that hey - "Im only on number 20 and when I get to #100 they will be something of real value".

BTW - I am on #20 and have been at it for roughly 5 years now - of course I am not counting the one I sawed in half or the other one that I jumped on or the one I threw against the wall or the one I ran over with my truck - Oh I am including that one!! Just kidding!

The 20 does includes a few wall hangers though.

   Hi Rich
    been at this seriously since 1999. I built 14 the first year and into the low 30's now. Still learn somthing everytime I build one.
john hall

Rich, I'm at 2. Nothing yet I'd be happy to show here. Like yourself, I'm a amateur/hobbyist with probably more wood now than I can ever use. I've been destroying good wood for about 2 years.Don A38625.8189699074

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Built my first acoustic guitar in 1986, my first mandolin in 1984, first violin in 1982, first electric guitar in 1975. And about 40 or so since then.

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Tickle your guitar daily, and it'll tickle you back.

I started around 1977 or so. Long Hiatus....back at it around 1997 or 8. Can't remember...getting too old.

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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."

1976

I Started in 2002

Been at it for about 2 years. Completed about 8 or 9. Have 7 in the shop.

I'm still learning lots and the guitars continue to get better.

Josh

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Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Started in 1970 as a hobby, put it away in 1976 to raise the children/do corporate America. Went back serious in 1997 (in retirement) and am nearing 150 built to date.

I think it was 1543.

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From Nacogdoches...the oldest town in Texas.

http://www.stephenkinnaird.com

Repairs and learning prep since 1986. Started forst acoustic guitar in 1988

I've been at it a couple of years. Built an F-style mandolin and two guitars. I've got a lap dulcimer that just needs buffing and a parlor guitar that I'll start french polishing this weekend.

I started in 1997 and have built 100 guitars, 25 electrics, and 47 ukuleles
by myself, and had a hand in hundreds more at pantheon.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Wow, John you need to pace yourself.
I shaped the braces on my first today, almost ready to put the box together.

Ron

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OLD MAN formerly (and formally) known as:

Ron Wisdom

Somewhere in the middle of Arkansas......

Started repairing out of necessity in 1996. I had purchased 5 or 6 old Gibsons, in various states of dis-repair, and my repair guy decided to stop repairing. One project happened to be a 1954 J-45 that had been left in the rain and was in about 20 pieces. I re-assembled it after a bazillion phone calls to the former repair guy. I really got even with him. The guitar turned so well that I was hooked forever.

Built my first one in 1997, and am currently working on #28 along with a shop full of Gibson restorations. I still depend on my corporate day job to pay my bills. Except for #6, I can still rattle off each number and tell you who has it. I lost track of #6 after it changed hand a couple of times.

That's a lot more than you asked for, huh??

Started in 2003 and have made 4 acoustics and 1 electric. The longer I work at this, the more I realize I don't know.

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

I built my first 3 years ago (started playing a year before that.) Before that the most I'd ever done on a guitar was put new strings on. Started building full time about 1 year ago. Still not sure if I will make a go of this as the orders aren't that big, only enough work to take me till Christmass but hoping to get orders before then.

I'm working on my second. Been at it 1 1/2 years. Though I was pretty sick for the first year of that. (If you saw the guitar that cane from that year, you would agree I was pretty sick). This one is coming out better.

Since 1999, currently about 20 guitars, 2 lutes, 1 violin.    Currently in production (or at least they were in production), 8-course lute after Heiber, 5-course 1700 Stradivarius guitar, Mahogany/Euro OM.

Colin

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

Count is at about a dozen, of which 1.8 (one's almost done) are steelstring acoutics, the rest electrics. Started in '98, build very, very slowly because of general lack of work space/time.

Currently in production: finishing that darn baritone (mahogany/Italian), strat+telecaster (swamp ash/maple/EIR necks). Next in line: Leftie pointy death metal explorer (don't ask...), Walnut/WRC Med-Jumbo, Cherry/Mystery Spruce Parlor/00 (What does one call a 13.5" lower bout isntrument, anyway?), and another EIR/Italian GA. All but one are spoken for, and the one is more-or-less spoken for. Somewhere down the line there's a singlecut carved top electric as well, also spoken for.

It's fun to get good enough to be able to build for friends, at cost. Some day I might even get this hobby to self-finance (the ultimate goal, really).

Since 2002. I have built 4 so far 3 dreds and 1 OM.

I bought Cumpiano's and Hiscock's books about five years ago, but didn't actually get started building until the beginning of 2004. Since then, I have completed 9 guitars: 8 classicals and one steel string acoustic. I am only a couple days away from completing number 11; number 10 is still a few weeks away from completion. These are both classicals, and both are commissions. Number 9 was my first commission. I've braced number 12's top, joined the back and trimmed the sides. Numbers 13 and 14 are in the early planning stages.

I had a pretty large collection of guitars before I started building. Now, I've got them laying around everywhere. There is scarcely a room in the house that doesn't have at least one guitar in it. I'm glad I'm finally starting to sell a few because I've run out of room.

My eventual goal is to make a living at lutherie -- or at least to derive a significant income from it. I know it is possible because other people are doing it, and if they can, then so can I.

My initial strategy is simple, but multifaceted: find a niche, exploit it, keep my prices reasonable, and get endorsements. Oh, and have a good website. Can't leave out that one. So far, I've found a couple of niches within the realm of classical guitars, only one of which I've begun to exploit in earnest. I have decided on an aggressive price point for my builds, due out of necessity mostly because of my currently small (but growing!) reputation and my "experienced novice" skill level. I believe this will give folks a strong incentive to buy my guitars. I have a solid endorsement from my first commission, and within the next month or so, I should have at least two more that will be very valuable. The website is in progress.

Best,

Michael

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Live to Play, Play to Live

Started in 2003. So far have completed two ukes (a tenor and a concert) and a shop. I am now working on number three, an EIR/Sitka concert sized uke. After that I have commissions for two more ukes and a guitar, like Mattia, all are at cost. I feel fortunate in having friends and family that are willing to support my addiction.

I started building in 2000 when we moved from the big city and bought a large old house in my hometown and I finally had room for a decent workshop. I started playing guitar in 1980 at age 14 and have tinkered with them ever since, but didn't build one until 5 years ago. 10 guitars and 2 mandolins so far. Not a great output I know, but the increasing number of family members, the old house in constant a state of re- or deconstruction, band practice, the day job, the old car (I could go on) all keep on getting in the way of things . Arnt38626.6251388889

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin

I started building guitars almost four years ago. I was almost 16 years old. I built that first guitar in my bedroom. The first one looked horrible after I finished it, but at least I have been able to finish every one I started. I am now up to guitar # 10. It's looking pretty darn good.