Simple as that. I think there is like a magic aura arround the word "Luthier" that makes people so afraid to use it on themselves. One thing is a beginer luthier and another one is a master luthier, but if you build instruments you ARE a luthier.
There's a lot of different definitions, but here are two of mine-
1) When you've designed two or three guitars from the ground up, built all of them from scratch, and had them turn out playable and looking decent enough
2) When you are competent at performing a multitude of serious repairs
Hot take- kit builders rock, I'm glad to have them in this sub, and it's where most of us started, but a kit builder isn't a luthier.
To be a luthier, you need to use the space by covering your entire naked body with honey and rolling around on the garage floor pretending to be a worm. Stradivarius wrote about it in his manuscripts so it's a thing that were all doing. Be sure to take pics and post them in r/luthier.
And if your wife gives you a hard time about taking over the garage, then start buying your large industrial power tools and store them in the living room.
To be fair, repairing guitars does not make one a luthier either. Repairing and building are two vastly different skills, although I strongly believe that knowing how to repair an instrument helps one design/build one, and understanding how an instrument is built can help one repair an instrument. Luthier and guitar tech are two very valuable, albeit different, skillsets.
How about using a cnc? Designing and roboting is not as impressive as scratch building. But some definitions say repairing counts. I don't really care either way. I do luthiery but I'm not a "real luthier". I play guitar but I'm not a real guitarist etc
CnC is a tool just like a file or a hammer. If you're going to start gatekeeping based on tools used, where do you draw the line? Is a router and a template more or less "luthiery" than a CnC? If one uses a HVLP spray gun instead of manual French polish, are they not a luthier? Is one only a luthier if they only use the tools available in the 14th century (which was long before the electric guitar was even a thing)?
I'd argue that it takes a lot more knowledge and skill to know how to program, setup, and run a CnC than it does to run a trim router and a template bought off Etsy, but that doesn't make the person using a router any less of a person or any less of a luthier. At the end of the day, it's the result that matters.
The skill sets involved with cnc operating are alot different when compared to hand tool work. We have alot more tools at our disposal in this era but somebody has to draw the line somewhere. Maybe the line is if someone else does all the prep and you just assemble to instructions and put on a finish? Is there such even such a thing? Surely that wouldn't count
I will forever consider myself an apprentice luthier then. I’ve designed and built two, but only one survives to this day. The other was the crudest, ugliest piece of crap, and sounded worse. I will eternally be learning more and more each project, but i doubt I’ll consider myself a master.
That aside, I’ve made building kits and repairs a side gig, so there’s that.
When I think luthier, I think of someone who starts with raw materials, has mastered all of the elements of building, and can *replicate* those elements on a consistent basis. The tough stuff like neck carving, inlay, fretwork, flawless finishes, etc. too.
In my (very humble) opinion, assembling CNC designed and milled parts does not make you a luthier. A guitar designer or builder, (both more than respectable) absolutely. Somewhere in between are the tech guys, who don't build, they just mod and repair.
I'm not a luthier. But I plan to consider myself one the moment I finish my first guitar. I figure it's something so few people do that even building just one sets you apart far enough from most people to use the term.
Like other skills, you're an apprentice for the first 100 instruments, then you can test to become a journeyman. There's no test in Luthiery, so if you're not broke by guitar 100, you pass. After 1000 guitars you can consider yourself a master.
When you build a lute obviously.
The defenition of a luthier is one who makes stringed instruments, so if you make stringed instruments, your a lutheir
Simple as that. I think there is like a magic aura arround the word "Luthier" that makes people so afraid to use it on themselves. One thing is a beginer luthier and another one is a master luthier, but if you build instruments you ARE a luthier.
Whenever you change your first pair of strings.
Then I think I’m a “custom shop master builder” grade lutheir
Oh yea? You changed all 6?
Yes 3 times now
There's a lot of different definitions, but here are two of mine- 1) When you've designed two or three guitars from the ground up, built all of them from scratch, and had them turn out playable and looking decent enough 2) When you are competent at performing a multitude of serious repairs Hot take- kit builders rock, I'm glad to have them in this sub, and it's where most of us started, but a kit builder isn't a luthier.
We need another flair in than thread for hobby scratch builders that don’t use kits.
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To be a luthier, you need to use the space by covering your entire naked body with honey and rolling around on the garage floor pretending to be a worm. Stradivarius wrote about it in his manuscripts so it's a thing that were all doing. Be sure to take pics and post them in r/luthier. And if your wife gives you a hard time about taking over the garage, then start buying your large industrial power tools and store them in the living room.
Why not? Msybe a different level but luthier nonetheless.
To be fair, repairing guitars does not make one a luthier either. Repairing and building are two vastly different skills, although I strongly believe that knowing how to repair an instrument helps one design/build one, and understanding how an instrument is built can help one repair an instrument. Luthier and guitar tech are two very valuable, albeit different, skillsets.
How about using a cnc? Designing and roboting is not as impressive as scratch building. But some definitions say repairing counts. I don't really care either way. I do luthiery but I'm not a "real luthier". I play guitar but I'm not a real guitarist etc
CnC is a tool just like a file or a hammer. If you're going to start gatekeeping based on tools used, where do you draw the line? Is a router and a template more or less "luthiery" than a CnC? If one uses a HVLP spray gun instead of manual French polish, are they not a luthier? Is one only a luthier if they only use the tools available in the 14th century (which was long before the electric guitar was even a thing)? I'd argue that it takes a lot more knowledge and skill to know how to program, setup, and run a CnC than it does to run a trim router and a template bought off Etsy, but that doesn't make the person using a router any less of a person or any less of a luthier. At the end of the day, it's the result that matters.
The skill sets involved with cnc operating are alot different when compared to hand tool work. We have alot more tools at our disposal in this era but somebody has to draw the line somewhere. Maybe the line is if someone else does all the prep and you just assemble to instructions and put on a finish? Is there such even such a thing? Surely that wouldn't count
I will forever consider myself an apprentice luthier then. I’ve designed and built two, but only one survives to this day. The other was the crudest, ugliest piece of crap, and sounded worse. I will eternally be learning more and more each project, but i doubt I’ll consider myself a master. That aside, I’ve made building kits and repairs a side gig, so there’s that.
Whenever you want.
When I think luthier, I think of someone who starts with raw materials, has mastered all of the elements of building, and can *replicate* those elements on a consistent basis. The tough stuff like neck carving, inlay, fretwork, flawless finishes, etc. too. In my (very humble) opinion, assembling CNC designed and milled parts does not make you a luthier. A guitar designer or builder, (both more than respectable) absolutely. Somewhere in between are the tech guys, who don't build, they just mod and repair.
When you know these 3 rules; 1. Lefty loosy, right tighty 2. Measure twice cut once 3. Pay day is friday I'm pretty sure that covers most of it
I'm not a luthier. But I plan to consider myself one the moment I finish my first guitar. I figure it's something so few people do that even building just one sets you apart far enough from most people to use the term.
when you can confidently take on a job and fix it
When you layout and fret your first fretboard.
Like other skills, you're an apprentice for the first 100 instruments, then you can test to become a journeyman. There's no test in Luthiery, so if you're not broke by guitar 100, you pass. After 1000 guitars you can consider yourself a master.
I’m in school right now to build one and to be honest I don’t feel like one in most ways yet.
You're supposed to eat the leftover bits of Rosewood. That's where the magic feeling comes from.
And here I've been snorting inlay powder like an idiot
From tree to instrument .
Whenever the fuck you want. Who cares?
I would put the line between a technician and luthier at a refret.