Beau Hannam Ukuleles
Well-known member
First steps for those interested in getting into Luthiery.
Luthiers get emailed with this question so I made this so I don't have to type it out everytime- if you want a copy of the file let me know.
~ Getting into Lutherie: First 10 steps ~
1- Don’t ask for a job or apprenticeship without at least having made a few instruments to show your aptitude. The following are steps on how to get to this point.
2- Instrument kits
A simple way to get started and see if you like it, are any good at, is to buy an instrument making kit. Pre bent sides are good to start with if you have no one to guide you in bending wood:
Stew Mac: www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=kit and LMI: www.lmii.com/1003-instrument-kits
3- Go to a reputable school of Lutherie.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of schools from around the world. (Google your area)
www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Reference/Lutherie_Schools_List.html
Tool list’s for some US schools: www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=schools of luthierie
One-on-one lutherie tuition
- Robbie O’Brien (Denver, Co)
- de Jonge School of Lutherie (Chelsea, QC Canada)
- Gilet Guitars School (Sydney, Australia)
Other schools not listed in the link above.
- National School of Lutherie (Quebec, Canada)
- Northern College of Arts (Accredited, Vic, Australia)
4- Online courses
Robbie O’Brien offers excellent video courses: www.obrienguitars.com/courses
5- Books + Periodicals:
Buy every book on lutherie you can, even on instruments you don’t make. The Guild of American Luthiers is a standard periodical as are their “Big Red Book” compilations Vol 1-7.
www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=books and www.luth.org/books/
6- YouTube videos, + dedicated Lutherie Websites
I, like many others, have free instructional videos on a variety of methods, tips and tricks in lutherie.
www.youtube.com/c/BeauHannamGuitars and Frank Ford’s famous website www.frets.com
7- Experience in Woodworking
Community colleges and many other places offer tuition in various aspects of woodworking - getting a foundation in tools and machinery (i.e. bandsaw and table saw safety) is a must.
8- Don’t go crazy buying wood, tools, & machinery until you are sure you like lutherie.
This happens a lot- people getting excited about lutherie, then not liking the reality of it and selling off all their stuff a year later- ebay is littered with such sales. So don’t go crazy at the start.
9- Practice various techniques of (repair/finishing etc) on cheap instruments from eBay etc.
10- After this base, you may be ready to approach a repair shop or luthier for a job.
~ The QUALITY of your work is your resume- Quality is all that matters to a Luthier. ~
If the quality of your work is bad, it is irrelevant if you have gone to a lutherie school.
Luthiers get emailed with this question so I made this so I don't have to type it out everytime- if you want a copy of the file let me know.
~ Getting into Lutherie: First 10 steps ~
1- Don’t ask for a job or apprenticeship without at least having made a few instruments to show your aptitude. The following are steps on how to get to this point.
2- Instrument kits
A simple way to get started and see if you like it, are any good at, is to buy an instrument making kit. Pre bent sides are good to start with if you have no one to guide you in bending wood:
Stew Mac: www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=kit and LMI: www.lmii.com/1003-instrument-kits
3- Go to a reputable school of Lutherie.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of schools from around the world. (Google your area)
www.stewmac.com/How-To/Online_Resources/Reference/Lutherie_Schools_List.html
Tool list’s for some US schools: www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=schools of luthierie
One-on-one lutherie tuition
- Robbie O’Brien (Denver, Co)
- de Jonge School of Lutherie (Chelsea, QC Canada)
- Gilet Guitars School (Sydney, Australia)
Other schools not listed in the link above.
- National School of Lutherie (Quebec, Canada)
- Northern College of Arts (Accredited, Vic, Australia)
4- Online courses
Robbie O’Brien offers excellent video courses: www.obrienguitars.com/courses
5- Books + Periodicals:
Buy every book on lutherie you can, even on instruments you don’t make. The Guild of American Luthiers is a standard periodical as are their “Big Red Book” compilations Vol 1-7.
www.stewmac.com/SiteSearch/?search=books and www.luth.org/books/
6- YouTube videos, + dedicated Lutherie Websites
I, like many others, have free instructional videos on a variety of methods, tips and tricks in lutherie.
www.youtube.com/c/BeauHannamGuitars and Frank Ford’s famous website www.frets.com
7- Experience in Woodworking
Community colleges and many other places offer tuition in various aspects of woodworking - getting a foundation in tools and machinery (i.e. bandsaw and table saw safety) is a must.
8- Don’t go crazy buying wood, tools, & machinery until you are sure you like lutherie.
This happens a lot- people getting excited about lutherie, then not liking the reality of it and selling off all their stuff a year later- ebay is littered with such sales. So don’t go crazy at the start.
9- Practice various techniques of (repair/finishing etc) on cheap instruments from eBay etc.
10- After this base, you may be ready to approach a repair shop or luthier for a job.
~ The QUALITY of your work is your resume- Quality is all that matters to a Luthier. ~
If the quality of your work is bad, it is irrelevant if you have gone to a lutherie school.
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