Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

[youngthrasher9]

So I came up with a few ideas of what I want to shoot for after high school. I either want to become a luthier, or become a chef at my own little restaurant. I am looking around online for different luthier schools, and none really seem to display what I am looking for. One issue being: I can't find one that teaches all the construction methods for electric guitars, one will only teach bolt-on style, or only set-neck. I want to learn bolt-on, set-neck, and neck-through. Does anyone know of a school or teacher that will teach them all?

 

[CTN]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

have you looked at Roberto-Venn? they're one of the better known and more highly reputed schools out there.

http://www.roberto-venn.com/

Also check here:
http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/Reference/i-8010.html
http://www.luth.org/links/schools.htm

also, on a side note, you can't just "become a chef". You gotta work your way up the ladder dude, slave away for years pulling 60-70 hour weeks and getting paid like crap. Then when you become a chef, you are still paid like crap and still have to work ludicrous hours. It's not until you establish yourself and own at least a few restaurants that you begin really making money. The restaurant business is not an easy path.

Funnily enough, both of these things (luthiery and cheffing) were on my list of careers to investigate as possible life/career directions, and after doing a lot of research, I realized that both seem to be EXTREMELY difficult to make a decent living in. In the case of cooking, it's mostly your time, energy, and sanity that is degraded. In the case of luthiery, it's sanity and your own bank account. It's very difficult to make ends meet as a full time luthier, unless you get lucky and manage to get a high profile position with an established company. And even then, the pay's not that great.

Tread carefully bro.


That said, I still intend to do a luthiery course in a few years and take up guitar building as a hobby.

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

Summit

Google Luthiers International.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

http://www.galloupguitars.com/school.htm

Brian is a good friend. & a great builder. He is always pushing the boundaries of guitar building. He would be my choice if I were your age

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

http://www.galloupguitars.com/school.htm

Brian is a good friend. & a great builder. He is always pushing the boundaries of guitar building. He would be my choice if I were your age

I've been thinking about starting with Neal Moser's 4 week class on building neck-through guitars and then heading out to Galloup get experience with everything else.

Convoy, I'm aware that luthiers don't make a lot of money, but if you own a storefront that takes repairs and set ups also you can make a good living.

I'm not against the idea of doing something else for a living, but it would be cool for this to work out.

 

[BrianS.]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

http://www.redwingmusicrepair.org/guitar/index.html

This is the school I graduated from back in 1997. It is much more comprehensive than it used to be, particularly in regards to building. When I went, it was only a 1 year course, now there is an optional 2nd year.

I've worked for 17 years as a folk harp builder and part time guitar repair tech in Red Wing, where the above school is located. In that time, I've spoken with quite a few graduates and students. I've also worked with a few in the harp shop. It can be tough to find a job and virtually impossible to make a real living as an independent luthier. A few do it, though.

If I were doing it all again, I'd have stayed in college and earned my bachelor's, and then gone on to the luthier school. A lot band-instrument and violin repair folks do that, and in my opinion, it's a safer bet.

One plus about the state run votech is that there is finacial aid services available to you...I don't think this is the case with the private schools like Venn and Galloup.

Good luck

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

It can be tough to find a job and virtually impossible to make a real living as an independent luthier. A few do it, though.

I was thinking of more along the lines of owning a guitar shop that builds, repairs, and sells gear in general. I would offer custom amp cabinets too. Like a mom and pop music store that also offers custom built guitars and amp equipment. I don't how successful it would be, so if anyone has insight on that it would be much appreciated.

 

[Dr. Vegetable]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

I was thinking of more along the lines of owning a guitar shop that builds, repairs, and sells gear in general. I would offer custom amp cabinets too. Like a mom and pop music store that also offers custom built guitars and amp equipment. I don't how successful it would be, so if anyone has insight on that it would be much appreciated.

It's not easy to run any small business. More and more these days the deck is stacked against the mom-n-pop sized shops. If you get the right location and can build a reputation, you might eke out a living. You will not get rich, but maybe you will be doing what you truly love, and that's far more important.

But don't start out playing the end game. If you just want to run a mom-n-pop store, you'd have better odds of success selling canned beans and candy bars. If you aspire to be a great luthier, start out by learning the craft and figuring out if you're any good at it. If you love repairing and building instruments (or preparing fine meals) you will find a way to make your living at it. Don't slot yourself into a particular vision of the day-to-day; instead figure out what it is about the field that attracts you and focus on becoming great at that aspect of it.

Who knows? Someday you could be running your own guitar company.

 

[Chris of Arabia]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

It's probably of no use to you, but I've mulled over the idea of going to do one of these more than once - Totnes School of Guitar Making

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

Personally, I like MI's Guitar Craft Academy. John Carruthers and Rob Nishida do a great job over there. Plus, you're studying in the heart of Hollywood. (Disclaimer: I'm on the board of directors for their parent company).

Click the link above and watch the short video. I think you'll like it.

 

[youngthrasher9]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

Personally, I like MI's Guitar Craft Academy. John Carruthers and Rob Nishida do a great job over there. Plus, you're studying in the heart of Hollywood. (Disclaimer: I'm on the board of directors for their parent company).

Click the link above and watch the short video. I think you'll like it.

They only teach bolt-on construction, otherwise that would be my first choice.

 

[tonello]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

http://www.galloupguitars.com/schools-of-lutherie-luthier.htm

That's a really good school. I'm hoping to go there in the near future.

 

[Bludave]

Re: Does anyone have any links to a luthiery school?

I've been thinking about starting with Neal Moser's 4 week class on building neck-through guitars and then heading out to Galloup get experience with everything else.

Convoy, I'm aware that luthiers don't make a lot of money, but if you own a storefront that takes repairs and set ups also you can make a good living.

I'm not against the idea of doing something else for a living, but it would be cool for this to work out.

The hard part is apprenticing. Usually these are not paid positions but they are great experience. Sooner or later you have to step out on your own and start working on repairs or building your own guitars. You have to have a focus. That focus should be to build your own guitars & I am not talking about buying a body & neck and slapping it together. Nothing wrong with that but just about anybody can do it. Build acoustic or archtop guitars. They are unique and you have to completely understand the art/craft that goes into building each guitar.