Guest Luthier Series - Matt Artinger

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey T4D

Thank you, and hope that we can all share a few ideas today!

We all have our own approaches, and from my view, we ALL are very good at what we do, but my approach differs in the fact that I enjoy never making the same guitar twice. Every client has a different personality and a different fingerprint of sorts, and I love the process of working with each individual to 'tailor' the guitar to their needs and tastes...this keeps me on my toes as a builder, and keeps my instruments evolving. I never got scared into making 'standard models with standard options'....life is waaay to short to build the same guitar twice!

 

[Aceman]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey Matt!

as I come across more "custom" builders, I'm always surprised by something about he guitars that represents the 'core' of their line. something about the guitar that really says what the builder is about. And while anyone could want one of these guitars (yours or anyones) their seems to be a 'core' customer that is attracted to them - the type of person who appreciates the core elements of the guitar.

What do you feel are the 'core' elements of your builds, the things that make your guitars uniquely yours, and who is it you think these things appeal to, as customers?

 

[Evan Skopp]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

life is waaay to short to build the same guitar twice!

Love it! :friday:

 

[beandip]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Matt,

Really cool of you to be here, man. I've been a fan of your work for years since I saw the Artinger Martin.

Are you still repairing, or strictly building these days?

Any advice on those who are warranty certified (I'm the process with Martin, at the moment. As well as Fender)

What's your favorite way to seat frets?

Bullnosed or regular beveled fret ends?

Favorite tool in the shop?

Least favorite tool?

Most underrated tool?

Most overrated tool?

What's the sound you were aiming for with the Artinger Martin?

Coolest guitar you've ever worked on?

Bone, Fossilized Walrus Ivory, Fossilized Mammoth Ivory, Graphite, Corin, Tusq, or something else for bone and saddle material?

Any tricks of the trade you'd like to share to us fellow builders? Especially us young 'uns.

-Dustin

 

[GuitarSandwich]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hi Matt, I'm not familiar with your work so how would you describe your philosophy and how your guitars are different.

How many guitars have you made so far?

Thanks for taking time to be here!

 

[Mincer]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hi there Matt! Have you ever considered any alternatives to wood? Or does the tooling and materials really prevent that sort of design experimentation? How about 13 pin midi guitars?

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey Aceman!

That IS a great question. I'd say the CORE element of my guitars is the focus on performance, playability and working to make the guitar a perfect 'fit' for a client. I know it may sound cliche', but I've never been big on outrageous looking woods, and although I still use them, I mainly gravitate to mahogany, which is SUCH a dynamic wood to use for a chambered or hollow electric instrument, and i think that in a world where curb appeal gets the most attention, I pay primary attention to what's INSIDE the house first and foremost....

 

[BTMN]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey BTMN!

Thank you SO much, and YES...actually, I just finished an 'explorerbird' hybrid for one of my clients Steve Kimock, who primarily plays explorers, It's an explorer shape, with a stairstep body like the firebird, and a reverse firebird headstock! pointy guitars are rare for me, but a fun departure from the norm!

Any photos? :eyecrazy: Sounds very cool. Ever seen John Entwhistle's FenderBird? I have a cool looking late 70s Mighty Mite Explorer body that has had an all Maple Hamer Daytona, think strat, neck on it. Adds a unique look to the Explorer shape. :approve:

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey Beandip!

Ok....here goes ;-)...
I am still repairing, but have scaled back somewhat over the past few years.

As for advice tot a warranty repairman....we all have our own ways of doing things, but it's important to strictly adhere to the way the company wants you to repair an instrument, even if it makes you gnash your teeth at times ;-)

I'm waayy old school with frets....a weighted copper mallet, a sandbag, and some fortitude...I've done it this way for so long that I can plow through a fret job fairly rapidly with no problem, and as for fret ends...bullnosed for sure! Much cleaner and classier, and shows that you pay attention to detail.

Fave tool in my shop---my smallest fingerplane cuz it's cute, and can really nail the detail in my cutaways.

Least fave--my pin router...i thought i'd use it a heck of alot more than I do, but i'm stubborn in my ways!

Most underrated tool---a SHARP set of chiesels....the sharper, the safer, and more precise

Most overrated tool----CNC...not going to lie..I employ one, but as a computer dunce, I enjoy torturing myself by still doing most things by hand...if you're a computer whiz...go for it, but it's a tool I've wanted to trebuchet over my mountain many times in frustration......
As for the Martin, I've really been struck at how additional soundports can open up the voice of an instrument, so additional volume was the key

Coolest guitars I've ever worked on were a 54 fender 4 neck lap steel formerly belonging to Jerry Garcia, and One of Jerry's later Cripe guitars.

As for nut and saddle material, I would choose ivory over anything, but considering the ramifications of ivory, Dense high quality bone is a safe bet, but it has to be high quality

As for tricks of the trade-----don't be afraid to experiment....the worst thing that can happen is that your experiment doesn't turn out the way you wanted....also, don't get too emotionally attatched to one particular guitar....you'll build plenty more where that one came from!

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey Guitarsandwich!

I've pretty much laid out my primary philosophy towards guitar design and building above, and it mainly focuses arounf tailoring each instrument to it's owner so it matches the owner's style and personality. As for number of guitars, I'm just above 500 at this point

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

BTMN....e-mail me later and I'll scare up some pics for you!

 

[Kevincharles]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

so matt... my local luthier school(john marshalls) is now offering loans again! im crazy excited because ive alwyas been the guy to fix my friends guitar sand ive done a build or two myself. and oh what a dream itd be to do that for a living!

but my question to you is this...is getting certified worth it? John marshalls is 15k for 11 weeks. and from what ive read about theyre a very good school. I just cant decide..I mean, its either two years of college and a luthier certification, or 4 years of college.

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hi Mincer!

In short....you nailed it on the head...absolutely, and I think new alternatives, like what flaxwood guitars have employed are amazing, but there needs to be an enormous investment in tooling to do such a thing...I shudder to think how much Ken Parker needed to raise to start his Parker Fly line in the 90's!
As for 13 pin guitars....Yes...I've made several!

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hey Kevin!

In my opinion, and my opinion only, the certification itself isn't worth much...it's the experience learned during the program, and the continued real world experience you'll learn after schooling in a live shop setting....there's no great substitute for time spent at the bench and learning how to think on your feet with repairs.....it'll come my friend!!!

 

[BTMN]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Thanks! Will do.

 

[Matt Artinger]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Also Kevin---


Repairs give you a GREAT insight into instrument making as well if you choose to pursue that too. By seeing so many guitars from the inside out, you'll get a better vision of what other companies have done right or wrong, and how you'd incorporate elements into your own guitars..

 

[Kevincharles]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

yeah i agree with that. I guess ive just had no luck finding anyone in georgia that i can understudy.

i might end up doing it just for the experience. plus i will get to make 3 guitars and i will get a lot of tools and motivation for sure.

are you certified? and from what school?

 

[Kevincharles]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

and how old are? im 19 so i know i have a lot of time, but i see it as a lot of time im missing out on building guitars if i dont exaclty know how to get a quality build you know?

 

[ErikH]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hi Matt,

Welcome to the SDUGF. I'll be honest, this is the first time I've ever heard of your guitars but I like the look of them. Very beautiful instruments.

Since you grew up so close to the Martin facilities and worked with them, I have to ask, out of all of the Martin guitars, aside from the one you designed with them, which is your favorite and why?

My favorite is the D-28 (which I own) or HD-28.

Thanks,
Erik

 

[firebirdV]

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Re: LIVE NOW - Guest Luthier Matt Artinger

Hello,

What is your favorite acoustic body shape and wood combo.
Also, have you ever used padauk wood?

Thanks