How to become a Luthier (Full Version)

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Message

suniram -> How to become a Luthier (Apr. 23 2012 14:18:21)

Hi All,

let me introduce myself first. My name is Marinus and I am from Germany, but have been living in Madrid now for almost 12 year

About 4 years ago I started to study Flamenco guitar, as an absolute beginner...and the only thing i can say now is that it has become one of the most important things for me to do...a passion, amazing

But not only playing: during the last years i felt also another desire rising. I would love to learn to build guitars. First this was just a vague idea, but recently, also due to my current profesional and personal situation which requires a complete change, it is getting something more real....

I have been following this forum over these last years but almost never had to say anything as a very beginner. But I have learnt a lot from you guys. So this encouraged me to now ask you for some advise
(although i know that i am not the first one with this issue):

How can one become a Luthier?
It seems that here in Spain that is no regular/official formation. So what is the way to go?
Would it be to go to from luthier to luthier asking if i can learn with him. If they would accept me in their workshops as apprentice?
do you have any experience with that?
Do you know any luthier in Spain who would be willing to teach ?
Or is there another way? maybe you now of any courses or academy or something like that?

sorry, A LOT oF questions.. :)))

whatever thoughts or experiences from you would be highly appreciated !!

thanks a lot in advance

with best regards
Marinus



P.s. and please apologize for my fair english. hope you understand it all



Anders Eliasson -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 23 2012 15:48:30)

Many of us started with just buying some tools, wood, books, etc. And then we started building. Called learning by building. Maybe one of the old Madrid master would like to have an apprentice but its becomming more and more rare. Good luck.



suniram -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 24 2012 9:46:54)

Thank you Anders,

it is very encouraging to hear that the autodidactive way is possible. i like the idea very much, although i would prefer having a real teacher. I will probably try to find one, but if not possible, i know what to do as well..
in this case i will be here again with lots of questions, for sure :))

best regards

p.s. are there any recomendable books in spanish you know?



Flamingrae -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 24 2012 12:20:36)

quote:

Many of us started with just buying some tools, wood, books, etc.


There are lots of routes........follow the path that suits your life ( nearly said grasshopper here ! ) and seize the opportunities as they crop up and the ones you make. If you learn one type of musical construction, you can transfer some of the knowledge to another. A course of some kind will suit some people, whilst not for others, but it's a good way to access tools and advice in one hit. Working for another luthier can be a good experience......or a bad one. If you can find someone you get on with and they are free with advice, that might be a way forward too.
Lots of info on books from previous threads, but I dont know any in Spanish......there must be???
You'll find a way if you are determined enough - good luck.



Anders Eliasson -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 24 2012 15:53:04)

I dont know any recomendable books about guitarbuilding in Spanish. The ones I´ve seen are crap.
The closest you get to Spanish construction is David Schramm´s first onlineapprentice DVD where he´s building a Hauser Classical guitar. Just change the building plan to a flamenco plan.
I do many things different, but the base is there and it works.



Stephen Eden -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 25 2012 20:26:06)

Another great place to start is Stephen Hill and Pablo Requna. They both run courses for guitar making in the south of Spain. Its probably not as cheap as learning from a book but alot easier and you will come away with a pretty decent guitar!



estebanana -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 25 2012 21:31:22)

I'd try and do what Eden suggested if I had it to do all over again. The cost of studying intensively under a good teacher is really worth it when compared to what education costs these days. There are not very many luthery schools and the ones which are available will take years and probably won't understand the Spanish guitar very well.

There is a good maker in Madrid named Arcadio Marin, he's also a great guitarist. You might knock on his door and ask if you can pay him for a consultation about books etc, and if he would give you some lessons. But you should offer to pay for some lessons, this information is difficult to learn and comes at a price. Just a tip, I have heard he is very approachable and interesting. You could also go find David Serva and take some guitar lessons and ask him. He knows all the old guitar makers of Madrid and can fill you in on who learned from who. Ask around town for those two guys and you'll find some pretty interesting things.



suniram -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 26 2012 8:05:56)

thanks a lot all for your suggestions. highly apreciated.

now that you mention stephen hill, I think I can remeber having read about courses by him time ago. that would be interesting. isnt he a forum member as well?

thanks again

best regards



suniram -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 26 2012 8:19:37)

Ah sorry, i already found him and his webpage. this sounds very interesting indeed

thanks again



Ricardo -> RE: How to become a Luthier (Apr. 26 2012 15:33:31)

Or you can do like the japanese guys did with Ramirez. Buy a sweet guitar you really like and want to study, and then just saw it in half, and reverse engineer it.[;)][:D]



suniram -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 11 2012 15:19:18)

Hi All,

I finally decided to do that course with Stephen Hill. I absolutely agree with you that a good teacher is worth it..

I already booked the course, but unfortunateley the next available one is in May 2013. So there is one year left and in the meantime i will try to get something done by myself...lets see. ..I purchased the bogdanovich and the courtnall books. and instead of the David Schramm DVD I just ordered "El guitarrero" :)) - i just thought that that would make more sense...

thanks again for your advices...and hopefully i will be back soon with questions - as this would means that i really have started...



Morante -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 11 2012 15:54:50)

Make sure you are a competent carpenter before you take a course: know how to sharpen and use tools etc. Otherwise you will waste a lot of time.



hamia -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 11 2012 18:21:28)

Sometime soon there are going to be more flamenco guitar makers than guitarists!



Stephen Eden -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 16 2012 12:04:50)

I don't think you need to really need to be that good at wood work to do Stephen's Course. Much of the technique is taught on the course including tool sharpening. Also all of the wood work involved in guitar making is really very easy and when you have a teaching team like Stephen and Pablo, you will find it hard to go wrong!



suniram -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 16 2012 13:04:36)

Thank You Stephen,

you are confirming all the information I got so far about the courses by myself. So I am not worried about that at all.
(and besides that, I am not completely new to woodworking although I am not a really competent carpenter so far. But I am good in learning....)

best regards
Marinus



keith -> RE: How to become a Luthier (May 17 2012 22:58:48)

not sure if this may be a learning option but maybe buying a guitar kit and putting it together might teach some fundamental skills. you can take the kit which has pre bent sides and pre made rosettes, fret board, etc. and use the knowledge from a book to put it together and possibly alter the soundboard (reduce thickness, shave braces, etc.). i think going into the class with some skills will allow you to focus on things that might be missed if some of your focus is on basic wood working skills. plus you will have some development of muscle memory with respect to using a plane, chisel, etc. just a thought.



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