Like how to get started, how to keep my ideas safe and all that. :cool:

Too vague!?!?!?!? you need to do your reading, go through all your books and all the 'luthiers corner' posts on this forum, Also obviously read the stickies at the top of the page here, use the search bar. Once you can narrow down to specific questions you can start to get an in depth knowledge- and the main thing is get started, get some hands on. Start a nice simple project and learn as you go. good luck

Make some fairly standard looking instruments to start (keeping your designs to yourself...), post "in progress" threads here, and let the more experienced folks have at it. If you haven't already built some, there's no substitute for doing it.

If there's anything that I could say I don't care for about this forum, it is that there seems to be a real absence of true, honest critique from (what I perceive as) a group that includes a healthy number of really fine bass builders.

How to : FAQ etc.
Ideas safe: search on "copyright." Not easy.



If there's anything that I could say I don't care for about this forum, it is that there seems to be a real absence of true, honest critique from (what I perceive as) a group that includes a healthy number of really fine bass builders.Interesting. Likely reasons for other (real) luthiers, and definitely my reasons with "someday I could be a luthier" in mind:
- general principle of "if you can't say something nice, don't say it at all"
- common courtesy
- respect of differences in taste
- maintaining a good image or relationship with both peers and potential clients

That being said, I'll usually pipe up if I think someone's about to make an actual mistake, but not if I just dislike their design (unless they're specifically asking for design criticism).

If there's anything that I could say I don't care for about this forum, it is that there seems to be a real absence of true, honest critique from (what I perceive as) a group that includes a healthy number of really fine bass builders.


If you want criticism then post over on project guitar, those guys really set the dogs on you, as i found out myself! a lot of constructive criticism from some really talented guys there, i found it very informative, but there was some real below the belt childish stuff coming from nobodys too...:hiding:

BTW, a Luthier is a trained person with skills learned over years of work. You are looking to "Become a Luthier", not a young luthier.

If you are going to build basses, and guitars even, you will become a builder, and not a luthier. Luthiers have knowledge that goes beyond the simple guitar.

Learn, work, learn, work, and learn more.

If you want criticism then post over on project guitar, those guys really set the dogs on you, as i found out myself!

Indeed...I learned quite a lot there for a couple of years, until it was time for me to build a bass. That's when I found TB and the ERB forum.

Now that I'm working on an acoustic guitar, it's the OLF.

a lot of constructive criticism from some really talented guys there, i found it very informative, but there was some real below the belt childish stuff coming from nobodys too.

Yeah, there are a lot of kids on that forum that have nothing better to do...they'd rather "play luthier" than actually build something. Then again, if you're a luthier in training, it is maybe a more realistic cross-section of the kind of person who will at least inquire about a custom instrument.

One thing that I think drives the culture on PG is that every so often, there will be a kid who registers, makes some seemingly well-informed posts, then takes orders from people and rips them off with shoddy work (sometimes not delivering at all), it has happened a couple of times (one guy was discovered and banned by his mother!); that kind of thing is blissfully absent here. So on PG the more experienced guys tend to have a bit of an edge, but it is a constructive kind of edge, and thick skin is not undesirable in this trade I would wager.

I dunno, maybe its just me, but I'd rather have some real constructive critique from the more experienced folk rather than a bunch of rah-rah posts.

Maybe like PJ says, I should just invite it... :hiding:

If you are going to build basses, and guitars even, you will become a builder, and not a luthier. Luthiers have knowledge that goes beyond the simple guitar.

Learn, work, learn, work, and learn more.

Bravo! :hyper:

Now that I'm working on an acoustic guitar, it's the OLF.


OLF? what's that.. Id love to build an acoustic some time soon, very soon.

BTW, a Luthier is a trained person with skills learned over years of work. You are looking to "Become a Luthier", not a young luthier.

If you are going to build basses, and guitars even, you will become a builder, and not a luthier. Luthiers have knowledge that goes beyond the simple guitar.

Learn, work, learn, work, and learn more.

Learn, work, and learn more, oooh!, nice guitar

My advice:

Don't take most of the stuff that you see on the internet (including forums) too serious.
Of course there are talented people posting on the internet, but some things you just can learn from a computer screen or maybe a book or something like that.
Also, a lot of crap and false information is posted on the internet.

You'll be best of finding a qualified luthier to teach you the art of making stringed instruments.
It's probably hard to find one but it'll be worth it, I can tell you!

That's just my opinion.
Good Luck!

I just bought the books and read the tutorials, followed build threads on various websites and then just went at it. first a restoration, refinish, couple repairs etc. then I got talking to a buddy of mine who also was into fixing guitars and we both thought it would be great to build a bass which would be just how we would want it. so we got designing and planning, bought some cheap generic hardwood and got stuck in. when that went ok we bought the good stuff and once again just got stuck in still learning along the way. but I see screw ups as a means of proving your metal because if I can repair it invisibly or make it look intentional then I'm happy.

bearing in mind that I've been working wood (albeit very basically) since a very young age. I was always helping my dad repair things or making cars out of scraps etc.

Like how to get started, how to keep my ideas safe and all that. :cool:

start by learning the correct woodworking and instrument building nomenclature, and suppliment it with a solid base of woodworking skills.

learn how to use handtools and power tools correctly (this includes how to use them safely!) ... how does a chisel cut with and across the grain? how does it cut Alder vs Ash vs Honduran Mahogany? when is a rasp preferable to a bastard file? when is a cabinet scraper preferable to a spokeshave?

learn the skilled ways to do simple things with precision and detail before venturing into shortcuts and pizzazz

learn to prepare a solid glue joint by hand before relying on power tools to do it faster, and learn when to use what kind of glue thinking ahead to how you might repair a glue joint

learn the art of preparing wood for staining without leaving scratch marks that reveal themselves after you apply that coat of dark blue stain

learn how to properly bookmatch a piece of plain grained wood, and how to make the grain look sexy before bookmatching wood with exotic figures that easily hide a shoddy bookmatch effort

learn how to keep your shop clean at all times, your tools properly sharpened and maintained, and your health protected

learn how to receive critique and learn from all that others share about your creations - even when you feel that they are sharing with the intent of personally attacking you. learn how to always give back to those who come to learn, and return the investment others make in helping you to grow as a woodworker by mentoring others when you are finally ready to do so

learn how to construct curves that flow and how to create designs that move your eye artistically thru your work in a pleasing way



if you can master all this (and more) you are on your way to becoming a solid woodworker and novice instrument maker. to become a luthier is an entirely different level far beyond the skills it takes to become a skilled and respected luthier ... and a title that one does NOT bestow upon themselves

all the best,

R

learn how to receive critique and learn from all that others share about your creations - even when you feel that they are sharing with the intent of personally attacking you. learn how to always give back to those who come to learn, and return the investment others make in helping you to grow as a woodworker by mentoring others when you are finally ready to do so



Well said. I aspire to all that you said, the critique is hard.
Alan

Critique is hard yes, because so much of one's personality goes into the instrument...it is sometime difficult to not take it personally.

But it is easier when you can distinguish criticisms that are a matter of style (subjective) from those that are a matter of function or quality (objective).

Indeed...I learned quite a lot there for a couple of years, until it was time for me to build a bass. That's when I found TB and the ERB forum.

Don't lie. You built that gorgeous "Bass of the Month" on Project Guitar before you were a member here ;) :p

Same for me, I outgrew PG after a couple of instruments. I feel I can learn more here and on the MIMF.

Don't lie. You built that gorgeous "Bass of the Month" on Project Guitar before you were a member here ;) :p

...yeah, but I lurked and read for a long time before becoming a member. Same with the OLF.