Majoring in imstrument repair/lutherie?

Ben Mitchell · #1 03-28-2011, 08:50 PM

I was thinking about going into the field. How and where should I go? Is it a solid way to make a living?

cryfok · #2 03-28-2011, 10:11 PM

peter prier in salt lake city has a renowned luthiery school, although i believe the program teaches all string instruments, not exclusively double bass.

PaulCannon · #3 03-29-2011, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

I was thinking about going into the field. How and where should I go? Is it a solid way to make a living?

My favorite luthiers all took different paths, so it depends on where you are in life and what your needs are. You can find a violin making school, either in the States or in Europe, and study the craft formally. You can apprentice at a shop or with a maker, which in many cases will be a paying gig. One of my favorites, Christian Laborie, was completely self-taught.

I've done some apprenticing, and for me, having a fairly high level of performance ability on the bass was extremely helpful. I didn't know anything about tools or wood, but I knew a good set-up when I saw one. Getting one of my first set-ups (a plywood) to feel like my Toenniges was pretty satisfying, and I doubt I could have done it so quickly without the exposure to the performance side. If you're still in high school and looking at college, consider finding a school where you can take private lessons, play in orchestra, and be around bass players while at the same time studying lutherie. Indiana University would be one school that comes to mind with a well-regarded violin making school and a legitimate double bass program.

As for making a living, yes it's possible. Some makers are selling instruments at over $40,000 a piece (four basses per year), although that is after years of work and for a very refined instrument. My understanding is that you have to gain experience and reputation before you can start demanding that kind of money. It takes time, but the market rewards those who take the craft seriously. Good luck.

Ben Mitchell · #4 03-29-2011, 05:38 AM

Just realized I made a typo in my thread title :/. Anyway, I'm still in high school. Next year I've been offered a job at our local string shop, just as help, and while I'm there the luthier offered to let me apprentice. So hopefully I can get started there.

PaulCannon · #5 03-29-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

Just realized I made a typo in my thread title :/. Anyway, I'm still in high school. Next year I've been offered a job at our local string shop, just as help, and while I'm there the luthier offered to let me apprentice. So hopefully I can get started there.

That's sounds perfect. I'd liken it to wanting to be a great chef. You could start at a culinary school and formally study the art of creating food, or you could work at a restaurant and learn the business. Ideally you would eventually do both, but I don't think it necessarily matters where you start. Just keep your standards high.

echoSE7EN · #6 03-29-2011, 06:08 AM

what's an "imstrument"?

Cody Sisk · #7 03-29-2011, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

Just realized I made a typo in my thread title :/. Anyway, I'm still in high school. Next year I've been offered a job at our local string shop, just as help, and while I'm there the luthier offered to let me apprentice. So hopefully I can get started there.

Ey, I know you!

We'll help you get your feet wet and see if a life behind the bench is for you..

Rebop · #8 03-29-2011, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassMaster65

Just realized I made a typo in my thread title :/. Anyway, I'm still in high school. Next year I've been offered a job at our local string shop, just as help, and while I'm there the luthier offered to let me apprentice. So hopefully I can get started there.

That is exactly how I got started. I highly recommend it. Hugely rewarding and equally frustrating; I loved it.

Ben Mitchell · #9 03-29-2011, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by echoSE7EN

what's an "imstrument"?

Thats the typo I found.

Dr Rod · #10 03-29-2011, 10:14 AM

you don't need to pay big bucks to learn this trade, just start working as an apprentice, even if they don't pay you, it will be cheaper than paying tuition on top of not getting paid.

a degree makes sense in areas where it is difficult to assess whether you are qualified or not. In this case your work speaks for itself in a way that no piece of paper can.

I would say you should: start working, take a cheap woodworking class, get good luthier books from the library, search the net, experiment on your own, buy good tools etc...

my 2 cents

james condino · #11 03-29-2011, 08:33 PM

Learning how to build / repair / restore an instrument, getting a degree, and being able to make money off the end result are three very different things that require very different skills and experience.

I try to explain to all of my potential students that I can teach you how to build a very good instrument; that is a fairly manageable task. Being able to pay your mortgage and feed / clothe your family building instruments is a whole different enchilada...

j.

John Sprague · #12 03-31-2011, 09:14 AM

BassMaster65, I talk to a lot of dealers, and see many different models for success being done out there.

Plain old working in a shop won't make you rich, but I think it's comparable to most other jobs where a fair amount of specialization is needed. Think auto tech, electronics repair, that kind of money. Some violin shops are rather generous, some aren't. The demand is high if you don't mind moving to a new city, dealers ask me regularly if they know of any repair techs out there looking for jobs. There's a good chance you'll be working for a family-owned shop, where you can learn the ropes of opening your own shop down the road.

Owning a shop is a different thing altogether. Most one- or two-person shops appear to make a decent living, and have the precious autonomy of being the boss. It's hard at first to get yourself established, and you need to have some guts and savvy and determination. Most of those people like Arnold, Nick, etc all seem pretty happy about what they're doing.

Then there are shops with multiple employees, big rental programs, teaching studios, huge inventories, committed school service and so on. They are the ones making the most money. A lot of those people are living quite well in terms of dollars made. It's a great goal to shoot for, as you'll be able to provide for yourself, your kids, and help other families make a living.

There are many other and varied combinations you can use to have a nice career. I think someone with maker's skills and an entrepreneurial spirit can do quite well.