I would say that firstly, if you're not already familiar with good, basic wood working skills, that you learn that first. Learning how to make good cuts, joints, and other skills in wood using basic hand and power tools is essential, as Luthiery is built on solid wood working skills. If you're not already a skilled wood worker, find some local classes on wood working, start buying tools and practice making straight cuts and jointery and routing, sanding, finishing on various types of scrap wood.
Also, there are many good books and other sources of learning Luthiery. Many of us here learned it through years or doing it, as well as other types of wood working.
Start getting catalogs from Places like Stewart MacDonald (
www.stewmac.com) and others. Join an organization like the Guild of American Luthiers, as they can be great sources of info.
Read as much as you can on other Luthiers sites, buy a few "junk" pawn shop guitars and basses and practice taking off the fingerboards and glueing them back on, practice removing the frets and replacing them, then crowning and dressing the frets. Rewire them, many times! Practice setting the intonation. Break the headstock off and glue it back on! etc...etc...
Lastly, there are many schools that have very respectable Luthier programs. Some are full time, others are only a few nights a week. Check the
www.mimf.com for a listing.
Hope this helps, even if just a little bit!
:^)~
