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Tips you've learnt; thing's you wish someone had told you BEFORE you started

reverendrally

reverendrally

Jun 7, 2008
2,622
1,979
Sydney Australia
obsofaboganpastor.blogspot.com.au
#1
It struck me the other day that combined wisdom of this forum is pretty formidable. It also struck me that there are hours of wisdom I don't have yet. So, I was hoping we all might be able to throw in some simple tips we've learnt over the years in a few categories...

1. Something you learnt in your first build.
2. Something you learnt in the 2-5 instrument mark
2. Something you learnt around the 10-30 instrument mark.
3. Something you learnt around the 50-100 instrument mark.
4. Something you learnt around the 100-200 instrument mark.
5. Something you learnt around the 200-500 instrument mark.

I reckon there's a goldmine of stuff in all of us here. I know there's few here that have built 500, but I really want to know what you learnt.

Anyhow, here's my tip.

Have a proper, drawn, 1:1 scale, plan and use it as a reference for everything before cutting ANY timber.
 
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#6
I usually create stuff in my head first and when I have a good feeling about it I use CAD to draw it. This takes a few weeks, sometimes even month only thinking about it until I start doing anything!
The most valuable lesson I learned? Discuss everything you do! That's why I love working at fablabs and creating build threads, lots of people there with great ideas and a natural urge to improve.
 
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#7
In my first build, I learned that it is not as hard as you think it will be, and the sheer joy of building carries you past the tricky stuff. Also, I learned that the cost of building an instrument is higher than making one, especially when starting out and buying lots of tools.

In my 2nd to 5th builds, I found that each instrument represented a dramatic step forward, and my previous work became a bit embarrassing by comparison. In most cases, my skills improved noticeably as I built, so, by the time I finished an instrument, I tended to be unsatisfied with the work I had done at the outset. This might be more the case with hand tools than power tools, however, as builds are slower and the learning curve is probably a bit steeper.

I also learned that the initial enthusiasm and dream of becoming "a pro" needed to be tempered with reality, and, the more one built, the more this reality set in. There's a "honeymoon period" in building, but don't let it fool you into spending everything you have on expensive tools and a workspace unless you have the cash lying around anyway. Don't give up your day job until you've made a lot of instruments and are sure that this is the life for you. Even then...still don't give up a regular income until you have had a good number of instruments sold for real money to real consumers (not just friends and family) and are sure that can sell enough that you can afford to change over to a career full-time lutherie.

That will probably never happen to 95% or more of people.

In the post-10 period, I learned that repairing for others was a great way to polish fundamental skills like fretwork that would be useful in building, and also that, as my own instruments got better, praise tended to be less effusive and more insightful/constructive. This is a good thing. If a professional player says simply "This is a GREAT instrument", they mean they are happy that you made it and are probably giving you the same response that you would to a six-year-old cousin who showed you his finger paintings. If they say "This is good, but..." and give a list of critical comments, it means they are probably taking you seriously as a builder.
 
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#8
Most of what I learned are things that can only come with experience, finishing being the biggest one. Also I have learned a whole lot of patience since I started building, waiting on parts still gives me a nervous tick however
 
#9
i used to get overly obsessive and try to make things absolutely perfect and end up overworking them and messing them up, i couldn't really control it until i turned about 36 and i stopped screwing up drawings and bass maintenance/finish stuff
 
#11
Well I ain't learnt nuthin, but I have learned a few things....

1) Routers aren't that scary. They're dangerous, but so are all power tools. You'll probably get hurt more by your disc sander than by your router. Quit stressing out about it.

2) Make more router templates. It can do more than just cut cavities.

3) Making a nice finish is easier than you are trying to make it. Spray, wet-sand, buff. It's that easy. Wax if you feel like it.

4+) I'll let you know in a few years.
 
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#16
There is a lot of great advice here.

I agree with the cost. My first build cost over a grand, and my second approached 2 grand. That's when I realized I could just go out and buy a RIC. So I did.

I still think that routers are scary. I've had a run-in or two in the past. But given the proper respect, they are invaluable tools for making electric instruments and speaker enclosures. And yes - templates.

I always try to buy the best tools I can afford, even if I have to wait a little longer. There's nothing more frustrating that trying to make a perfect cut with an imperfect tool. My Dad used to tell me that a poor craftsman always blames his tools. There may be some truth to that, but I've learned that a good tool can be made to do good things, more easily than a poor tool. In certain areas, one can "cut corners" with the quality of tools. Know the limits of each tool.

Wear eye protection any time you use a power tool. No exceptions. Wear proper protection when working with any toxic or semi-toxic materials - respirators, gloves, dust masks, etc allow you to go on to make more instruments. In all areas, safety first. Keep your work area clean. Keep your tools sharp. Put everything away after you're done, so you don't go searching the earth when you need things again.
 
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#19
I'm another closeted wannabe luthier. Love lurkin' in the threads, but don't have the skill sets nor tools to do anything other than bodily harm.

Nonetheless, I'll profer this:

In the property game it's "Location, Location, Location"

In most any other game, you can save a lot of misplaced effort with correctly placed effort in:
"Research, Research, Research".

Research = Prep

ie PREP is muy importante – ask any drywaller, car painter, screen-writer, furniture refinisher, luthier... oh, wait...
 
#20
First build, I'd say don't rush in the excitement that you're actually doing it. Take your time with each step making sure you have the proper tool in hand. Don't try to build the most elaborate instrument. Build something more manageable.

Probably the best advice is work out each step on paper before building. For example, try to bend wood binding for a body before routing the binding channel in case you aren't able to bend the binding without breaking it. Or, slot the fretboard prior to cutting the profile. And while you're at it, cut the nut slot on the table saw. Stuff like that. Having great plans is good, but equally important is the order of operations.

Second build, build the same instrument as the first, but fixing the issues you had with the first.

Third build, same as the second, fixing the issues that one had. Rinse and repeat. :) that way you can learn from your mistakes, and actually prove it to yourself.

Then when you're bored, (and hopefully have something you're totally proud of by instrument 5 perhaps) change it up and design something new and start the process over.
 
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