The term Luthier has been thrown around a lot in forums and blog posts, but most people are not really familiar with this part technician part artist of an occupation.
By definition a Luthier is someone who builds and repairs stringed instruments such as violins and guitars. The word originates from a middle ages popular instrument called Luth (in French) or Lute. It resembles the Oud still common in the middle east. There are two main type of stringed instruments, Plucked or strummed and Bowed (although some of the bowed instruments can be plucked as well). Luthiers do not make Pianos and Harps.
How does one become a Luthier?
Being an occupation that dates back to the middle ages, as with many other professions, apprenticeship used to be the most common way to learn a trade. One would learn from the Master Luthier for a few years and would either inherit to shop or open his own. Today there are plenty of small schools and programs and even some larger institutions and colleges offering a “Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair” degree or certificate. Jump to the full list at the bottom of the page.
As with other crafts that border art, it is rarely the certificate or degree that makes the difference.
If you are determined and an autodidact there is plenty of information out there (and in here) to get you started building guitars. Maybe start with a Kit guitar, just to get your feet wet. Maybe even find an apprenticeship. Chances are after you have created a few kick ass guitars and have made your share of mistakes, you will know where you stand. If you enjoyed it you may want to proceed to a more professional route or be content to remain a hobbyist. If you didn’t like it, you should probably not be a Luthier..
What does it take to be a Luthier?
A luthier has to be a skilled carpenter, a good technician, and have an ear of a musician. If you are dealing with any amplification other than acoustic, you will also need to commend electrotonic components.
For most people, looking at an acoustic guitar or violin, the mere thought of turning slabs of wood into these precision instruments looks unfathomable. The shape, the type of woods, the thickness, the support all have a great affect on the final instrument. Technically a Luthier has to have the highest carpentry skills to produce something that plays. A slight change of angle, a smoother neck and mirror like frets would make the difference between a great guitar to an OK guitar. Then there are the acoustics. Every 1/16” in thickness, the amount of glue and layer of lacquer is significant.
How long does it take to become a Luthier?
There is a popular theory that it takes 10,000 hours to become a master at any craft.
Strictly academic, the programs for “Musical Instrument Fabrication and Repair Degree” in the USA, span from two to four years. And there are plenty of courses and apprenticeships that in a wide range of lengths. There is much more information on schools and places for apprenticeship in the “Is there a school for Lutherie near you?” list, at the bottom of the page.
Who can call himself/ herself a Luthier?
To some, a mere formality, a sensitive subject for others. It is understandable if someone who has been crafting musical instruments their whole life is outraged by anyone who had just build his first kit guitar and calls himself a Luthier. On the other hand no credentials are needed, there is no graduation, certification or exam to indicate it. Is it the number of years or instruments? Is it the quality of work, the fine tuning of the instrument. Are there no mediocre Luthiers (like there are in any other craft and profession)? Do you have to do it professionally? Considering the ‘Guild of American Luthiers’ is open to anyone.
It seems anyone can ‘Call’ himself a Luthier, whether he or she is worthy of the title or not.
Personal disclaimer: The writer of this post is not a professional Luthier. If anything, I would say ‘I dabble in Lutherie’. ‘The Electric Luthier’ is concept, not a title, and if offends anyone’ I do apologize.
Do Luthiers use power tools?
There are few if any makers of instruments that do not use power tools and in most cases a CNC machine. The practical advantages as far as speed, accuracy and mostly consistency for any type of production is undeniable. Having said that there is still a lot of manual work that still needs to go into an instrument to give it that final touch. That is what separates boutique and Custom Shops from your ‘Standards’.
However, there are still ‘purists’ who claim and practice Lutherie ‘old school’ and prefer (mostly or exclusively) manual tools and techniques.
What types of tools does a Luthier need to get started?
For a complete overview of Luthiers’ Tools and where we use them see my “Ultimate Guide To Guitar Building Tools”
Is there a school for Lutherie near you?
Schools in the USA
American School of Lutherie
Portland, OR
www.americanschooloflutherie.com
Atlanta Guitar Works School of Building and Repair
Snellville, GA
www.atlantaguitarworks.com
ARC Guitar Building School
Winters, CA
www.arcguitar.com
Alan Carruth
Newport, NH
alcarruthluthier.com
The Art Of Lutherie
St.Louis, MO
www.theartoflutherie.com
Augusta Heritage Center of Davis & Elkins College
Elkins, WV
www.augustaheritagecenter.org/
Benedetto Guitars
Savannah, GA
www.benedettoguitars.com
Berkshire Stringed Instruments School of Lutherie
North Adams, MA
www.berkshirestringedinstruments.com
Boss Guitars,
Hampton, CT
hotstringsguitar.com
Brad Nickerson
Asheville, NC
nickersonguitars.net
Bruce Roper, Chicago Luthiers Workshop
Chicago, Illinois
chicagoluthiers.com
Brian Burns
Fort Bragg, CA
lessonsinlutherie.com
Beyond the Trees
Santa Cruz, CA
beyondthetrees.com
Cascade School of Lutherie
Asheville, NC
www.condino.com
Chicago School of Guitar Making
Chicago, IL
www.specimenproducts.com/chicago-school-of-guitar-making/
Chicago School of Violin Making
Skokie, IL
www.csvm.org/
Colorado School of Lutherie
Denver, CO
www.coloradoschooloflutherie.com
The Curbow School of Lutherie
Morganton, GA
Curbow.com
Custom Vibrations School of Lutherie
Lexington SC 29072
www.customvibrations.net/
Eastern School of Fretted Instrument Repair
Freehold, NJ
www.njguitarrepairschool.com
Eric Schaefer Guitars
Bernville, PA
www.ericschaeferguitars.com/
European Lutherie School
St. Louis, MO
www.radicic-guitar-zither.com
Everett Guitars
Decatur, GA
www.everettguitars.com/
Finocchio Guitarworks
Easton, PA
www.finocchioguitar.com
Fretted Strings Lutherie School
Davis, CA
www.frettedstrings.com
Galloup School of Lutherie
Big Rapids, MI
www.galloupguitars.com
Geiger School of Lutherie
Carmel, CA
www.geigerguitars.com
The Guitar Services Workshop
Nashville, TN
www.guitarservices.com
Harry Fleishman’s Luthiers School International
Sebastapol, CA
www.fleishmaninstruments.com
Hawkins Guitar
Virginia Beach, VA
757-818-8370www.hawkinsguitar.com
Haight Guitars
Scottsdale, AZ
haightguitars.com
J.S. Bogdanovich Guitars
Swannanoa, NC 28778
www.jsbguitars.com
James Condino
Asheville, North Carolina
condino.com
Jason Wolverton School of Lutherie
Laguna Beach, CA
www.jasonwolverton.com/index.php?/instruction/-learn-the-art-of-lutherie/
Jeffrey Elliott and Cyndy Burton
Portland, OR
elliottguitars.com
Leeds Guitarmakers’ School
Northhampton, MA
www.leedsguitar.com
La Gitana Instruments
Groton, MA
thomasknatt.com
Lichty Guitars
Tryon, NC
www.lichtyguitars.com/
Marlee Guitar Company
WA
marleeguitars.com
MI Guitar Craft Academy Nashville
Nashville, TN
nashville.mi.edu
Midwest Guitar School
St. Louis, MO 63118
www.midwestguitar.com
Musicians Institute
Hollywood, CA
www.mi.edu
Nazareth Guitar Institute
Nazareth, PA
www.americanarchtop.com
North Bennet Street School
Boston, MA
www.nbss.edu
O’Brien Guitars
Parker, CO
www.obrienguitars.com
Orange Coast College
Costa Mesa, CA
www.orangecoastcollege.edu
Planet Bluegrass
Main, Lyons, CO
bluegrass.com
Red Rocks Community College School of Fine Woodworking and Lutherie
Lakewood, CO
www.rrcc.edu/finewood/finewoodpdf/Finewoodworking/guitar.html
Ribbecke Guitars
Healdsburg, CA
www.ribbecke.com
Roberto Venn School of Luthiery
Phoenix, AZ
www.roberto-venn.com
Rock ‘n’ Roll Guitar Building School
Napa, CA
robertleeguitars.com/robert-lees-rock-n-roll-guitar-building-school/
Siminoff Luthierie Camp
Atascadero, CA
www.siminoff.net/luthierie_camp/
SF Guitarworks
San Francisco, CA
sfguitarworks.com
Sound Guitar Workshop
Seattle, WA
www.soundguitarworkshop.com
Southeast Technical College
Red Wing, MN
www.redwingmusicrepair.org
Spencer Acoustics
Garland, TX
spenceracoustics.com
Thomas Doyle
Wantage, NJ
www.tomdoyleguitars.com
Utah School of Guitar Making
Director & Luthier: Justin Leslie
www.facebook.com/utahschoolofguitarmaking
[email protected]
Vermont Instruments School of Lutherie
Post Mills, VT
www.vermontinstruments.com
Violin Making School of America
Salt Lake City, Utah
www.vmsa.net
Wells School of Lutherie
Daytona Beach, FL
wellsguitars.com
William Cumpiano
Easthampton, MA
cumpiano.com
Whetstone School of Lutherie
Brattleboro, VT
www.whetstoneschool.com/
Woodcraft of Houston Southwest
Houston, TX
www.woodcraft.com/
Schools in Canada
Burghardt Luthiery, Géza Burghardt
Vancouver, BC
gezaburghardt.com
The Canadian School of Lutherie
Toronto, ON
www.canadianschooloflutherie.com
Dragonfly Guitars
Gibsons, BC
www.dragonflyguitars.com/wp/
Ecole Nationale de Lutherie
Quebec City, Qc
metierdart.com
Fret Works Guitar Repair School
Calgary, AB
www.fretwork.com
Geary Guitar Works
Toronto, ON
416-579-4880
www.gearyguitarworks.com/
Guitarwood Luthery School
Hamilton, Ontario
guitarwood.ca/content/
Hamm-tone Guitars & School of Lutherie
Winnipeg, Manitoba
www.jeremyhamm.ca
Loucin Guitar Co.
Oakville, ON
www.buildaguitar.ca
Pembina Valley Luthiers
La Riviere, Manitoba
jeremyhamm.ca
Robert Anderson Guitars
Victoria BC, Canada
robertandersonguitars.com
Summit School of Guitar Building and Repair
Qualicum, BC
www.luthiers-international.com
Timeless Instruments
Tugaske, SK
www.timelessinstruments.com
Webber Guitars
North Vancouver, BC
webberguitars.com
William Okos Music
Laughing Tree Guitars
Summerland, BC
www.williamokosmusic.com
Schools in France
European Technological Institution for Music Professionals (ITEMM)
France
itemm.fr/formations/en/
