Frequently Asked Questions...
For guitar builders. How much can a luthier expect to make?
My son wants to go to school to build guitars. I want to know if he is wasting his time.
Answer:
Becoming a successful luthier is a little like becoming a rock star (but with less drugs). Even after going to school, being a luthier is still one of those trades that you're expected to apprentice in for some time before you actually make a real money.
How much can you make? I know that some of the craftsmen in the big name custom shops make some pretty serious money (around 100k). And then, there are guys around Austin that, while they do good work, don't have a "name" yet. So, they're just getting by (and a lot of them play in the evenings to make ends meet).
That all said, I've had guitars worked on by a "name" guy around here and he did a crap job. I my name had been Johnny Winter or Billy Gibbons, I might have gotten better service. So, I go to a guy who works out of his house now and does the best fret file and polish jobs I've ever had. But, he just can't charge that much right now.
My daddy used to tell me that if you make a million dollars a year and hate what you do, you're underpaid. If that's what makes him happy, then tell him to go for it. But, like a lot of trade schools, it will probably be very expensive (around $30k).
Tell him to have a back-up plan in case that doesn't work out.
Good luck.
Greetings from Austin, TX
Ken
 very fine, perfectly quartered black walnut tonewood guitar luthier set US $30.30 
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood PERUVIAN WALNUT Acoustic backs sides SET US $19.99
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood FIGURED PADAUK Acoustic backs sides SET US $19.99
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood PAU FERRO (BOLIVIAN ROSEWOOD ) acoustic Backs Sides SET US $31.00
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 pull toggle clamps for guitar molds luthier US $18.25
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood AMAZON ROSEWOOD (DALBERGIA) Acoustic backs sides set US $91.00
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood Figured BOCOTE Acoustic BACKS SIDES SET US $28.00
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood GUATAMALAN ROSEWOOD Acoustic backs sides set US $76.00
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 DIY UNFINISHED SG STYLE ELECTRIC GUITAR LUTHIER BUILDER KIT - BYO PROJECT US $89.00
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood HONDURAN ROSEWOOD Acoustic backs sides SET US $75.00
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 Guitar Luthier Tonewood MASTERGRADE ZIRICOTE Acoustic backs sides set US $226.50
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 Luthier Tools Guitar Tools Rib Bending Iron 110V Or 220V #25 US $99.00
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 EBONY ACOUSTIC GUITAR BACKS & SIDES !!!!! LUTHIER TONEWOOD US $250.00
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 REDWOOD acoustic guitar luthier bookmatched top set #149 US $64.99
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 REDWOOD acoustic guitar luthier bookmatched top set #150 US $59.99
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 12 Old Growth Sitka Spruce Guitar, Hobby, Craft, Luthier, Tone Wood Panels US $40.33
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 Old Growth Sitka Spruce Guitar, Ukelele, Mandolin, Luthier, Tone Wood Pieces US $26.50
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 REDWOOD acoustic guitar luthier bookmatched top set #151 US $64.99
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 REDWOOD acoustic guitar luthier bookmatched top set #153 US $64.99
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 NUT FILE TOOL GUITAR BANJO TUNERS STRINGS NECK BODY PICKUP BRIDGE BASS LUTHIER US $4.73
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 Simon & Patrick Luthier 12 String Acoustic Guitar US $399.99
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 AxeMasters Guitar NUT SLOT CLEANER CHISEL Set Luthier US $16.00
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 SPALTED FIDDLEBACK MAPLE luthier electric guitar bookmatched drop top set #150 US $49.99
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 Guitar Parts, FRET LEVELING/DRESSING KIT, Luthier Tools US $28.95
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 Guitar Parts, FRET REFINISHING COMBO KIT, Luthier Tools US $32.95
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 Guitar Parts, FRET POLISHING KIT, Luthier US $18.95
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 Guitar, FRET REFINISHING ABRASIVES REFILL, Luthier US $14.95
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 Guitar, FRET POLISHING KIT ABRASIVES REFILL, Luthier US $14.95
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 FIDDLEBACK MAPLE luthier electric guitar bookmatched drop top set #154 US $49.99
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 Luthier Flame Curly Maple EARTH SALVAGE Guitar Top Lumber 25 x 16-- x 3/8 US $99.95
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 Quilted Maple Wild Wood Guitar Top Luthier Lumber 23 x 14 x 1/2 US $65.00
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 Buckeye Burl Guitar Musical Luthier Bookmatch Set - B - 14 US $23.00
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 1960s Regal R235 Harmony Sovereign H1260 acoustic solid top Guitar Luthier US $76.00
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 Black Walnut Bookmatch Set - Guitar luthier musical - B-10 US $11.50
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 1980s Kramer Aero Star ZX10 guitar Neck Beak Headstock EVH project Luthier US $65.00
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 2001 Fender Squier Stratocaster Complete guitar body Luthier parts US $45.00
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 Guitar Luthiers Fret Puller Spring Load Guitar Bass Repair Tool Puller US $9.99
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 Rosewood Bookmatch Set - Luthier Guitar Knife Scales Pistol Grips - B - 12 US $8.59
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 2002 anniversary Fender Squier Stratocaster Complete guitar body Luthier parts US $51.00
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 Buckeye Burl Guitar Luthier Musical Bookmatch Set - F - 5 US $23.00
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 Fender CD60 SB Acoustic Guitar Luthier Project w Tuners US $19.99
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 Fender CD60 NA Acoustic Guitar Luthier Project w Tuners US $19.99
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 Fender Sonoran SCE Acoustic Electric Guitar Luthier Project US $47.01
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 Dr Ducks Vintage Guitar Repair Neck Rest Luthier Repair Tool Parts Accessory US $28.95
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 Goncalo Alves Acoustic Guitar Luthier Tonewood US $19.95
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 Electric Guitar Project Set Neck &Body Set DC Junior Epiphone Lace Luthier Lefty US $31.00
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 New Diamond fret crowning file 110/220 Guitar Luthier tool for Lg Jumbo US $38.00
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 Luthier Black-line Spalted 5A Curly Maple Guitar Top 23 x 14 x 3/4 US $49.95
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 Curly Maple Luthier Guitar Top Lumber 25 x 14 x 1/2 US $129.95
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 Roasted Stabilized Birdseye Maple Luthier Guitar Neck Blank 1.42"x3.5"x27" 5A+ US $108.02
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 Spalted Curly Maple Luthier Guitar Top Lumber 24 x 14 x 1/2- US $99.95
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 1978 SIGNATURE OF LEGENDARY LUTHIER MATSUOKA GUITARS AD US $9.99
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 1pc Acoustic Guitar Ebony Solid Wood Saddles Luthier Choice DIY 72mmX3mmX9mm ES1 US $1.84
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 Spalted Curly Maple Guitar Top Luthier Lumber 26 x 14 x 1/2 US $99.95
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 Spalted Curly Maple Guitar Top Luthier Lumber 25 x 14 x 1/2 US $99.95
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 Flame Figured Maple Instrument Lumber Luthier Guitar Top Set 23 x 15 x 3/4 US $75.00
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 Hand Crafted Stonebridge D42CR Acoustic Guitar LOWDEN OEM LUTHIERS Made in Czech US $888.00
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 Quilted Maple Luthier Carved Top Guitar Lumber 22 x 16-- x 7/8 US $149.95
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 LUTHIER FRET SLOT CLEANING TOOL GUITAR TOOLS FRET SLOT CLEANER US $13.00
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 Quilted Maple Luthier Carved Top Guitar Lumber 26 x 15 x 7/8 US $99.95
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 Curly Maple Luthier 5A Guitar Top Lumber 24- x 15 x 1/2 US $99.95
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 Luthier Flame Curly Maple EARTH SALVAGE Guitar Top Lumber 22 x 16 x 7/16 US $149.95
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 Quilted Maple Luthier Guitar Top Set 24 x 14 x 3/4 US $49.95
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 2 Pack Guitar Rosette, Soundhole Ring, luthier, Tonewood,high quality US $9.98
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 Guitar Luthiers Fret Puller, Hammer, String Ruler Repair Maker Combo Set US $29.99
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 Professional Guitar Bass Ukulele Luthiers Double Headed Fret Hammer US $9.99
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 Luthier Tool - Guitar - Tapered Reamer US $8.00
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 Black Walnut Bookmatch Set - Guitar luthier musical - B - 41 US $12.00
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 8FEET Acoustic Guitar Fretwire 2.2mm Yellow Brass For luthier maker US $.99
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 8FT Replacement Electric Guitar Fretwire 2.4mm White Copper For luthier maker US $.99
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 Buckeye Burl Guitar Musical Luthier Bookmatch Set - B - 45 US $16.50
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 Rosewood Bookmatch Set - Luthier Guitar Knife Scales Pistol Grips - D - 44 US $11.50
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 Spalted Curly Maple Lumber Luthier Book-matched Guitar Top Set 24 x 14+ x 3/4 US $129.95
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 Birdseye Maple Burl Wood Luthier Guitar Top Instrument Lumber 22 x 14 x 1/2 US $99.95
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 THREE PLY MANDOLIN PICKGUARD for guitar maker - luthier US $4.00
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 Rosewood Bookmatch Set - Luthier Guitar Knife Scales Pistol Grips - B - 43 US $8.16
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Luthier Guitar
Luthier Guitar Top Glue-up
What Kind Of Guitar Should I Buy And Where Should I Buy A Guitar On-Line?
What kind of Guitar should I buy and where should I buy a guitar on-line?
What kind of guitar should I buy? It seems that local music shops having nothing good to say about any other brand of guitar except their own. So who is their "luthier" anyway? A good luthier, in my oppinion is vital to the success of any aspiring guirtarist. Your luthier is the man or women you entrust with your guitar. He will set-up your guitar so that it has correct entonation and action.
Should you squabble about paying the standard fee for this service? Absolutely not. Your instrument when cared for properly will give you years of enjoyment compared to the price of movie tickets and popcorn.
So if the music store will not identify their luthier that is a sign to be heeded.
I found an excellent Luthier on the edge of Cleveland, Ohio at a small shop called Timeless guitars. The first thing he does when I bring in my guitar is to listen to what I am concerned about. Then he carefully accepts the guitar from me as I reluntantly hand it over to his care. He examines it right in front of me!
Unless he is busy setting-up another guitar and has an assistant your luthier should examine your guitar right in front of you. On a new guitar - first time the luthier has seen it, he will look at the neck and explain about the truss rod.
There are some other things a luthier can do with a neck, but if the truss rod will not adjust the neck if it is needed, then consider another guitar. Because unless this is a high dollar guitar the cost to adjust a warped neck may make it affordable to shop for another guitar. Hopefully, before something like that happens, you will have read this article and taken advantage of my concierge service.
After examining the neck and discussing the truss rod adjustment if any is needed he will look over your bridge, bridge pins (not all bridges use pins) and the saddle. He will look at the action around the 12th & 13th frets. Then he will examine your string heights over the first and second fret (most of your chords are played here) and examine your nut. Later he will check your Machine heads. (Ask your luthier to show you how to install a replacement string but save that question until the first time you break your 6th E-string!) For now let him concentrate on your set-up. He will feel the edges of the fret bars to determine how pokey they are. (Finger board wood can shrink - add a little lemon oil or liquid gold to the fingerboard on the neck with a Q-tip and do the same if your bridge has a natural finish also. Do this the day before taking it to the luthier. Do not put lemon oil on the body, neck, or head stock. Use a light spray of furniture polish - generic or Pledge. Also some of the polishes sold by the music stores, i.e. Dunlop, etc, are good to use.) Finally, he takes an over-all look including looking inside the sound hole by the rosetta and looks for the truss rod allen head and the bracing. Perhaps he will play it briefly to hear how it sounds and resonates. Sustain is an important quality he will listen for.
After he has made these observations he will pause before suggesting if you only need a basic set-up or something extra. Sometimes they like to include a new set of strings. This is the toughest decision a new guitarest has to make.
And it helps to have the guage and brand of strings you will enjoy playing your guitar with selected before it is set-up. But how do you decide which strings to purchase if you have never played before or have never compared strings before. The luthier will make adjustments to your nut based on the strings you will have on your guitar. It is imperative that you know what brand and guage are on your guitar. Even luthiers who build guitars use a certain type of strings so they know if the guitar is going to sound as intended when it is tuned. You should be just as picky. So this is where word of mouth is good. Do you know any musicians who play guitar? Do you like the sound of their guitar when they play? Ask the musician which strings he plays on and why. Be a little nosey - see if he or she has tried another brand before settling on this brand and guage. Find out how often he or she changes strings versus how much they play. Do not buy a set of strings just because it is the only brand the music store sells or is the cheapest. Chances are they are only selling that brand because they got them at a bargain-bottom-basement price.....note the word "bottom". I prefer phosperous- bronze wrapped (4 heaviest strings) as opposed to just brass. Using the same strings, once you find the brand and guage that right for you, will help you recognize when your instrument is in-tune or out of tune.
Wait a minute! Wasn't this supposed to help me decide which guitar to buy?
Absolutely. But whether you buy a guitar on sale at a discount, even for less than a hundred dollars, by an off-the-shelf high end guitar, i.e. A Martin, or have a luthier build you a custom job, unless it is set-up right the first time you will not enjoy playing it. And when you learn to play it is critical to learn habits developed from playing with a proper set-up as opposed to learning to switch chords and strum then have to re-learn when the set-up is changed. The feel of your guitar is important to how your playing style develops. I can guarantee that if reasonable materials - even on the lower priced end, are used to make your guitar it will be hard to discern a difference in sound from a high dollar guitar provided both are set-up to similar standards. Why should you pay $35 to a luthier to set-up a guitar you only paid $100 for? Because then you will enhance the value of your inexpensive guitar and you will get more quality out of your time playing the guitar. So I can't expect to help you find a guitar that is right for you if I haven't even sold you on the value of having your wood and stringed instrument set-up by a professional.
So if you are ready to have me help you find a guitar that is right for your budget and/or how you expect to use this guitar my concierge service will - absolutely free - assist you in finding a guitar on-line that hopefully you will become attached to and develop a personal feel for. Go to www.productsearchbytim.weebly.com. Submit some basic information, but be sure to include an e-mail address to receive a prompt reply.
About the Author
Tim Trogdon is an experienced Quality Assurance Specialist. He has much personal experience with acoustic guitars. He also has a web site and provides a free concierge service To get more information visit tim's Web site at www.productsearchbytim.weebly.com
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