Working as an independant luthier / tech.

[UFORocks]

I really enjoy tinkering with guitars as much as I enjoy playing them. I have been thinking about the possibility of taking luthier classes and perhaps even doing some repair work on the side once I get some experience under my belt.

Has anyone done this or attempted to do this? What were your experiences with it? Was / is it worth it?

-Steve

[metalchurch79]

I dont have a legitimate shop so to speak, but this is what I do out of my house on a regular basis.
I do work for alot of the local gigging musicians who dont want to wait for a shop to do it because they need their guitars every weekend.

I dont charge alot because most are friends anyway and I dont have a business.
I am getting alot more experienced at doing this and I'm meeting new people, hooking up my friends, and also getting my name out there, so it might be easier in the future if I decide to go full time.

I'm not formally schooled in any of these aside from learning from numerous websites, how-to videos, forums like this, and hands on experience.
I'm mainly limited right now by an adequate work area, and tools.

I enjoy what I do very much and I sometimes get more joy out of building and working on them than I do playing them.
Given the cash flow to finance it, I can definitely see myself doing this full time thats for sure.

If you enjoy it as much as I do, then you'll probably agree and continue down this path.

Is there money in it? I really dont know because I'm not full time and not established so I feel bad charging what a shop would charge.
I will have to start going by the books and quit mixing friendship with business.
It's like this, if they want their guitar by the weekend, then they will get it. Either that or pay a shop and not get it, right?!
I need to take my own advice here for sure man!

I'd imagine once you get established and have a rep for doing good work then it wouldn't be hard to have the area under "lock down" as the rapper's say.
I'm in a rural/semi-urban area so it's not as populated, which hurts for sure.

[SEEGERMANY]

My tech quit for the sole reason that young kids would come in with $200 guitars and want $500 worth of work done to it. When he'd give them the quote, they'd puff up and get all pissy. Or, they'd run up a big bill and never come back for the guitar, so the tech was out time, labor, and money.

The few other techs I know work for mom and pop stores and I think they make minimum wage, barely. It shows in their repair work too.

[metalchurch79]

Been there brother.

[missionguitars1]

Well, bench work usually runs about $60/hr for experienced luthiers around here, but it would be a while before you'd be able to draw that type of comp if you are just starting out.

I would get a couple cheap Squiers or import Jacksons to mess around with, maybe check out projectguitar.com & a couple other luthier sites out there to get a feel for what's involved before you take the plunge and enroll in classes.

Like metalchurch79, start by offering services for friends at rates that are reasonable once you feel comfortable doing set-ups and the like. Word of mouth will be your best advertising - make sure to do a good job, and be quick with your turn-arounds. There's no reason a guitar tech should have a guitar for more than a couple days for a set-up, pickup swap, etc.!

Also, to avoid getting stiffed for work, get money for the parts up front & make sure to hand out detailed work orders/receipts (a little CYA!).

After all's said & done, it's something you have to love as you'll never get rich doing it alone, but it CAN be a nice side/second job!

[metalchurch79]

There's no reason a guitar tech should have a guitar for more than a couple days for a set-up, pickup swap, etc.!.......

......Also, to avoid getting stiffed for work, get money for the parts up front & make sure to hand out detailed work orders/receipts (a little CYA!).

Thats one of the reasons that I get alot of the work that I do because I do just a good of a job if not better than the shops around here and I dont have their guitar for 2 weeks at a clip.

I also give them a receipt and a detailed list of what replaced or repaired, just so they have record for their own piece of mind.
I used to keep a log book detailing what I did in case I ran into recurring problems, but after a while I got better and I can most times diagnose it within moments of holding it or hearing it.

I know that I'd do very well if I just had a place ot do it, and I dont advertise alot because I dont want to be swamped with the work right now and my girlfriend is already half ready to kill me as it is!

I did some checking and the closest luthier school to me is in Wilkes Barre, PA which is like 7 hours away give or take.
One of my friends went to Georgia I believe, but he actually had to pay $3000 just to go there.
He was able to build 2 instruments of his choice and at this expense to be graded on and get experience doing it.
Doesnt seem like a good deal to me and as of the last year or so he hasnt utilized any of his skills for anything.
My ideal dream job would be to work @ Jackson/Charvel or Wayne guitars, or even to have my own company.
But thats all it will amount to....a dream job.

[UFORocks]

I was thinking about getting myself started by buying parts on ebay and putting them together to sell as a whole instrument on ebay or cl. e.g. I saw a lot of 4 bodies for $14. I know I wouldnt make much on them, might even lose some $$ on them, but it might be worth the experience. *shrug* I gotta build a "workshop" first I have an idea for a foldout work bench and shelves for my closet.

I gotta do something, Im so tired of IT, it's making me sick.

-Steve