Additional Information
The ability to play an instrument is helpful. Music courses will help develop
your ear for tone quality and pitch. Obviously, a sound knowledge of woodworking
is also useful.
"Work in repair in an established shop in a large metropolitan area," says
guitar maker Abe Wechter. "If you try to make it on your own, you'll starve."
At one time, beginners learned their craft through an apprenticeship with
a recognized guitar maker. These days, few guitar makers take apprentices.
Guitar maker Linda Manzer says it's not worth it. "When you're teaching
someone, it's very time-consuming. And it's still not up to the quality you're
used to." Then when apprentices are fully trained, they usually leave and
set up their own shop.
While the number of apprentice positions is dwindling, Manzer says there
are several good guitar-making courses now being offered. You can get more
educational information through the Guild of American Luthiers (GAL).
The GAL runs the American School of Lutherie -- one of the top schools
for teaching guitar making in North America. A luthier is a builder of any
wooden stringed instrument -- except the piano.