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  #16  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:14 AM
Sugar Bear Sugar Bear is offline
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I'm about to begin teaching my wife how to build a guitar. She wants to make a custom L-00 as her first project.

And I do all my own maintenance and setups. I can even replace a top or whatever. Plus, I'm a pretty good hand with a spray gun and know how to shoot nitrocellulose lacquer.

Now, inlay. What should I say? If I ever suffer complete psychiatric collapse, chances are it will be doing inlay that causes it. But I'm determined to get better at it.

So with all that going on, what do I prefer to be called? A guitar player. The rest of that stuff is just offshoots of my love for playing guitars.

Maybe I'll make a lute. Then I can officially be a luthier and a guitar player.
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  #17  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:14 AM
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A good experienced tech probably the majority of time does equal or better work on things like action setups and refrets than most "luthiers".
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  #18  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:18 AM
jklotz jklotz is offline
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Problem is how does one define "luthier "? There is no certification like a dr. I assembled a tele from parts from warmoth. Does that make me a luthier? Or a guy who's built a few acoustics in the garage? Or is it once he has done it for money? What about the guy who's an expert at restoring vintage guitars, even if he's never built one from bare wood?

To me, luthier is almost a genetic term, like band-aid or soft drink.
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  #19  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:22 AM
LakewoodM32Fan LakewoodM32Fan is offline
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Another question is: when does one *stop* being a luthier? Does it require current practice? Two people I take my guitars to have absolutely been luthiers in the past but, unsurprisingly, gave up the craft because the 90s were a much tougher time to be an individual luthier than in today's era of embracing solo builders. The early 90s were pre-internet (as we know it today), so it was hard to get their businesses known outside of small local circles. They found they made a better living fixing guitars and sold off most of their jigs and molds. I personally still refer to them as luthiers.

Everyone else in my local shops I think of as guitar techs or repairpersons.
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  #20  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:27 AM
s2y s2y is offline
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I have 2 great repair and setup guys. A luthier moved here a few years back. I'm happy to have multiple options.
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  #21  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:33 AM
buddyhu buddyhu is offline
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Sometimes, being correct is not the most important thing…

Last edited by buddyhu; 07-07-2022 at 07:20 PM.
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  #22  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:51 AM
ALBD ALBD is offline
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We have a full service gas station. The guy that minds the pumps calls himself a Petroleum Transfer Engineer. I'm cool with it
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  #23  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:52 AM
Goat Mick Goat Mick is offline
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My repair guy is an actual luthier and builds some amazing acoustic guitars, electric guitars and dobros, but I can't afford to pay him to luth I just pay him to fix.
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  #24  
Old 10-25-2021, 11:55 AM
Scolaguitar Scolaguitar is offline
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You'd have a point if we were all taking them to Guitar Center.
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  #25  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:00 PM
Italuke Italuke is offline
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Classic internet-era problem. I'm bugged by lots of terms being misused, based on usually some small grain of truth or validity. One for me is "tonewood."
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  #26  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:00 PM
upsidedown upsidedown is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Goat Mick View Post
My repair guy is an actual luthier and builds some amazing acoustic guitars, - but I can't afford to pay him to luth I just pay him to fix.
Same with me. I guess I should point that out from now on whenever I mention him. You know, to avoid confusion; "My repair guy, who's actually a luthier, whose services as a builder I can't afford, said I didn't need a new saddle after all, just a truss rod adjustment."

Now if the OP had a beef with the sudden explosion here of the word "stunning"....
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  #27  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:00 PM
jaymarsch jaymarsch is offline
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If I am taking my guitar to someone who identifies as a luthier then I will give them the respect and refer to them as a luthier. If they identify as a guitar tech or repair person, then I will refer to them as that title. I have had many good experiences with both in my 55 years of playing and owning guitars.

Best,
Jayne
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  #28  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:01 PM
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I build electric guitars, I call myself a (wait for it),.. a guitar builder.
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  #29  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:02 PM
Rosewood99 Rosewood99 is offline
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My tech is a luthier as well. I think there are far more important things to worry about.
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  #30  
Old 10-25-2021, 12:56 PM
Rudy4 Rudy4 is offline
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If stuff like this bothered me I'd switch to keyboards.
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