luthier trainning

[georgeguitars]

I am very interested in learning the skills and trainning to become a good guitar luthier. i am considering going to merton college to study there but i do not live close so it would be a long old jorney every day (without a car). i was wondering about apprenciships. Does anyone have any idea how or where i can get one? im goin to make some phones call to some luthiers to see but just wondered if any one had done this before?

[guitargeek62]

Neil Morgan on here started running week long courses this year, i went on the first one with a couple of others on here and had the best "holiday" of my life, heres what i came away with;



......although its a little more finished than that lol!

[georgeguitars]

really where abouts is he based?

sweet lookin guitar btw!

[fatherjack]

If getting to a college is going to be difficult, I'm not sure how trying for an apprenticeship with a guitar builder is going to be any different unless you find one on your doorstep willing to take you on.

I get the impression that most British custom makers are small operations and I'm not sure how many would be willing to pay more staff these days.

I suspect that college may be your best bet.

[georgeguitars]

i agree with u totally. but due to that fact i would be will to work for nothing (even me pay them) and mainly be making teas. as long as its with a good luthier and i learn alot from him/her. i think iots goin to be the college route. its just the cost of getting there with also the course fees

[imported_jammy]

If you're looking to do this as a Job, apprenticeships or college courses are the way to go.
Neil's course, though I'm sure it's great, will not give you enough experience to set up shop. At least not without a lot of further study.

What kind of guitar making would you like to focus on? Electric, acoustic or classical/flamenco? That decision will make a big difference on the type of and how much training you need.

[imported_timmyo]

Originally Posted by georgeguitars

really where abouts is he based?

sweet lookin guitar btw!

Just over the border in Wales

http://morgancustomguitars.com/contact/2008.html

[georgeguitars]

wales is even further afield. im gonna continue to look at the merton college course

[KrisUK]

Neil's course sounds really interesting!

I'm interested in doing that at some point seeings he's only about 40 minutes away from me.

[guitargeek62]

It was fantastic, as timmyo said though, it shows you where to start more than how to be a luthier, i know that theres a billion more things to learn before i would even joke about calling myself one but you walk away from that course feeling so proud about what youve done that anything seems possible now