Hi all,
I’m new to the space, but there is a bit of interest in starting a guitar building and maintenance group, and I figured I’d start this thread to gauge interest/numbers and, with your help, bring the idea more into focus.
To the more senior members/directors:
As I’m (very) new to the space, I don’t wish to presume anything about setting up groups here. If there’s anything I need to do, or processes to follow, please do let me know. I’ll certainly need some guidance on the section on tools below.
About the Group
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The group would meet regularly (see below for meeting frequency) in the makerspace to share ideas and techniques, and help out with each other’s designs and builds. It should be a positive space, but one where constructive criticism is welcomed.
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It would be good for the group to encompass all instruments associated with luthiery (acoustic/classical guitars, electric guitars, cigar-box guitars, violins/violas and their ilk, mandolins, etc.). There are a lot of shared techniques and skills between these instruments.
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We would share knowledge about building, designing, and repairing these instruments (including where we’ve gone wrong!), as well as their upkeep (think fretting, fret crowning and polishing, instrument care, nut-slotting, set-up, etc.).
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If this group materialises and becomes a regular thing, it would be great to approach some local luthiers to come along to one of our meetings to share their knowledge.
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If members feel particularly skilled at a certain aspect of luthiery, we should encourage “knowledge sharing” sessions (open to all makerspace members, not just those in this group), where they show/share stories, skills, and techniques related to luthiery.
Considerations
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Safety is at the top of the list. While general maintenance doesn’t generally involve doing anything too dangerous (apart from maybe a string to the eye), building guitars certainly does if one uses machines like the planer/thicknesser, table-saw, etc. We would aim to promote and enforce best practices when using machinery, and as such I’d like to suggest that anyone wishing to join the group would have to have completed the Wood Workshop Induction.
As a group we should offer assistance when others are using the more formidable of the machines in the space. Just like gym buddies, but with a lot more dust. -
Frequency of meetings/member availability.
We should try to accommodate member’s different schedules as best as we can whilst maintaining regularity between meeting dates. Once a week could be too often for everyone to attend, whereas meetings once a month or bi-monthly could be too far apart. A balance will have to be found. -
Cleanliness.
This is less specific to the group, but since there’s a high chance we would be making dust, we will place a strong emphasis on keeping the space clean and tidy, leaving the tools and spaces we use in a better condition than when we came to them.
Tools
This could be a sensitive area, so any input from @joeatkin2 and other woodtechs would be very welcome. I certainly don’t wish to stand on any toes here, and will defer decisions regarding tools to more senior members of the space.
With that said, luthiery can require quite specialist tools and it would not be fair to ask the makerspace to provide them. We need to put in as much as we would like to get out of the space, so any specialist tools would have be provided by members. I’m aware that bringing in ones own tools to the space isn’t ideal for various reasons, so I’d really like some input here. I can’t yet see a reason to bring in powered machinery as the well-stocked woodshop already provides what would be needed.
I personally have quite a few that would be handy (small things such as files/rasps, radius gauges, some fretting tools, straight-edges, etc.), and would be willing to bring them along to meetings for others to use (providing such a practice would be acceptable to the woodtechs/directors).
Getting Involved
Since the group is nothing more than an idea at the moment, suggestions and guidance is more than welcome. If there is interest, then let’s flesh out this idea together and see where we end up.
You only need to have an interest in this to get involved - no previous luthiery experience is necessary. We will learn and progress together, and maybe there are some more experienced luthiers here that would be willing to spend time with us and share their knowledge. I’d like to create an inclusive and friendly little group, so if you’re interested, just shout below.
Look forward to all your ideas, criticism, and suggestions,
Luke.
