I want to work for a guitar company! (Need advice.)

[dougbeens]

Hi everyone, allow me to formally introduce myself... my name is Doug, and I'm closing in on 20 years old..

 

Starting in one month, I'm undertaking a 20-week luthier's course at Lado Guitars... My end goal is to build custom instruments for people; to start a small company with my brother who'll be taking the same course next year.

 

In the meantime, I don't have the money to set up shop, and won't for awhile. I'll need to work...

 

So my real question is, how does someone go about getting a job with a guitar company? I mean, I'm going to have a great deal of training under my belt, and I think I'd be an asset to any company that builds guitars. I know 20 weeks does not equal 20 years, but I have to start somewhere, and get my foot in the door, right?

 

I'm worried that there might be a lack of industry-related jobs here in Canada, and I'm nervous about moving to the States.... Would an American company even bother to consider hiring a worker that isn't American? .... (ps. please don't be insulted by that if you are American... it's just that Canada is home to me, and I love it here.)

 

I'm also worried that people may think I'm just some inexperienced fool with nothing but a piece of paper, and a guitar I built, to show for my skills.

 

I'm making a really big transition in my life, and I'd greatly appreciate advice from anyone who's got some to give.

 

Thanks all,

Doug

[Paul Buerk]

This kind of question comes up ever once in a while over at the MIMF . I recommend that you register with them (you'll want to anyway) and search through the archives.

 

I had intended to post something along the lines of "Which dialects of Chinese are you fluent in?", but that's not entirely fair.

 

Most new builders end up doing repair work for local shops, getting established, and then moving on to either set up their own shop or join a small builder. The guys working for the bigger manufacturers probably had no prior guitar building experience anyway. Some companies specifically avoid anybody who has training or otherwise calls themselves a "luthier".

 

Don't worry about working in the states. You'll just need to get green card.

[daddyO]

Lasido in Quebec is a good a place to start work as any other. You can't work in the states without a work visa and they won't give one for a luthier. And when you start, you'll not be a "luthier" but a factory worker. Maybe you'll feed slabs of would into the CNC feeder 8 hours a day. If I were you, and passionate about it (as there is no money in making guitars), I'd learn the ropes for a few years at a factory and then open up my own custom guitar/repair shop. Click on Paul Reed Smith's bio for pointers.Paul Reed Smith

[bernardo gui]

 

Originally posted by dougbeens Hi everyone, allow me to formally introduce myself... my name is Doug, and I'm closing in on 20 years old.. Starting in one month, I'm undertaking a 20-week luthier's course at Lado Guitars ... My end goal is to build custom instruments for people; to start a small company with my brother who'll be taking the same course next year. In the meantime, I don't have the money to set up shop, and won't for awhile. I'll need to work... So my real question is, how does someone go about getting a job with a guitar company? I mean, I'm going to have a great deal of training under my belt, and I think I'd be an asset to any company that builds guitars. I know 20 weeks does not equal 20 years, but I have to start somewhere, and get my foot in the door, right? I'm worried that there might be a lack of industry-related jobs here in Canada, and I'm nervous about moving to the States.... Would an American company even bother to consider hiring a worker that isn't American? .... (ps. please don't be insulted by that if you are American... it's just that Canada is home to me, and I love it here.) I'm also worried that people may think I'm just some inexperienced fool with nothing but a piece of paper, and a guitar I built, to show for my skills. I'm making a really big transition in my life, and I'd greatly appreciate advice from anyone who's got some to give. Thanks all, Doug

 

 

 

 

Call Paul Reed Smith Guitars.

They're always looking for people.

HUGE TURNOVER.

They like to start you out sanding guitar bodies.

They'll start you at 8.00/hr. w/ medical benifits.

You can get a 3/hr. raise in 6 months if you kiss enough ass.

Goodluck living off thise wages...........

 

Whatever happened to the concept of a Universal Living Wage ?

[GretschGuy]

You could also look into working for a small shop that builds guitars like Rudy's (pensaguitars.com) or somelike like (but not) Ed Roman.

[UGB]

nobody that works in the USA is American, so don't worry about it.

 

I'd suggest Carvin too in San Diego. Everything they do is custom and the weather's good.

 

Dave251 here on HC worked for Peavey for a few years before he opened his own shop/line, www.electrocoustic.com you could drop him a line. He's a nice guy.

[UGB]

you can also cruise company's web sites and check the employment listings. I think I saw a luthier position once at Washburn in Chicago. Their USA custom shop is there.

[daddyO]

Don't work illegally in the USA! If your caught, not only will you be banned for 5 years but you'll have a heck of a time immigrating legally after that. After checking out the Lado school, you must be passionate to drop $12K CDN on tuition. I'd go work for another factory then take my $12K and set up a shop.

[ryant]

that looks like a very interesting course, make sure you post about it when your done it, im very interested in hearing about that, ive been thinking about taking a course like that, id love to build my own guitar from scratch rather then just putting togeather warmoth and part guitars.

[satannica]

I'm 24 myself. I live in the UK and I have been building/tinkering/repairing since 16.

 

Over my 8 years, I've seen two companies who specialise in repair/custom builds go out of business, a milllion kids with every aspiration in the world and none of the skill and enough shonkyness to make you want to not bother!!!!

 

Don't fall into the mistake of thinking there will be an immediate market and you'll do as weel as PRS!

 

The first thing you need to do before you stick a single piece of wood under a band saw, test your target audience. Go to the clubs, check out the local scenes in your surrounding areas, get a guage of what kind of instruments players own and as such, what your rough market is going to be. If you're going to try and sell $3,000 instruments in a poor area, you'll be out of business before long. Similarly, if everybody is playing customs, you're going to have a tough time convincing people to buy your instruments instead of their Gibson customs, or whatever.

 

Also you need to get your skill down! I've done free repairs for a long time now and through that, I've built up a group of people who know my work and alsways want me to repair or set up their instruments. Be prepared to lose first!!! If you're not prepared to face immediate loss, then forget it. ITs always necessary.

 

Other than that, spend money on tools, materials, etc and get your skills down. To date, I must have built by myself a good 120-130 different guitars. I'm sure I don't know everything, but its built my experience to excellent levels.

 

Course making time for it is another thing... dang!

[Big Boss Man]

You should check out Godin. They're a Canadian company that makes great guitars. Their guitars are actually assembled in the US, but I believe most of the parts are actually made in Canada.

[JoeBoy]

I know some Luths that make a good living doing setups and small electronic repairs. Not alot of expensive equipment required. There are lots and lots of guitars in Canada. Go forth and work.

[StevieRV]

 

Originally posted by Big Boss Man You should check out Godin. They're a Canadian company that makes great guitars. Their guitars are actually assembled in the US, but I believe most of the parts are actually made in Canada.

 

 

yeah... They're owned by Lasido, who also make Seagull and Simon & Patrick guitars.

 

good stuff

[harold heckuba]

There is a very kind man named Ed Roman in Las Vegas who you should look up. He will hire you regardless of nationality or green card and really show you the ropes.

[Bruce Bennett]

I built my first guitar at age 16.

 

First, make absolutely sure that your perfectly willing to do 3 things.

 

1. Live very poor the rest of your life.

 

there is NO money building guitars period. and those that "make it" are a lot like "Star Musicians" they are few and far between, and no one really knows how or why some become stars and others don't.

 

2. be willing to work hard and long on an instrument, only to have dozens of folks tell you it's "not good enough" and then try to buy it for less than half what it cost you to build. You'll find that folks have NO MERCY when it comes to the pricing of a guitar without a recognized brand name on it.

 

3. forget about having a wife and kids or a even a girlfriend.

 

These only take away money that you'll need to put towards building. also they will require huge amounts of your time and energy that will be needed to run your business.

they will also keep you rooted to one place while a serious luthier needs to be able to drop everything and move to where the work is. or to do whatever is neccessary to make his mark in the musical world. this could be as simple as becomeing a guitar tech for a major band or to work for a company halfway across the continent.

 

If you find any one of these too harsh, then I would seriously tell you to think about another career.

I love building But I have made all the above mistakes and I'm paying dearly for them now.

 

no {censored}e.

 

Oh, and if your still serious about becomeing a luthier... PM me and I'll tell you where you can get your foot in the door at some large companies very quickly.

[Mighty Coogna!]

It's an incredibly small market. Seriously, enjoy making guitars as a hobby, or plan on doing repairs until you can develop your own brand to build/sell.

Luthirie schools are really a sham in that they suggest that there are jobs out there.

 

I'd love to get a job as a lead designer/builder at a major company. But they don't exist.