Official Luthiers Forum!

With regard to “fit and finish”, I agree that it’s hard to beat the precision of modern factory production methods, and I wholeheartedly agree with the general idea put forth by Al, Rick, and others, that we shouldn’t try to compete with the factories at their game or on their terms. However, I think there is much more to excellence in craftsmanship than “fit and finish”, that is, a flawless-looking guitar that a factory can do equally well or better. As I see it, an individual guitar maker can most certainly surpass what a factory can do in terms of craftsmanship.

First of all, the skills of a great guitar maker, along with the attention to detail that he/she can give, can result in work that rivals the most flawless factory-made instruments. Secondly, the freedom to create unique designs and design details can make excellence in craftsmanship more integral to the whole impression a guitar makes. But most importantly, there is a whole level of beauty (subtle though it may be; many people won’t even notice it) inherent in a superbly-made handcrafted instrument beyond what a factory could ever dream of reaching, even if the handcrafted guitar is of a relatively simple design without any flashy elements that show off the maker's chops. The work doesn’t even have to be “flawless” (though I believe that when someone throws down upwards of $5K for a guitar, they deserve something that is pretty darn close to flawless IN ADDITION to a guitar that plays and sounds great) to have the quality of craftsmanship and beauty I’m talking about that sets it apart from the best factory-made guitar.

Not “flawless”, necessarily, but EXQUISITE.

Some may apply that word to a particularly nice factory made guitar, but I would reserve it for the transcendent beauty of the finest handmade instruments. Again, it takes a fairly sensitive eye and hand to tell the difference, but, for those who do see it, the EXQUISITE guitars made by the cream-of-the-crop artist/craftspeople among the great handbuilders delight the senses like nothing that comes out of a factory possibly can, and it makes all the difference in the world.

Note: I do NOT mean to imply that beauty should outweigh sound or playability. Rather, with a handmade guitar by a great maker, the customer can have it ALL.       

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Why should someone pick a solo guitarmaker?

Because we spend time listening to the players needs!

We make guitarsjust for a single person!

This helps us make the dream guitar for this person!

The Montreal show was fantastic this past July!
Very professional-every detail was pre-thought-out by the promoters-they even offered water & juice for us!
Also the crew offered to sit at our tables so we could take a break!
The sat. night party fantastic!

The best guitar show on earth!

I wish I could attend this year but I have to many orders & can not get away from the shop!


mike

www.collinsguitars.com

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Mike Collins

[QUOTE=theguitarjunky]But today, tell me, why should anyone buy a luthier guitar?[/QUOTE]



I use luthier-built guitars because they make my music-belly happy!

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-donh-

Everything is a tone control!