Stringed Instrument Maker, Stringed Instrument Repairer

Lutherie is the art of making and selling stringed musical instruments, such as violins, violas, cellos, guitars, or lutes (in French luth, where the word comes from). This profession has centuries of experience in which different disciplines converge, which are acoustics (musical, physical and architectural), the history of music, construction methods, the improvement and development of instruments, and innovations in mechanisms, accessories and materials that optimise performance and sound results.

Luthiers manufacture, repair or restore stringed instruments in an artisan way. Their services are required by music professionals whose instrument have lost its shape, the string tension has been loosed, or cracks and dents have appeared due to the passing of time, environmental factors and use. These craftspeople will clean, seal, repair, polish and protect instruments that suffer this type of wear, in order to keep them in excellent playing conditions.

Due to its level of complexity, in most cases, luthiers will specialize in the manufacture or repair of a single instrument or in any case a family of instruments, whether plucked string (classic guitar, acoustic guitar, flamenco guitar, ukulele, lute, harp, etc.) or a stringed version (violin, viola, cello, double bass).

• Manufacture handmade musical instruments from scratch.
• Repair or restore damaged or deteriorated instruments.
• Outline and design proposals for new models or instrument repairs.
• Contrast them with clients to agree on the desired design.
• Research and choose the appropriate materials required by the manufacturing and repair process.
• Adjust parts of the instrument.
• Estimate and prepare a financial balance adapted to the costs of production and repair in each case.
• Throughout their professional career, they often teach and instruct apprentices.

Regulated training and graduates

• Certificat de professionalitat de la Família professional Arts i artesania: Projecte, elaboració, manteniment i reparació artesanal d'arcs d'instruments musicals de corda (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de professionalitat de la Família professional Arts i artesania: Projecte i elaboració artesanal d'instruments antics de corda polsada (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de professionalitat de la Família professional Arts i artesania: Projecte i elaboració artesanal d'instruments musicals d'arc (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de professionalitat de la Família professional Arts i artesania: Manteniment i reparació d'instruments musicals de corda (Nivell 3)
• Certificat de professionalitat de la Família professional Arts i artesania: Projecte i elaboració artesanal de guitarres, bandúrries i llaüts espanyoles (Nivell 2)
• Grau: Musicologia

Complementary training

Other specific skills

• Experience with woodwork and finishing (includes lacquering, varnishing or painting).
• Experience with the work and finishing of metallic elements and electronic components.
• Knowledge in history, design and repair of string instruments.
• Accuracy and hearing acuity.
• Ability to sketch artistic and technical drawings.
• Interpersonal and communication skills with customers. As the creation of an instrument sometimes is long and very laborious it is convenient to involve customers and have a constructive relationship with them in order to receive contributions and product validations at certain stages of the process.

Learning and use of knowledge: Level 2

Creativity: Level 3

Orientation within reach: Level 2

Customer orientation: Level 2

Concern for order and quality: Level 2

Artistic

People who show an interest in the artistic field enjoy expressing ideas and feelings through the language of art A creative spirit and the motivation to convey concepts or emotions are inherent to this interest. This field includes all the activities that are oriented towards creating artistic products in their various forms: works that are musical, cinematographic or visual in nature, as well as dance and related arts.

Mechanical handling

People related to the field of mechanical handling are interested in the assembly, maintenance, repair and use of machines, tools and installations. Some good examples of professional activities in the field of mechanical handling are adjusting and configuring machines, reviewing technical equipment to detect incidents in their operation, handling machinery in production processes and driving specialised vehicles.

Musical instrument repairer

Tuner

Satellite assembly technician

Camera operator

Accessories designer

• Work hours

  Full-time.
  

• Salary

  Between 20,000- and 40,000-euros gross per year, depending on the type of the clients and the professional's experience.

• Professional category

  Technician

• Initial investments