What is a "master luthier"?

[Fretbear]

Charles Sawtelle, on the other hand, was said to have a business card saying "Charles Sawtelle, Expert"

As he was one....

[Timbofood]

That would be…
“Anyone but me”!

[peter.coombe]

Many years ago the discussion came up at the shop of my former employer. As we worked on instruments one day we asked ourselves; 'what is a "master" luthier?'
As one can imagine, the discussion was a lot like this one, and it inspired me to have this business card printed.
Click image for larger version.

Ha ha, love it. It is accurate.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

Experts are many, that's for sure. My personal favorite advice for master slave luthiers would be based on something like this:

[Jeff Mando]

Around here, they still use terms like master carpenter and master auto technician. Probably goes back to the days before technical schools when someone apprenticed with an experienced person to learn the skills.

I do remember about 30 years ago I was working on my car AC system and needed freon. I went to Auto Zone and found it was restricted and sold only to licensed ASE car mechanics. I got curious and went to a car dealership and they gave me the contact info for ASE, they sent me a test, I filled it out, passed and in a few days received my ASE license -- not really that hard, IMHO. NO apprenticeship required. (today's standards may be different) Now, would I call myself a "master mechanic?" Heavens NO, although I still carry the license in my wallet. My "expertise" probably stops at a 1965 Buick, which was already a 25 year old car when I owned it...but, I got my freon!

[JeffD]

I think it is intended to be used as "highly regarded by everyone I know".

[vic-victor]

When I hear "Master luthier" I imagine a large musical maker's workshop, like Embergher's for example, with lots of people making instruments and The Man himself who supervises everyone and hand signs only the best examples is only called a Master. Perhaps too romantic these days. But I guess it was like that 100 years ago or so.

[CES]

Master luthiers don't have to make their own coffee.

But they do it anyway, just to make sure it’s done right. I’m absolutely not a master luthier, but I get the appropriately channeled OCD. It’s a benefit in my profession, and, also in home renovation projects, of which I’m chin deep right now.

And, Jeff, the information available on YouTube now is crazy. I’m sure you could almost do “master mechanic” work because you have a sense of how things work and unprecedented resources. But only the true master knows what you don’t know. Or, more importantly, what they don’t know…

[Fretbear]

But only the true master knows what you don’t know. Or, more importantly, what they don’t know…

"A professional knows how to repair his mistakes; an amateur may not even know he has made one..."

Wes Johnson
"Watch Wes Work"

[HoGo]

And, Jeff, the information available on YouTube now is crazy. I’m sure you could almost do “master mechanic” work because you have a sense of how things work and unprecedented resources. But only the true master knows what you don’t know. Or, more importantly, what they don’t know…

That is one mistake people do these days. The real master (in the sense of old trade guilds) has VAST experience in the field while armchair hacks DO NOT. You can buy a gizmo or fixture from internet that will make any job twice as simple (think of all the Stew-Mac tools) but still without the experience and knowledge the result is generally inferior to real master.
I admit that I learned most of what I know from books or internet but have made my share of mistakes and still ocassionally make a new one but I never thought of myself as real Master of the craft. The resources make it look simple but the real world jobs seldom are as simple and there often are unexpected aspects that the simple internet instruction doesn't cover and one notices only when it's too late.
Master is the guy who can predict possible problems and adjust procedure before he starts to avoid them.

[PT66]

I started building musical instruments by building myself a dulcimer in 1963. I did it by looking at pictures in the Jean Ritchie Dulcimer Book. The summer of 1966 I worked at a famous guitar factory. I thought I had learned a lot about musical instruments over the years. When I retired from my day job I opened a guitar repair business. After 60 years I still don’t consider myself a Master Luthier.

[rcc56]

Master luthiers: Antonio Stradivari, John D'Angelico.

They made mistakes too.
When Strad made a part that did not satisfy him, he would break it and throw it in a corner.
He left several broken uncompleted instruments behind.

[Hudmister]

I always thought a luthier was someone who could build an instrument from scratch, from selecting the wood to cutting and shaping the pieces and then the assembly and finally the binding and the finishing, all hand made. All this plus a reputation for fine work and a wonderful tone in the instrument. Everyone else is a technician or a repair person or a specialist of a specific aspect such as fret work and set up or finish repair. Gluing together a Stewmac guitar kit and applying a spray paint finish does not a luthier make although it could be a step on the pathway. I have known a luthier personally, a man who worked alone in his shop building classical guitars including making the rosette and he had a waiting list of people willing to pay the bill. The term "master" luthier is one I never hear used and for me just luthier is sufficient.

[PT66]

I used believe like you that it was a person that could design and build an instrument from the selection of the wood to finished product. Which it what I do. But I was told on Facebook by a very famous luthier (now deceased) that if you didn’t do restoration work with hot hide glue you couldn’t call yourself a luthier. Well I build with Titebond original.

[Richard500]

Poor master. The term is so close to being ghosted in engineering, printing, gardening that soon, an orchestra may exile maestro, perhaps replacing with, say, boss. I’d say, blacklisted, but that’s on shaky ground too.
Being a generous person, I’d like to say that any high skill or knowledge can be a good reason to use ‘master’ in a positive context, and is even ok as a self-description. But the term can be used sarcastically too, especially in the workplace.
A friend, massively unlettered but incredibly successful, always called techs, tradespeople, even medical folk, mechanics. At least gender-neutral.

[Jeff Hildreth]

B i n g o !

[musicofanatic]

A master luthier is one that is considered to be at the top of the heap...one whose instruments are impeccably constructed, highly desirable, in demand to the point of a long waiting list and command the highest price. Would any here deny Gilchrist, Monteleone, Dudenbostle, Heiden, Kemnitzer (f'rinstance) such a handle?

[markpg]

Well, if a state can figure a way to attach a license and fee to some trade, it will use those ancient guild terms. Most places, there is such a thing as a master plumber or electrician, but in my state sadly, very often a license starts with ‘limited’. In NY, a Master Falconer can possess up to 13 raptors and engage in activities not allowed for Journeymen. Predictably, some states use a college masters degree to categorize a ‘master’, which almost makes sense. Fortunately, my doctorate doesn’t provide an opening for annual fees anywhere - so far.
Any time-traveller from the middle ages would be aghast that we don’t have sensible trade designations.
Other uses of the designation ‘master’ I’m afraid get us into swiftly-changing semantics, and are therefore, dangerous.

As a time traveler from the middle ages (as you call them), I do agree. Nothing else about your time astonishes me outside of your lack of sensible trade designations.

- - - Updated - - -

Well, if a state can figure a way to attach a license and fee to some trade, it will use those ancient guild terms. Most places, there is such a thing as a master plumber or electrician, but in my state sadly, very often a license starts with ‘limited’. In NY, a Master Falconer can possess up to 13 raptors and engage in activities not allowed for Journeymen. Predictably, some states use a college masters degree to categorize a ‘master’, which almost makes sense. Fortunately, my doctorate doesn’t provide an opening for annual fees anywhere - so far.
Any time-traveller from the middle ages would be aghast that we don’t have sensible trade designations.
Other uses of the designation ‘master’ I’m afraid get us into swiftly-changing semantics, and are therefore, dangerous.

As a time traveler from the middle ages (as you call them), I do agree. Nothing else about your time astonishes me outside of your lack of sensible trade designations.

[CarlM]

Aside from a handful of electricians and plumbers, whose Master status was established by official state licensing programs, the very highest level craftsmen I have personally known would be very reluctant to apply the master title to themselves even when others would very clearly say it. They knew the trap of excessive pride and knew their own limitations more clearly than anyone else.

This included tool and die makers working in extremely close tolerance electronic and fiber optics applications as well as cabinet makers at a world famous furniture shop. Most tool makers would refer to themselves as journeymen or simply by the job title. The tool and die shops I worked in had A, B and C classes, with A being the highest, most experienced class. There was a little bit of a wage increase as you went up the ladder. Most of the guys did not ride that horse about being a class A toolmaker too hard either unless some apprentice was getting too much up on their hind legs or someone from the factory was getting in their face inappropriately. Any guy who got too big headed about it would have it pointed out that he was more a class A a##hole than anything. Shop guys can be direct.

The tool and die shops would also have lead toolmakers who would act as sort of assistant foremen. They could give directions and instruction but not apply discipline. There was usually one for stamping dies and one for injection molds. They might be consulted on hiring or interviews and solving difficult problems. They would get an extra 15 or 20 cents per hour (1970s and 1980s wages) This was the closest thing to a "master" in the shops I worked in.

The craftsmen would work and push to get into the top class out of pride in their skills as well as to get the wage increase. You are working to make a living. Bragging does not put bread on the table and is not cool.

[Bill McCall]

In my apprenticeship, nobody was called a ‘master’. But several of the fellows were certainly worthy of accolades beyond ‘journeyman’, well earned in their 40+ year careers. But to them it was a job they did as well as they could.

I agree it’s often a self applied term or an instance of flattery in a published tribute.

I was thrilled when the owner of the firm complimented me as a ‘good mechanic’ a few years after I completed my apprenticeship.

[bigtoothmando]

Personally, I thought of myself as a luthier after working in a repair shop full-time for 3-4 years and started to get a solid grasp on what the hell I was doing.

[Hendrik Ahrend]

As much as we acknowledge that vintage F5s were made by a team in a factory environment, prices are higher as soon as Loar's signature is on a label, or "Loar just left the building", as we read in vintage dealers' promotional prose. It's about we the customers, who embrace the romantic idea of the master (acoustic engineer, genius, creator, king &c.), not so much about luthiers with overblown egos IMHO. And since Gibson knew (and knows) that well, they called their style 5 instruments "Master Model" and applied a label with Loar's signature.

[Dagger Gordon]

From the website of Ted Astrand, a Swedish guitar maker:

"In the summer of 2019 I was awarded with a certificate as a master guitar maker from the Swedish craft council."

https://www.astrandguitars.com/mystory

I came across this while listening to a Fretboard Journal podcast interview with Australian guitarist Alan Gogoll, who is a big fan of Ted Astrand's work. Good interview, actually.

https://www.fretboardjournal.com/pod...d-alan-gogoll/

[DPrager]

Sometimes even certification is meaningless. I am certified by Washington State as a "Master Gardener." Yet still, there are weeds in my garden (and you certainly don't want me setting up your mandolin)

dp

[Kenny]

I interpret “master” as a description, not as a title. If an organization existed that set standards to be met then “master” as a title might carry some weight.

To those who point to government as the source of regulation, I’ll point out that it isn’t government but entrenched practitioners who nudge government in their desired direction. e.g. Construction contractors varied greatly in their abilities and the good ones wanted the bad ones kept out or, at least, restricted. Ergo a standard for licensing contractors was proposed by contractors and, with general support, it was enacted into law. It’s far from ideal but there’s at least a benchmark. Similarly, most things that require a license or certification came through the same process.

There are other titles to indicate mastery such as Chet Atkins’ Certified Guitar Player but, absent an umbrella organization, those titles being meaningful is open to debate.