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Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 9:41 am
by Rick Hall
Not sure if this is the right place within this forum to place this, but I have had the guitar making bug for quite a while now. I actually built my first guitar earlier this year and now want to do more. The problem is that I live in a condo that does not have any room for a proper shop setup so working here at home will be a difficult task indeed.

My first guitar build was with a class at our local Woodcraft store, so all the tools were there to use. I believe that my only hope is to see if anyone in the area may have a need for someone to be their apprentice so that I get experience and some more luthier knowledge while having access to tools within their shop. Maybe they will even allow me to build my own guitars while I help them with theirs.

I am not sure of any other way for me to get access to a shop with the proper tools that I will need to use in my pursuit of being a luthier myself. I have the bug and require as much knowledge (reading a whole lot on the craft) as possible, as well as hands-on experience.

Please help!!!!!

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:06 pm
by Ben-Had
Where in VA are you?

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Mon Nov 18, 2013 8:08 pm
by Rick Hall
Ben-Had wrote:Where in VA are you?
Tim,

I am in Arlington (Crystal City) near the Ronald Reagan airport right outside of DC.

Rick

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:09 am
by Ben-Had
Rick Hall wrote:
Ben-Had wrote:Where in VA are you?
Tim,

I am in Arlington (Crystal City) near the Ronald Reagan airport right outside of DC.

Rick
Probably to far from me (4+ hours)

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 10:59 am
by  
Have you done a Google search for woodworking guilds or clubs in the Northern VA area?
Guitar building schools? Pro luthiers?
All are good starting points.
-tommy

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Tue Nov 19, 2013 1:36 pm
by Rick Hall
I haven't for woodworking guilds. I have taken the one guitar making course through the Woodcraft store here for my first build. I have also been busy checking out the other luthiers on this and several other forums that live in the DC area. There are quite a few and some have reached out to me with some advice. One in particular, Chris Verhoeven from MuX Guitars, has said he is available to talk with me.

Still no offers to be an apprentice in anyones shop.

I am not letting this slow me down or stop me. I am going to begin my build #2 soon.

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 4:53 pm
by Darryl Young
Todd Stock is located somewhere around the DC area. I don't know about apprenticeships but he has students (for a fee I'm sure).

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Wed Nov 20, 2013 6:15 pm
by SKBarbour
Todd is always very welcoming to folks in the area. Seems he has someone in his shop with him most weekends. I live in Maryland and have wanted to stop by his place for some time. Unfortunately life intervenes most weekends.

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Thu Nov 21, 2013 9:33 am
by Rick Hall
There does seem to be a lot of luthiers in the DMV area. Is there an actual guild or group for luthiers in this area? I already have membership in both ASIA and GAL (yes I jumped fully into this) in which I received some great literature for increasing my knowledge level.

I have also been in touch with one of Todd's students, Chris Verhoeven of MuX Guitars, who has offered me to come on out to his place to discuss the craft and help show me some techniques. I am just so excited to get another guitar started and have been so impressed at how the luthier community is so open and friendly. So different from my noraml day job as a government contractor here in the DC area.

Re: Looking for a Luthier Apprenticeship Opportunity in VA

Posted: Tue Nov 26, 2013 4:45 pm
by Darryl Young
Chris seems to be a good guy though IIRC, he builds more electric guitars. Still, I'm sure you could learn a lot from him. Also, he could introduce you to Todd.

Always the option to go take a calss from John Hall not too terribly far away.