What is "Hand Made"

[kiwigeo]

Unfortunately that runs into another controversy: when is one considered a luthier ...

If you can make a guitar and its not a boat

[Bruce McC]

What about a dreadnought?

[kiwigeo]

What about a dreadnought?

Technically thats a barge not a boat

[Nick]

What about a dreadnought?

Technically thats a barge not a boat

My Guitars sounded a lot like a barge when I'd finished, they shared the same sonic and tonal qualities.

[Gec]

Man this is a long thread. Ya just gotta get over it. Make the damned instrument by the best method you want to deploy.

It’s the sawdust that is addictive.

Gec

[kiwigeo]

Man this is a long thread. Ya just gotta get over it. Make the damned instrument by the best method you want to deploy.

It’s the sawdust that is addictive.

Gec

I think it's a question you'll hear more from customers than makers. I think its worth discussion so you can respond to the question when a customer asks

PS: Welcome to the forum.

[Gec]

Hi Martin. Yeah, I dig the discussion and the point of it. I guess I take the stand that all disciplines evolve over time and those that don’t tend to die off. We used to use all kinds of tools that have been relegated to the bottom draw now. Using an electric Router was not a thing once upon a time. A CNC router is another step in the process of evolution.

Isn’t the art of luthiery all that black magic stuff that makes wood sing? Isn’t that what our clients are buying?

Martin I was a past member. A very quiet one. I went “Lurker” for a very long time. I thought I would come in for a look. I am glad to see many of the names from back then still kicking around here. You being one. Thanks for the welcome.

Gec

[JacobH]

I think milling to dimension does not exclude something from being hand made. So long as the shape and form of those things has been done by hand.

I think the main difference is the level of automation. If every part is taken to final dimension with jigs, fixtures or machine it is no longer hand made just hand assembled and finished.

Not everything has to be hand made to be unique, creative or have value. Things like CNC allow for high levels of creativity in design even if a part is not 'hand made'.