Young Luthiers, Old Luthiers

**MikeB** · Jun-12-2005, 6:36pm

I had a nice conversation with Brian Dean from Quebec, (Oldtymer, around here) this morning, mostly about the OM he recently built for me. #Nearly everyone who's seen or played it since it arrived is just knocked out by this instrument.

Well, during the conversation, I happen to ask Brian how old he was ...I figure he's got to be at least 40 to do what he does with wood. # He's 28 years old!!! #I was floored! #The guy is a kid! #(No offense to anyone. #28 is a kid to ME.) #He, of course, couldn't understand my surprise. #(I remember that I felt pretty well matured at 28.)

This got me wondering about the average age of successful builders around here. # No one needs to disclose this unless they want to, of course, but I'm curious. #

And at what age do you think a builder does his best work? #I expect I'll get answers from most that their best work is still ahead of them.

When I play this OM, and think if this is what Brian is doing #at 28, I hope I'm still around to see what he does at 48, or 58...

**sunburst** · Jun-12-2005, 7:36pm

I've read a fair amount about Stradivari. Most people are familiar with his golden period, that time when he was turning out his "best" work at a rapid rate. I was reading once and found that Stradivari's golden period didn't start 'til he was in his sixties.
I closed the book smiled and thought "there's hope for me yet!".

"They" say that every artist or craftsman has a golden period. If we start young, like they did in the days of guilds, we learn more and more while gaining dexterity and experience so that our work improves until aging eyes, hands, and brains start a gradual decline in detail.

I'm 49 and I've been a full time luthier for almost 20 years. I know my work is still improving measurably, but some things aren't as easy as they used to be. If I keep doing this, time will tell when my best work is done.

I thought I was a pretty good luthier when I was 28, Much better than I think I am now.

It's like the old joke about the kid who was surprised how much his parents had learned since he got out of college.

**Chris Baird** · Jun-12-2005, 10:46pm

Don't you know, you never ask a luthier his/her age.

The next generation is rising.

**Jim Rowland** · Jun-12-2005, 11:00pm

This doesn't really apply to me,because I am not a sucessful luthier. I'm building some pretty good mandolins these days,but am not in a league with many of the aces who post here. I've been building string instruments for around 35 years,carved mandos for the last five or six. I am just beginning to hit my stride,gaining skills and building knowledge day by day. I am coming up on seventy three years. You might say the Mandolin Cafe is keeping me young.
Jim

**sunburst** · Jun-12-2005, 11:09pm

Originally Posted by (grow @ June 13 2005, 00:00)

This doesn't really apply to me,because I am not a sucessful luthier.

How do you measure success? If it means you make a lot of money, I'm not successful at all. If it means you get to do what you like for a "living", I'm doing OK.

Grow, from your posts I thought you were a kid!

I mean that as a complement.

**Michael Lewis** · Jun-13-2005, 2:31am

The abilities of each individual tend to vary, so this isn't a terribly meaningful thread. Most folks tend to take a long time to develop skills and experience, but there are some folks that have a burning thirst for this knowledge and have the relevent abilities to apply it at an early stage in their career. It is sort of like playing music in that just being older doesn't make one a better musician, and neither does being young mean one is a lesser musician. We all can think of examples that support this concept. The point to being successful is to pursue the experience and knowledge, always. You will get "there" when you do, just be focused on the work, and eventually you will attain your goal, sooner or later.

**El Rey del Mando** · Jun-13-2005, 7:38am

They say,(whoever they are),"We grow old too soon...and too late smart".To get all the knowledge that you can while you are young will put a damper on that statement.

John

**MikeB** · Jun-13-2005, 9:51am

Originally Posted by

The abilities of each individual tend to vary, so this isn't a terribly meaningful thread.

But, Michael, what you wrote following that comment was exactly the sort of comment I (and I hope others) enjoy reading. #If the title of this thread makes it sound like I was after statistical data or specific facts, I apologize for my poor choice. #

In fact, I'll go so far as to say that almost any thread to which you (and the other luthiers) reply is a relevant thread. #

Part of my reason for asking this sort of question was to give perspective to new and older builders alike. # In case #Brian, for example, ever gets discouraged with his work (which I certainly would never be!), hearing how relatively new to the whole craft he really is, might just give him a lift. #I hoped for no more relevance than that.

**John Bertotti** · Jun-13-2005, 11:09am

Holly cow! grow you just floored me. I would have guessed late thirties. Sunburst you have a few more there then I thought also. I'm no pro and certainly not successful but hey I'm 39 and as far as I'm concerned my golden years of building are way off in the future. Far far away I hope. Like mentioned above there is a core group here that whatever they post in is instantly a relevant thread to read. John

**MikeB** · Jun-13-2005, 12:02pm

Originally Posted by

...whatever they post in is instantly a relevant thread to read.

My point exactly, John. Thank you for that.

**Luthier** · Jun-13-2005, 2:46pm

50 and lovin life!!!

Don

**amowry** · Jun-13-2005, 11:04pm

I'm 29, but most days my back thinks I'm 129.

**Michael Lewis** · Jun-14-2005, 12:55am

I guess I'm getting older, because I can feel it when I move. However, the ideas and inspirations keep coming and some of them are pretty good. Now, where did I leave my mind?

**Keith Newell** · Jun-14-2005, 1:16am

When you find it can you see if mine is laying around somewhere close?

Keith

**Dave Cohen** · Jun-14-2005, 8:43am

I'm 60. My mind hasn't gone yet, or at least I am not yet aware of it. Otoh, I am building mandolins and guitars.

http://www.erols.com/judcohen

**Big Joe** · Jun-14-2005, 9:26am

Lloyd LePlant from Minnesota is in his mid 70's and builing his best work now. Grady Jones in Michigan is not a spring chicken and his work is quite innovative. Luke Thompson is not one of the young guns either and he's doing better than ever before. I don't think age, or a lack of it, has anything to do with one's ability. It may make a difference in his patience level and experience, but not the basic ability. One young man I know built his first guitars in his early 20's and they have been quite well accepted. He built his first mandolin in his late 20's and it was one of the best sounding mandolins I've heard in a while. Age is only important if you want to draw social security. Otherwise, it is not the best measure of a man's ability.

**Dale Ludewig** · Jun-14-2005, 9:33am

54 here. I built my first 35 or so instruments when I was in my late twenties. Then no more instruments for 20 years. But full time woodworking, so my skills improved in that area. Then I started building again. Much better now. I don't feel old mentally, but as Michael said, my body disagrees sometimes.

**Rob Powell** · Jun-14-2005, 10:08pm

I'm not a professional luthier and I don't even play one on tv...in fact, I'm not sure I'm professinoal at anything but I do enjoy most things I do. I was a hobbyist programmer for 20 years before actually deciding to try it for a living. I must say, I'm better at it now than I was 20 years ago and I'm better at it now than I was 20 days ago.

I'm hoping taking up lutherie late in life will work as well for me as the programming gig...but I ain't quittin' my day job jest yet..

Oh yeah, John (sunburst) and I are the same age. Somehow, wrtining the number out makes it seem older..

**artdeco** · Jun-14-2005, 11:54pm

My body says I'm 63, but my brain thinks I'm 18. I just took up building (and playing) these things in the last couple of years. If you can't keep learning new stuff, then you know you are done. Engineers are a strange lot - we think we can do anything.

**Greenmando** · Jun-15-2005, 12:56am

Only 46 here but as I have aged I have to pass on - Do what you love and put your love into your work. Sounds sappy but the years go by as minutes now.

**MikeB** · Jun-15-2005, 9:08am

Well, whether this thread--or anyone's age--is irrelevant, or not, it does appear to me that most builders around here, at least, are well out of their 20s. #

For the seasoned folks, like me (not a builder), you seem to be in good company.

For the few youngsters making anything close to a living making instruments, I'd say you are remarkable. #I'll be keeping my eyes on you....think what you'll be doing in 30 or 40 years! # The Golden Age of the mandolin may still be ahead of us when the young builders have such easy access to the experience of the veterans

For me, I appreciate everyone's input. #Thanks.