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Continuing Education/Career Advice
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Continuing Education/Career Advice
Hi everyone, I was hoping to get some advice on training opportunities.
My background and situation (briefly), I’m a self-taught guitar tech and electric luthier with 3 years experience (after 20yrs office work). I have a job in a high volume guitar shop doing setups and quality checks on outgoing/sold guitars. The store does repair work but I have not been included in this, despite many requests. I do not believe this is due to skill level (although obviously I have a lot to learn), but moreso due to territory. There’s a senior luthier who’s a good friend, but either he and/or management have decided that I’m not to be part of the repair shop, and there’s to be no mentoring or training. So my development has stalled and I’m not learning anything or advancing my skills. I’ll humbly say I think I’m good at this and the limited opportunities are not from my deficiencies.
I’m at the point where I need to invest some $$ in actual training to either demand more work at the current store, build up my resume for the other store in town (I’m not qualified yet), or try to go solo (not there either). Ideally I’m looking for seminars 1-2 weeks in length, as I have a wife and child at home.
My areas of need are pretty much all facets of acoustic guitar repair (headstocks, top cracks, neck resets), refinishing/ding repairs , electric guitar wiring diagnosis. I do have skill in most aspects of electric guitar setup diagnosis, and am decent at fretwork, but obviously get better. I’ve built several electric guitars from scratch that have been well received by players I respect.
I live in Pittsburgh, PA, so ideally within driving distance of there.
Thanks for any advice
Joe Madia, @jvalentino_guitars
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4 Replies
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Joe,
I was also a self-taught builder for several years. When I was ready to take the next step, I completed the Master’s Course at Southeast Guitar Repair Academy. The course itself is all on line, and you move through at a pace that suits you. Barrett Culpepper is the Master Luthier and main instructor. He takers you through the repairs/jobs in real time so you will get an idea how long it takes a very experienced tech to do each job.
They add a few new repairs to the library each month, and as far as I know, once you’ve paid your tuition, they consider you enrolled for life. They have a student-only forum and portal where you can ask questions, as well as a Zoom call every two weeks where you can chat with the instructors live.
I found it a very good investment.
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Hi Joe,
I gotta say I’m not following why you aren’t ready to start your own business. Based on what you are writing you could start part time and build from there as your skills grow. But it sounds like you have enough experience to at least start as a set-up specialist with fret work. I started my business that way and learned along the way. I added new services once I had gotten good enough at them to sell to customers. Its taken me a few years to get to where I am but I did it on my own and eventually with the help of the hooligans known as The Looth Group.
It definitely sounds like your current job at the store holds no value and you would be better off working elsewhere while you hang your part time shingle as a solo repair shop. Jump on the loothalong if you can. Lots of great people ready to offer you support and encouragement!
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Hey Joe!
Sorry to hear about your situation! That being said it seems like you have more skills than you give yourself credit for.
Is there anyone in your local area who does what you aspire to learn who you could approach for guidance?
Do you have any space outside of the store you work at to tinker on stuff for learning?
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Joe,
It sounds like you know A LOT more than I did when I started my business. I started it as a side hustle and worked another job during the day, growing skills on nights and weekends and taking on bigger jobs as I got better. As my reputation grew, so did my business. It took a long time before I took the leap to full-time, and then longer to having employees…but it worked. If this is something you want to do, you can! There are a lot of places to get training…you’re in one right now. 🙂
I don’t know how to tell you to handle that with your current job, but IMO It doesn’t sound like you’ll get the opportunities there you’re looking for. If those guys are your friends you’ll have to walk that path carefully.
Good luck with whatever you decide to do!
Bryan
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