How to Choose the Right Luthier (Without Regretting It Later)
How to Choose the Right Luthier (Without Regretting It Later)
Ordering a custom instrument can feel risky.
Not because there’s a shortage of options, but because there are so many.
Different makers, different models, different woods, different bracing patterns, different scale lengths. And on the surface many of them appear to be saying the same things.
So how do you decide who to trust with something as personal as a handmade instrument?
In Brief
• Choosing a luthier is not about getting the longest specification list for your money.
• Start by finding a maker whose work you genuinely like the look of.
• Listen to as many sound samples as possible to understand the character of their instruments.
• Pay attention to how the maker talks about their work and whether their values resonate with you.
• The best maker for you is someone whose priorities and musical outlook align with your own.
Ordering a custom instrument can feel risky.
Not because there are too few options, but because there are so many. Different makers, different woods, different models, different scale lengths and bracing patterns. On the surface, many guitars look quite similar and many makers appear to be saying the same things.
So how do you choose?
When musicians get close to making a decision, doubt often creeps in. You’ve set the money aside and you’re ready to move forward, but it’s easy to feel that there are plenty of ways to get this wrong.
One of the easiest ways to get it wrong is to start with a long list of specifications, things you’ve imagined or collected from forums, and then approach makers trying to get the most features for your money.
If you treat the maker as simply a pair of hands, that’s a good way to end up disappointed.
Choosing a luthier isn’t about collecting features. It’s about finding someone whose approach to instruments resonates with you.
When the right instrument arrives, the reaction is emotional. There’s a moment when it simply clicks. Most of your doubts disappear because you stop thinking and start playing.
So here are a few things worth considering before you start sending emails to builders.
First: appearance.
In the age of the internet, the eyes come first. My old boss started building before the internet existed. Most of his customers had either played one of his instruments or heard them played by musicians they admired.
That still happens today, but many people now discover instruments online.
That means photographs play a big role. Beautiful pictures draw people in. That’s part of the job.
My own work is fairly plain. Some makers specialise in very ornate instruments. Occasionally someone asks me to build something elaborate, and I usually say no. It’s not what I do. To me, less is more.
So the first step is simple: find a maker whose instruments look right to you.
Second: sound.
Does the maker provide sound samples? If not, that’s a red flag.
You should be able to hear their instruments. Ideally you can listen to recordings spanning several years. Do the instruments have a recognisable character? Is there a consistent quality to the sound?
I still have videos online recorded years ago with basic equipment – a Panasonic camcorder, nothing special, and they still sound good because the guitar itself sounded good.
Listen carefully. Put on headphones or good speakers and spend some time with those recordings.
Third: shared values.
Do they write or speak about their work? Do they give interviews or make videos? When they talk about instruments, does their thinking make sense to you?
Some makers speak very poetically about instruments. Others sound more like engineers. Those differences reflect personality as much as philosophy.
There’s also a lot of information floating around online particularly in forums, where ideas get repeated and recycled. But what one builder does with spruce and rosewood may be completely different from another.
Experience matters.
So ask yourself whether the maker seems sincere, thoughtful, and grounded in real experience.
Finally: priorities.
What matters most to you in an instrument, and what matters most to the maker?
If your priorities align, the conversation becomes much easier. There will always be discussion about the sound, the design, the materials, but if you’re both interested in the same things, you’re already speaking the same language.
If you care deeply about tone but the maker cares mainly about decorative inlay, you may not be a good match.
One of my clients once wrote this after ordering a bouzouki:
“Communicating artistic ideas by email across thousands of miles in different time zones isn’t easy, but I always felt Nigel was listening and understanding what I wanted.”
That’s how it should be.
Not every maker is right for every player. I know that I’m not the right builder for everyone.
If you start with a list of makers, these steps should help narrow it down to two or three people who feel like a good fit.
The next question is specifications — what woods, what scale length, what model, what bracing pattern.
That topic can tie people in knots, so I’ve made another video about exactly that.
A Short Guide to Ordering a Handmade Instrument
If you’re thinking about commissioning a handmade instrument, there are a few common questions that nearly everyone goes through. These short videos walk through the most common doubts players have before ordering an instrument.
• You Might Not Need a Handmade Guitar (Yet)
A reality check on when upgrading actually makes sense.
• You Might Not Be Good Enough for a Handmade Guitar (Yet)
Why many players underestimate themselves when thinking about ordering a handmade instrument.
• You Don’t Need to Know Everything Before Ordering a Handmade Guitar
Why you don’t need to decide every specification before contacting a luthier.
FAQ
How do you choose the right luthier?
Start by looking for a maker whose instruments appeal to you visually and sonically. Then learn about how they think about instrument design and whether their values align with your own.
Should I start with a list of specifications?
It’s usually better to start by choosing the right maker. Once you’ve found someone whose work you trust, the specifications can be discussed together.
Why are sound samples important?
Recordings help you understand the character of a maker’s instruments. Over time you may notice a consistent voice or quality that runs through their work.
Do different luthiers build very different instruments?
Yes. Even when using the same woods, different makers often produce very different results because their construction methods and design philosophies vary.
If You’re Shortlisting Makers
If you’re seriously considering ordering a handmade instrument, it’s worth narrowing your list to two or three makers whose work genuinely appeals to you.
Spend time listening to sound samples, looking at instruments they’ve built over the years, and reading or watching anything they’ve written about their approach.
At that point, the next step is usually a simple conversation.
Most luthiers are happy to answer questions about their instruments, their models, and how they work with clients during a build.
If you eventually decide to commission a guitar, understanding what you value in an instrument helps a luthier build something that truly suits you.
If you’d like to talk about commissioning one from me, you’ll find the contact form at the foot of this page.
From the workshop of Nigel Forster
Nigel Forster has been building guitars, mandolins and Irish bouzoukis since 1988.