Utah School of Lutherie · Logan, Utah

One apprentice.
One master craftsman.
Three months in the shop.

This isn’t a class. It’s the way instrument makers have always learned — standing next to someone who knows, doing real work on real instruments for real clients.

Program details

3 months  ·  One apprentice at a time  ·  $12,500 all-in  ·  Materials included  ·  Mon–Fri  ·  Logan, UT

📅 2027 availability. I’m able to take 2–3 apprentices in 2027, running consecutively — not simultaneously. Spots fill on a first-come basis. Applying early is the best way to secure your place.

Flexible structure. The three months don’t have to run consecutively. We can arrange them all at once or split across multiple blocks — whatever works with your life. Start dates are set together, not posted on a calendar.

You leave with instruments. At minimum, one complete guitar or ukulele you built start to finish — yours to keep. Depending on pace, you may also leave with a second instrument in progress.

Wood selection included. Choose from 5 curated sets of high-quality tonewoods — all included in the program price.

“I take one apprentice at a time. You’re not competing for my attention — you have all of it. That’s the old guild model, and it still works.”

Curriculum

What you actually learn

Most lutherie programs teach you to follow a plan. This apprenticeship teaches you to understand why — so you can make real decisions at the bench, not just replicate steps.

Craft & building

  • Wood selection and tonewood evaluation — tap tones, grain reading
  • Milling, jointing, thicknessing by hand and machine
  • Bracing theory and voicing — not just following a plan
  • Binding, purfling, inlay
  • Neck carving and fit
  • Fretwork — leveling, crowning, end dressing
  • Setup: action, intonation, nut slots
  • Finishing — grain fill and oil at minimum; lacquer where possible
  • Basic repair and troubleshooting
Business of lutherie

  • Pricing a build — materials, time, overhead
  • Client communication and managing expectations
  • Sourcing tonewoods — who to buy from, what to look for
  • Photographing and documenting your work
  • How to market yourself when you leave

Shop culture & habits

  • Tool maintenance and sharpening — undervalued everywhere
  • Jig making and workflow efficiency
  • Safe finishing practices
  • Record keeping for builds

The intangibles

  • Working alongside a luthier on commissioned instruments
  • Watching real decisions made under real deadlines
  • Learning what not to do — failures and recoveries
  • Developing your own eye and ear for quality

The business section is what most schools skip entirely — and what working luthiers say they wish someone had taught them. It’s a core part of this apprenticeship, not an afterthought.

A typical day

What it actually looks like

Morning Bench work — active building on your instrument or a client build. This is where most of the hands-on skill transfer happens.

Midday Discussion, evaluation, and problem solving. We talk through what you did, what worked, and what you’d do differently.

Afternoon More bench time — detail work, finishing, or whatever stage your build is in. Some days this is business curriculum.

End of day Tool cleanup and maintenance. Not optional — it’s part of the curriculum. A sharp, well-kept shop is a habit you take home.

Who it’s for

This is the right fit if you are…

✓ Serious about making lutherie a livelihood — not just a hobby
✓ A musician who wants to understand the instruments you play
✓ A woodworker ready to take on a new discipline
✓ Someone who learns best by doing, not watching
✓ Willing to work hard and take direction without ego
✓ Ready to invest in a real education — not a weekend workshop

No prior lutherie experience is required. Prior woodworking or music background helps, but what matters most is genuine commitment.

Apply

Application for the apprenticeship

Spots open one at a time, with 2–3 available in 2027. I read every application personally and respond within a few days.

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