Luthier
Make and repair stringed instruments — classical guitars, violins, cellos, lutes, mandolins, and basses — combining precision woodwork with acoustic craftsmanship.
Moderate
Low
3–5 years via workshop apprenticeship with an established maker
Workshop apprenticeship with an established maker (3–5 years); short specialist courses via BVMA and similar providers; no current full-length college programme available in the UK
typical
What you do
Luthiers construct and repair stringed instruments by hand, working with tonewoods including spruce, cedar, maple, rosewood, and ebony. New instrument construction is a multi-month process: selecting and grading timber, bending sides, carving arched tops and backs (for orchestral instruments), building the neck and headstock, fitting the fingerboard, and applying a traditional finish — French polish for classical instruments, lacquer for many guitars. Acoustic shaping is central to the craft: the graduation (thickness variation) of the soundboard directly affects tone, and this is judged by tap-testing and listening as well as measurement.
Repair and restoration work forms the bread and butter of many luthiers' income: setup work (nut and saddle fitting, action adjustment, fret levelling and recrowning), crack repair, finish restoration, neck resets, and bridge regluing. Antique and heritage instrument restoration requires knowledge of historical construction methods and period-appropriate materials.
Training routes are primarily through workshop apprenticeships with established makers — the most reliable active pathway. The Newark School of Violin Making's full degree programme was suspended in 2025; short specialist courses are available from providers including the British Violin Making Association (BVMA). London Metropolitan University's previous instrument-making degree is no longer offered as a full programme. The Guild of Master Craftsmen and the Worshipful Company of Musicians support the craft. Most luthiers work alone or in small studios, combining new builds with repair work.
Why this career is resilient
Lutherie is an exceptionally rare craft — there are estimated to be fewer than 500 full-time luthiers in the UK. Every instrument is unique: hand-selected tonewoods, graduated thicknesses, and acoustic voicing cannot be replicated by factory machines at the quality demanded by professional and serious amateur players. The global market for quality handmade instruments is growing, particularly as players recognise the acoustic and tactile difference between a hand-built instrument and a factory-produced equivalent. Repair and restoration work provides a resilient income base — every stringed instrument eventually needs professional attention, and skilled repairers are in short supply. The craft is entirely dependent on hand skill, sensory judgement, and accumulated experience, making it automation-proof.
A typical day
A day in a luthier's workshop might begin by fitting and gluing a spruce soundboard brace on a classical guitar under construction. After the glue sets, the afternoon is spent on repairs — a violin needing a neck reset, a steel-string guitar with a cracked bridge plate. You finish the day French-polishing a completed guitar body, applying thin shellac coats by rubber and carefully levelling between sessions.
Routes in
Full-time college course
Study full-time at a further education college, usually for 1–2 years. You will need to fund yourself or apply for a student loan (available for Level 4+ courses).
Employer-funded training
Some employers — particularly the NHS, emergency services, and larger care providers — run their own funded training programmes. You apply for a job and train as you work.
Pay and costs
Earning potential: Employed bench repairers in instrument shops or workshops earn £20,000–£30,000. Independent makers and repairers typically earn £25,000–£45,000+ once established. Premium instrument makers can command £3,000–£15,000+ per instrument but build volumes are low; repair work provides the consistent income foundation.
Training costs: Workshop apprenticeship: low or no fees but often unpaid or low-paid in early years. Short specialist courses (BVMA and similar providers): £500–£2,000 per course. Specialist tools and materials: £1,500–£4,000 to set up a basic workshop. Tonewoods for a first instrument: £150–£500 depending on species and grade.