What does a musical instrument maker do?
Musical instrument makers produce and maintain instruments. They may work on a range of instruments, however most will specialise in a particular one. Makers may occasionally specialise in a group of instruments— for example, a luthier makes stringed instruments generally consisting of a neck and a sound box like violins, acoustic guitars, and ukuleles.
Musical instrument makers need a high level of accuracy and attention to detail. In their work they may:
Use different materials and techniques
Use a variety of specialist tools and equipment to cut, bend, shape, joint and polish wood or metal
Use traditional craft tools such as saws, planes and lathes for instrument making processes
Liaise with customers and clients
Instruments are sometimes damaged due to age, wear and tear, or accidents. Repairs vary according to the type of instrument, but could range from repairing cracks in the front or back of a violin to removing dents from a French horn. Many musical instrument makers carry out repairs as a regular part of their job.