1. Better reeds
2. Better wood
3. Better Bellows
4. Better Tuning
5. They will be worth TONS of money one day. Suppose you want to sell, 10-15 years after the builder stops making them... It's an investment.

I will never sell mine, in fact I will request to be buried with mine. I know for a fact that if I ever have kids, they won't care about this music. It's sad. In fact I may never have a wife or kids, but I play accordions, diatonic and chromatic. I play guitar and banjo and bass and skiffle. As far as I'm concerned, music is my vice. No children, no wife. Christ I'm only 27~

Why are mitered corners the "best"? Dovetailed joints for guitar necks are traditional, but not always the best. No, I went to school and studied engineering. There were very few schools for lutherie in the 60's-70's, and the craft was learned through association and a lot of reading and trips to the Smithsonian. Like Mr. Dyson, I have a full time job as lutherie doesn't pay enough to survive. It will accompany my retirement nicely though. Lighten up and try your hand at something artistic. Life is short. Play nice in the sandbox and be inclusive.

Pleasantries aside, I for one would love to see some pics of some of the violins or fretted instruments that "bears" your signature.
I think that I recall one of of your early posts mentionning you "making" violins, or was it guitars, I can't quite recall, sorry.
I don't think that this forum has Luthiers as members,but quite a few play, either violins or guitars or fretted instruments and it would be of some interest to them and mine, to know exactly what you do.

Are you involved with repairs only : Guitars, or Violins, or both?, or do you builds professionaly fretted instruments and under witch brand may I ask?,
Would you kindly elaborate and if possible send this forum some pictures of your "wares".

I'm also surprised that as a professional crafstman "Luthier" that is, you can't make a living out of it, unless of course the state of Maryland has a proliferation of your particular trade.

But , correct me if I'm wrong,I thought that good craftsman,woman in every fields are very, very difficult to find and as such are very prized.

Your trade is an old one, your'e very priviledged.

Many thanks.

Kindly.

K.K

A few years ago, got to take a violin repair course under Geoff Sietz, highly respected luthioer out of St. Louis, and fiddle for the Volo Bogg Trotters. He had the best line that I bet a lot of luthers live by - I build because I love it, I repair because I need to eat. You can paraphrase that with many things, musicians, for example. Rare is the guy that can perform every weekend and still not need a day job. I know there are a few luthiers, builders. etc. that check out this forum. I hope we can respect what we do, and more importantly, need to do to survive.
Steve

Steve,

My humble apologies, I didn't forget you, I simply omited you .

Actually, I was looking , recently at your site, quite impressive.

Claude.