Eight Days to a Dream

by David Smith

Originally published in American Lutherie #120, 2014



Forty years ago, just after graduating with a degree in music with studies in classical guitar and lute, I wanted to learn to build instruments. With the help of a local luthier, I built a lute, and then life intruded. I collected books and resources and made a couple of attempts at building, but each time I made a mistake or encountered something I didn’t understand, I’d stop.

Nine years ago, following the Cumpiano book, I attempted an unserviced classical kit from LMI, and made it as far as the neck before I stopped. Four years ago, I tried an acoustic steel string kit in a class through a local woodworking tools store. The teacher, though, had only built one guitar, and had not put finish on it. The class increased my confidence, but I wasn’t happy with my results: no finish, poor intonation, and a neck joint that almost fit after three tries. During this entire time I read every copy of AL and every lutherie book I could find. If skills were acquired by reading, I’d be a master.