Have you ever dreamed of becoming a great luthier (LOO-tee-er)? Or does that funny-sounding word make you want to scratch your head and then thumb through a dictionary?

Thumb no further. A luthier is someone who makes stringed instruments. If you were a luthier, you could make a sleek instrument with a huge sound: the Fender electric guitar.

Fender guitar-makers take arts and crafts to a whole new level. First, Fender luthiers decide what shape their guitars will be. Next they pick the kind of wood they’d like to use. Then they draw the guitar shape onto the lumber. After that comes some carving and gluing. Next luthiers add the guitar’s neck and frets. They add electronics, which attach to sound amplifiers and make their guitars loud. Those are just a few of the big steps! Many other small steps must be taken in between.

Can you imagine trying to do all that without an instruction book? You’d have to be a real pro! Good guitars like Fenders each have a recipe that must be followed. Otherwise, the guitars won’t sound quite right. They might not even work at all!

Are you interested in becoming a real luthier? Make sure you get a good plan and a recipe for success.