How has luthiering affected your everyday life?

[Matthew Lau]

I was scaling some teeth today, when I was thinking about how guitar building has changed the way I do/see things.
For example, I dropped by Woodcraft on the way back from work.
I bumped into Michi, and bought some Brazilian rosewood for $3.75. It was a good day.

Good:
+Vastly improved dexterity
+Much higher standards for *all* my work...especially finishing fillings, crowns, etc due to french polish.
+An appreciation for good craftsmanship, especially unseen.
+I can operate blind (almost), semi ambidextrously...thanks to guitar repair.
+I can really relate well with most trademen that I meet: plumbers, mechanics, contractors, etc.

Bad:
+I tend to hoard wood. It's a bit obsessive really.
+I always hit the scrap bin at the woodshop... I'm a closet wood addict.
+I'm not satisfied with a crappy guitar/ukulele/banjo.
+Perfectionist/obsessive tendencies increased 1000%...slowing me down...too many projects still left.
+I have nice tools that I rarely have time to use...and a continual desire to buy more.

Quirky/Neutral:
+I tap every piece of wood that I pick up and check for grain.
+I *flex* everything that I buy--including laptops--this is a big reason why I bought a macbook air.
+An obsession with sharp pointy things and ergonomics (dental tools, pens, etc).

How about you guys?

[Jim Ashby]

The main one is that I have a semi-bald left forearm. 'If it don't shave, it ain't sharp'. Not just tools like chisels, violin knives plane irons etc but also to kitchen knives. I have one relative (who shall remain nameless) who won't use my kitchen knives as they are 'too sharp'!

[Dick Hutchings]

Can't walk through Home Depot without checking their maple selection for some nice figure.

[Chuck Tweedy]

Really?

[Dick Hutchings]

It happens!

[Brad Heinzen]

Wood collecting is it for me too. I can't demo anything without checking to see if there's something worth scavenging. Potential stock for necks, braces, tops, whatever - it all gets inspected, flexed, tapped, and if it looks like it might be useful, it gets milled and added to the stash. That's also why I have a uke hanging in my garage that's built from an old doug fir floor joist, a redwood pergola beam, and some walnut scraps. It's even got a rust-ringed 16d nail hole in the head stock for character. There's nothing like a ukelele break when you've been standing at the workbench for too long.

I also no longer have any interest in buying guitars (except for that hollow body I've always wanted). I just add whatever I want to the list, and sneak it in when I get a chance. Finding hiding places around the house is a bit of a problem. Every once in a while my wife asks, 'Exactly HOW MANY guitars do you have? Are any of these getting SOLD soon?!'

[Matthew Lau]

Brad,

Your stock of old-growth mahogany is truly glorious stuff.
Frankly, I can't think of any factory builder that can match your stuff.

Have you thought of building an arch top?

I have some nice air dried cedar and walnut that may work well.

[Jason Rodgers]

I'm addicted to this damn forum.

[Pat Foster]

For me, a more relevant question might be, "How has luthiering affected your bank account?"

Pat

[Long Vu]

[quote="Pat Foster"]For me, a more relevant question might be, "How has luthiering affected your bank account?"

Pat[/quote

You just hit the nail on the head.

[Michael Lewis]

It's paid my bills for most of the last 33 years. It took me to far places (Montreal, Nashville, Minneapolis, Healdsburg, Los Angeles), and introduced me to many new friends from all over the world.

[Mark Swanson]

We need a "like" button here!

[Matthew Lau]

Mark,
I generally find luthiers to be all-around nice people (with notably few exceptions).
We tend to be a bit idealistic and emotional, but very precise and concrete...a bit of a strange combination.
Most people have one or the other.

Personally, I think that luthier's are good people--but of course, I'm biased. :p

-Matt