Luthiers - Definition and Overview

A luthier is someone who builds or repairs stringed instruments, ranging from guitars to violins.

Well-known luthiers

Violins, violas, cellos, basses

Italian

• Antonio Stradivari
• the Guarneri family
• the Amati family
• Guadagnini
• Bergonzi

French

• Jean Baptiste Vuillaume and family
• Charles Jean Baptiste Collin-Mezin
• Etienne Vatelot

German

• Leopold Widhalm

American

• Scott Cao
• Brian Skarstad

Swiss

• Johannes Finkel (bows)

Guitars

• John D'Angelico
• James D'Aquisto
• Richard Echeverria
• Leo Fender
• Enrique Garcia
• Orville Gibson
• Santos Hernandez
• Monty Novotny
• Les Paul
• Jose Romanillos
• Paul Reed Smith
• Elmer Stromberg and his father Charles Stromberg
• Antonio Torres

External links

• The history of the violin (http://www.sprengerviolins.com/e/violin_history.htm) - A quick overview about making and history of the violin, including answers to questions such us "Why old master instruments sound so good"
• http://www.frets.com
• Musical Instrument Makers Forum (http://www.mimf.com)
• Project Guitar (http://projectguitar.com/)