a Luthier is someone that makes or repairs stringed instruments. This includes guitars, violins, cellos and all those type of instruments. The name comes from the French word for lute which is luth. My son is a guitarist. He has an assortment of them and just recently spent over two hundred dollars on these things called pick-ups. They change the sound of the instrument or so I’ve been told. He’s very picky about his instruments and had a professional install these pick-ups. Most people who fix or make these instruments here in the USA call themselves guitar or violin makers, but I like the sound of the technical term myself.
There are two types of luthiers: ones that make stringed instruments that are plucked or strummed and ones that make stringed instruments that are bowed. The ones that make the bowed instruments also sometimes craft the bows as well.
My son is a strummer and I was a bow-er. I played violin when I was in school. The kiddo wants me to have my bow re-strung for him and I guess I will. I really enjoy all kinds of music (except country) and I’d like to see him take a try at the old violin. I believe he could do it.
Jillian Chantal 
I’ve attempted to learn to play bass. I played a flute in elementary school, a tuba in high school into college, and then learned piano. I always wanted to learn a string instrument and a guitar seemed easier to learn than a violin or cello (two of the instruments I adore!). I think your son can do it. He already has the know-how of working with string instruments, so a violin should be a nice challenge for him.
By: danicaavet on January 21, 2011
at 7:45 am
wow! you’re multi talented!!
By: Jillian Chantal on January 21, 2011
at 8:20 am
*snorts* Er, no…not really. I can play, but I wasn’t very good. I have very musical family members and compared to them, I may as well have played Mary Had A Little Lamb 😉 But I enjoyed it when I did it, which I suppose is all that matters, lol
By: danicaavet on January 21, 2011
at 9:03 am
yea- it’s all that matters- fun!
By: Jillian Chantal on January 21, 2011
at 9:17 am
Danica, I also played the flute. 🙂
Jillian, just the other day my eldest son spoke about this for his guitar. LOL.
My middle son asked for violin lessons. I have one headbanger and one classical in the house.
By: Ciara Knight on January 21, 2011
at 1:40 pm
I love that about your sons! Opposites! And it’s funny how sometimes you hear something for the first time and then hear it again just a few days later.
By: Jillian Chantal on January 21, 2011
at 1:54 pm