If I must ascribe a meaning to the word craftsmanship, I shall say as a first approximation that it means simply workmanship using any kind of technique or apparatus, in which the quality of the result is not predetermined, but depends on the judgement, dexterity and care which the maker exercises as he works. The essential idea is that the quality of the result is continually at risk during the process of making; and so I shall call this kind of workmanship ‘The workmanship of risk’: an uncouth phrase, but at least descriptive. ~ David Pye
Good guitars come from good places. I believe that. A wood shop with good tools, good light and space to work safely and efficiently, makes for happy luthiers. And happy luthiers make good guitars.
While mine is a one-man operation and I do all the work on the guitars I make myself, I have a climate-controlled bench room in a larger shop space that I share with fellow luthier Ray Kraut. Through this arrangement Ray and I have been able to set up in a larger space than either of us could manage alone and have all the benefits of luxuries like two bandsaws, two jointers, two drill presses, etc. while maintaining our own independent bench rooms. We each have our own techniques and methods, and this arrangement allows us to keep that independence without hampering one-another’s work flow.