Though I have no formal training, my brother was once a pretty good luthier. He was schooled in Phoenix, and actually built some lovely instruments before addiction got the better of him. I have to say, I learned a great deal from him, and it has been invaluable to me.
If put to the task, I could probably build a guitar or bass myself, given lots of time, a bit of experimentation, and the proper tools. My brother taught me a bit about everything but the wiring thereof. This is something I have since found out was not his strong suit to begin with, so I am rather glad he didn't try to educate me about it. I have since taught myself to patch bad cables when needed, but beyond that, I am electronically clueless.
The project I hope to finish one day, however, does not require wiring, so I should eventually be able to bring it to fruition. What I am endeavoring to create is a Bass Lute, or Sitar. It will probably have elements of both. All that is really holding me back on this project is finding an enormous gourd for the back of the body, and a sturdy piece of bamboo with a rather large diameter.
The front of the body is already more or less complete. I carved it from an old acoustic top with "F" holes, and hand painted it. It started as a simple lute, or "teardrop" shape, but I have since carved it into the shape of a skull, and it hangs in my work room as a decoration at the moment. I even used it as an ornamental piece one year at Kersey Valley Spookywoods, the haunted house where I work.
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