Instrument Maker
Musical instrument makers not only build musical instruments, but also restore, repair, alter or adjust them, using special techniques such as wood carving, goldsmithing and cabinetmaking.
Musical instrument makers manufacture and assemble instrument parts, tune the instruments, attach the strings and install the electrical wiring of the instruments. They also inform their customers about the instrument and its acoustic properties.
Musical instrument makers need to know exactly what people are looking for.
Most musical instrument makers specialize in one instrument, but some specialize in several instruments, usually from the same group, for example, electronic, wind, string or brass.
Where does an instrument maker work?
- Instrument or music shops or factories
- Self-employment, with enough experience and capital, can start their own business or work self-employed, for example as a piano tuner
Instrument Maker: what do they do?
Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects. 95%
Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices. 89%
Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment. 85%
Inspect instruments to locate defects and determine their value or the level of restoration required. 85%
Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using binding wire, lathes, fillers, clamps or soldering irons. 84%
Reassemble instruments after repair, using hand and power tools and glue, hair, thread, resin or clamps, and lubricate instruments as needed. 83%
Compare instrument tones with the tones of tuning tools to tune them. 83%
String instruments, and adjust instrument trusses and bridges to obtain specified string tensions and heights. 80%
Repair or replace parts and components of musical instruments, such as strings, bridges, felts and keys, using hand and power tools. 79%
Polish the instruments, using cloths and polishing compounds, polishing discs or polishing tools. 78%