Cost

How much does string instrument building (luthierie) cost?

$196 buys all 7 essentials.

7 priced items · checked 10 Sept 2026 · retailer prices, we earn a commission

Everything essential, cheapest sensible pick

$196

7 items, nothing rented

Against 247 hobbies

Above median

Dearer than 84% of them. Median hobby: $84.

What each thing costs

Every essential item, cheapest sensible option first. Mid-range and top picks alongside.

Chisel Set essential

mid $90top $194

$49

Spokeshave essential

top $70

$40

Block Plane essential

mid $120top $125

$34

Hand Saw essential

mid $40top $43

$26

Violin Maker's Vise essential

mid $55top $175

$17

Body Clamps essential

mid $165top $736

$16

Fret Slotting Saw essential

mid $111top $111

$14

All 7 essentials

$196

What you need

$196

Everything you need to start string instrument building (luthierie). None of it is a big commitment.

Chisel Set

$49

Chisels are fundamental for paring, cleaning up joints, and shaping wood with high precision.

Narex Bevel Edge Chisel Set with Wooden Handles

mid $90top $194

Hand Saw

$26

Accurate and versatile saws are essential for rough cutting lumber and making precise joinery cuts in instrument building.

STANLEY Hand Saw, 12-Point/Inch, Sharp Tooth, 15-Inch

mid $40top $43

Spokeshave

$40

A spokeshave is crucial for smoothing and shaping curved surfaces like instrument sides and necks.

Stanley 151 Flat-Face Spokeshave

top $70

Violin Maker's Vise

$17

A specialized vise is indispensable for securely holding instrument parts during gluing and assembly.

Taytools Wooden Hand Screw Clamp Vise 10-inch

mid $55top $175

Body Clamps

$16

Securing the instrument body during glue-up requires a variety of specialized clamps.

Jorgensen 3706-HD 6-inch Bar Clamps Set of 6

mid $165top $736

Block Plane

$34

A small, versatile plane ideal for fitting small parts, chamfering edges, and fine adjustments.

Stanley Hand Tools 12-220 7" Adjustable Block Plane

mid $120top $125

Fret Slotting Saw

$14

Accurately cutting fret slots is critical for proper fret placement and intonation.

ZONA 35-050 Ultra Thin Razor Saw

mid $111top $111

Later, if you stay

Not needed to start. These are the upgrades that matter once the habit has stuck.

Radius Gauges

$30

Ensuring consistent fretboard and bracing radiuses is critical for playability and structural integrity.

StewMac Guitar Understring Radius Gauge Set

mid $48top $43

Bracing Template

Bracing Template

$35

Accurate bracing patterns are vital for the instrument's tone and structural integrity.

LMI Guitar Bracing Template Set Martin-Style

mid $65top $148

Soundhole Rosette Saw

Soundhole Rosette Saw

$30

Precisely cutting intricate rosettes requires a specialized tool for decorative soundhole work.

StewMac Dremel Circle Cutter Attachment

mid $70top $123

Purfling Groove Tool

$40

Creating clean channels for purfling inlay requires a specialized tool for precise depth and width control.

LMI Purfling Cutter Adjustable

mid $123top $482

Startup cost · all 247 hobbieslog scale
$1
$84
$1245
$270

String Instrument Building (Luthierie) costs more to start than 84% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median is $84.

Cost questions

How much does String Instrument Building (Luthierie) cost to start?

About $196 for the 7 essential items, taking the cheapest sensible option for each.

What does each thing cost for String Instrument Building (Luthierie)?

Chisel Set: from $49. Spokeshave: from $40. Block Plane: from $34. Hand Saw: from $26. Violin Maker's Vise: from $17. Body Clamps: from $16. Fret Slotting Saw: from $14.

Is String Instrument Building (Luthierie) an expensive hobby?

String Instrument Building (Luthierie) costs about $270 to start, dearer than 84% of the 247 hobbies we price. The median hobby costs $84, so this is one of the pricier ones to get into.

What should I buy first for String Instrument Building (Luthierie)?

chisel set, hand saw, spokeshave, violin maker's vise, body clamps, block plane, fret slotting saw — $196 together. They are the cheap half of the kit and the half you keep whatever you decide about the rest.

Hobbies that cost about the same

The 6 nearest to string instrument building (luthierie) by startup cost, out of 247.

Camping$25 less$245Metal Sculpture$10 less$260Playing Guitar$9 less$261
String Instrument Building (Luthierie)you are here$270
Weightliftingabout the same$270Astronomy$15 more$285Woodworking$26 more$296
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