Over the years I’ve often been asked for advice about how to “get into the business” of either the playing or building of guitars. Despite my reluctance to toss anyone into the hellhole pit that is either of these two endeavors, I do my best to help. That isn’t to imply that building guitars or playing music isn’t satisfying—it most certainly can be. In fact, many of us have built fulfilling and profitable careers in both of these trades, not to mention made lifelong friends. What are you hoping for? Is this going to be your job, with hopes that it won’t seem like drudgery? Do you just like to mess around with gear and wonder what it would be like to do it for pay? Like almost everything in life, it’s the managing of expectations that’s at the heart of the matter.