
Jason Petty, a Brooklyn-based Luthier (yes, that's the real title of a "lute-maker") takes us on a tour of his music-makin studio. This 4 minute wonder is a nugget of one of the oldest crafts around. Take a look after the jump for some close-up stills of the space.
The Video
The Photos

The tape(s)
"Got all these dispensers from my neighbor. He makes organs. They go through a lot of tape. Each of these weigh at least 1 lb. All solid, cast metal. Gives the tape a nice permanence."

The phone
"Yeah, I've got a Razor. It was free with my Verizon phone plan. The buttons are terrible. I don't care. It rings."

The view
"Ha! That's a car graveyard across the way -- they are run by the Italian Mafia. Don't even want to know what happens in those lots..."

The lamp
"These are David Weeks' lamps. We have a few mutual friends in common. My wife is an art historian who specializes in lighting design. She picked these out."

The trash
"I love seltzer. With lime. I go through a case every two days."

The bathroom
"Oh! You weren't supposed to photograph that!"

The entrance
"This building is actually the site of one of the oldest ASPCA's of New York! It was built by a wealthy billionaire whose wife was an animal lover. She hated seeing old horses beat to death when they couldn't work anymore so she convinced her husband that there needed to be a sanctuary for these animals. Today, all the animals are gone, but there's this one cat that hangs out...he's like a ghost. White as can be..."
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Comments
Luthiers don't just make lutes. A luthier is a maker of any stringed instrument.
What's with the country music at the end? I would have love to hear a sound of one of his instruments instead.
Did anyone say Luthiers only make lutes? Loved seeing you in action Jason!
Great to find out a little bit about such a rare artform, Jason. Hope I get to see even more one day. Wishing you and your family all the best!