An instrument maker may be responsible for repairing musical instruments, such as the organ.
The duties of an instrument maker depend largely on the types of instruments they make, although these responsibilities are generally divided into roles for musical instrument makers or technical instrument makers. Musical instruments are designed and built by an experienced instrument maker who physically builds an instrument for general use or to a musician’s specific standards. A person who makes technical instruments, on the other hand, often works with scientists, engineers, and technicians to create a variety of tools to help them with a number of specific needs.
Instrument makers often have experience playing the instrument they build.
One of the most common types of instrument maker is one who builds and repairs musical instruments. Building is usually about developing a basic instrument that can be used by many different musicians, or getting input from a particular musician to make an instrument specifically for them. An instrument maker uses this information to build an instrument, usually by cutting and shaping pieces of wood, metal, and other materials. Depending on the type of instrument, the maker may need to string it, drill holes, or prepare it to create music.
An instrument maker is also usually responsible for repairing musical instruments. The tasks required to repair an instrument may vary slightly depending on the damage or problem with the instrument. Many of these tasks are similar to construction, however cutting and installing new parts is quite common. After construction or repair, the maker usually tunes the instrument and plays it to ensure it is ready for use.
Someone who designs mechanical or technical instruments, however, is responsible for similar tasks but for very different purposes. An instrument maker typically works with technical professionals like engineers and scientists to understand the types of instruments they need for various tasks. If such instruments do not already exist, the instrument manufacturer designs an instrument to make the task easier or help in the technical field.
This usually involves taking measurements and designing an instrument to meet specific needs. So the manufacture of a technical instrument can be done using metal, glass, electrical components and a multitude of other materials depending on the nature of the instrument. An instrument manufacturer then tests the instrument to ensure it is effective, reliable, and accurate for whatever task it was designed for. Reliability can be crucial as instrument failure can lead to loss of research data, while accuracy ensures that the data collected with the instrument is usable and accurate.