Cats With Thumbs Productions presents

Luthier’s Bench

A little order.
A lot more craft.

The care goes into the instrument.
The details belong on the Bench.

A home for your repair jobs, measurements, photos, parts, and time—made for the way a guitar workshop works.

Luthier’s Bench badge: an ivory L and B forming a guitar, framed in brassBuilt with care. For people who build with care.
From the first inspection to the final setup.Windows & Intel Mac · iPad beta in development

01 / A place for every detail

Less paperwork.
More time at the bench.

A serial number on a scrap of paper. Before photos on a phone. A pickup reading you meant to write down. Luthier’s Bench brings the story of each instrument together, so the next step is easier to find.

The job, at a glance.

Actual desktop interface · fictional sample job
Luthier’s Bench / Repair job
Luthier’s Bench desktop job screen showing a fictional instrument, work details and pickup tests

Familiar workshop details, in one place. No spreadsheet archaeology required.

01

Know what came in.

Keep a customer’s contact details alongside the instrument’s make, model, year, serial number, and reported issue. Find returning customers without entering everything again.

Customers · Instruments · Intake
02

Measure. Repair. Remember.

Record setup measurements and neck, middle, and bridge pickup readings before and after repair. Keep “open circuit” and “no reading” distinct from an actual resistance value.

Setup specifications · Pickup tests · Work notes
03

Keep the whole story.

Bring before-and-after photos, parts used, and tracked time into the job. Archive completed work, revisit its history, and export a PDF with instrument photos when you need a record.

Photos · Inventory · Timers · Archives · PDFs

The details make the difference

Some readings
are worth keeping.

A vintage instrument can have a long history. Keep the observations that help you decide what comes next—from the first resistance check to the reading after a rewind.

Example readings below illustrate record keeping, not diagnostic advice.

Pickup testsSample job / electric guitar
Illustrative pickup resistance readings before and after repair
PositionIntakeAfter repair
Neck6.5 kΩ6.5 kΩ
MiddleNot fitted—
BridgeOpen circuit7.2 kΩ
Workshop note

Bridge pickup rewound. Readings taken with pickups disconnected.

Made for a working workshop

Your tools.
Your records.
Your Bench.

Works offline

The standalone desktop app keeps records on the computer. Your workshop doesn’t need a running web service to get through a repair.

A backup you can keep

Export a backup ZIP with your database and photos. Save a copy before changing computers, and keep important records outside the app too.

Warmth, with a purpose

Walnut grain, ebony controls, and an inlaid guitar mark. A digital workspace that feels at home beside hand tools and tonewoods.

02 / Taking shape at the bench

A working app.
A little more testing.

Luthier’s Bench is in private testing. We’re refining it with workshop feedback before a public release.

Windows desktop

Standalone beta

In private testing

Intel Mac

Signed & notarized beta

In private testing

iPad

Native offline beta

Device testing still ahead

Public download links and release details will be added here when they’re ready. The iPad beta is still catching up with the desktop feature set.

A few good questions.

Can I download it today?

Not publicly yet. Luthier’s Bench is being tested privately on desktop, with an iPad beta in development. Email Joe below if you’d like to hear about testing opportunities and release plans.

Does it sync between devices?

Not at this stage. Each installation keeps its own local records. Backups help you keep a copy of your work; automatic cross-device sync is not currently included.

Can I keep photos with a job?

Yes. The desktop app supports before, after, and other job photos, with a cover image for the job list. Job records can also be exported to PDF with the photos included.

Who is making it?

Luthier’s Bench is an independent app by Joe Whyte, under Cats With Thumbs Productions. It’s being shaped with feedback from a working luthier.

Pull up a stool

Want a place at the Bench?

Have a workshop, a suggestion, or an interest in testing? Say hello.

Email Joe