Our hand-selected luthiers for the Winter 2025 High Desert Luthiery Invitational at Rio Bravo Brewing in Albuquerque

  • Unga Guitars

    Perry Vasquez

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    I have been a luthier for 25 years and design and build guitars, basses, and other unique stringed instruments. I like to take the wants and needs of the player and use my experience as a luthier to create a tool that works specifically for them.

    I have a preference for thin, almost bare-wood finishes. I feel this approach lets the player connect with the instrument with more grace and ease. I want to build an instrument the player doesn’t want to put down.

    I also teach luthiery!

    Unga Guitars Website

    Unga Guitars IG

    Unga Guitars FB

    Unga School of Guitar Making FB

    Unga YouTube

  • Peter John Thomas Guitars

    Pete

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    As a life-long lover of music, guitars, and all “mechanical arts” I finally found my way home to the art and creative craft of guitar building.

    As a new builder, I especially love the generosity and community of luthiers - a rare find in a harried world.

    Focus and devotion represent the best of creative humans and instruments made with care become our heirlooms.

    Peter John Thomas Guitars IG

  • Felix Violins

    Julia Felix

    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    My interest in lutherie began in college when I began to make a connection between my love of music and my love of woodworking. After graduating with a degree in Studio Art, I attended North Bennet Street School's Violin Making and Repair program in Boston, Massachusetts, where I learned how to build violins and violas in the traditional Cremonese style.

    In 2019, I returned to my hometown of Santa Fe, New Mexico, and now focus primarily on making new instruments out of my home workshop for violinists and violists around the country.

    In addition to being a violin maker, I have a 5-year-old son, a 10-year-old pomeranian, play classical guitar, organize socials for the Women in Lutherie Facebook Group, and volunteer at my local makerspace, MAKE Santa Fe.

    Felix Violins IG

    Felix Violins FB

    Felix Violins Patreon

    Felix Violins YouTube

    High Desert Luthiery Podcast Interview

  • Quantars

    Quanah Lee

    Santa Fe, New Mexico

    A one-man-shop building custom, handmade electric guitars and basses in the little hills of New Mexico.

    Quantars Website

    Quantars IG

    Quantars FB

  • Goateed Skull Guitars

    Pat Hepburn

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    Goateed Skull Guitars is my creative outlet to make instruments that I see in my head.

    I have been an artist and musician all my life. I take all my learned knowledge plus my imagination to create one-of-a-kind instruments.

    If I have an idea that hasn’t been tried, I go for it!

    I hope you enjoy my craziness and have fun with my builds!

    Goateed Skull Guitars IG

  • DNA Designs

    Daniel Alchin

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    I am originally from a small farming town in South Africa and have spent the last 18 years sailing the oceans. I built my first guitar in 2017 while working as a carpenter on a private yacht. Since then, I have built several different instruments and love building something new.

    I am self-taught and currently consider myself to be an amateur luthier. I have taken to building a series of cigar box instruments since relocating to New Mexico earlier this year.

    I try to incorporate reclaimed materials into my builds whenever possible, enjoying both the challenge and the distinctive beauty they bring to each instrument.

    DNA Designs IG

  • Wilson Burnham Guitars

    Wilson Burnham

    Peñasco, New Mexico

    I build classical guitars in a small studio near Taos, New Mexico. 

    I only use hand tools and high quality woods to make my guitars. This allows me to make a guitar that has a true singing voice with robust projection capable of producing a large range of tonal colors and nuances.

    As a classical guitar player myself, I know the joy of playing a truly wonderful guitar—one that sings, is responsive to your playing style, with a voice that reaches the last row of seats in a recital or concert hall, and most of all, a guitar that you fall in love with so much you never want to stop playing it. That is the kind of guitar that I make.

    I am an official sponsor of Twisted Spruce Music Foundation. This foundation brings together composers and classical guitarists to collaborate on creating a 21st century repertoire for the classical guitar.

    Wilson Burnham Guitars Website

    Wilson Burnham IG

    Wilson Burnham Luthier Bench Store

    Wilson’s Substack

  • Stolen Guitar Company

    Robert Weber

    Albuquerque, New Mexico

    I have been playing guitar since 1970. In 2018, my business Stolen Guitar Company grew from my love of guitars. 

    I’m passionate about creating custom, one-of-a-kind musical instruments with a soul.  Every instrument is carefully hand crafted, creating unique and functional art. Each guitar is individually named and numbered—no two are alike.

    I work with you to make you a guitar that you will be happy to play and display for years to come. I truly believe my guitars are works of art! 

    Stolen Guitar Company Website

    Stolen Guitar Company IG

  • Dimensional Guitars

    Daniel

    Phoenix, Arizona

    Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Dimensional Guitar Lab specializes in precision-crafted instruments where contemporary design meets traditional craftsmanship.

    Our mission is to create guitars that challenge convention, inspire imagination and awaken creativity.

    Dimensional Guitars IG