Our hand-selected luthiers for the Winter 2025 High Desert Luthiery Invitational at Rio Bravo Brewing in Albuquerque
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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!
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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.
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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.
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LEF Custom Guitars
Luis
Corrales, New Mexico
All of my guitars are handmade with attention to detail, using the skills I’ve developed over the past 18 years. With over 200 guitars made, I feel I’ve reached the master-built level.
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Otto Guitars
Doug
Rio Rancho, New Mexico
I work in tech, but in my free time I’m a luthier. I made bespoke electric guitars and pickups in Rio Rancho, New Mexico.
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Monte
Albuquerque, New Mexico
I’ve been building for over 45 years. I specialize in electric guitars and have many satisfied customers.
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Longbow Guitars
John
Albuquerque, New Mexico
We specialize in arch-top, solid bodies and flat-top hollow body electrics and basses.
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Nasty Mammoth Guitars
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Prehistoric guitar maker, forged in the veins of the beast, known only as the Nasty Mammoth, where we create bespoke guitars for my fellow wizard beasts.
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Alan Suits
Santa Fe, New Mexico
I have been fascinated with musical instruments all my life.
I studied sarod briefly, when I was 14, with the greatest master of that instrument, Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. At 18, I travelled to Madras in South India, where I learned the Saraswathi Veena. At 20, I lived in Senegal and studied kora.
During all these pursuits, I realized I loved making the instruments themselves, as much as playing them, and have avidly pursued instrument building, repair and restoration for over 50 years.
Everywhere I’ve lived and worked, I’ve been generously instructed in the often arcane, and always compelling, art and processes of building stringed instruments.
Now, my main focus is building the plucked stringed instruments of the Renaissance - primarily lutes and vihuelas.
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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.
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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.
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Boutique Laboratory Guitars
Tobin
Santa Cruz, California
Each BLG build starts with a question: “how should this one sound?”
That question shapes every step — from wood selection to port placement.
These guitars aren’t copies — they’re conversations.
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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
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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!
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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.
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Misael Herrerra
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Guitar tech and musician serving the greater Albuquerque area.
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Zara Custom Basses
Zara
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Luthier making custom basees.
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Paul Gomez
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Luthier specializing in acoustic guitars.