A Legend.
2005 was the year I picked up guitar. By 2006, I had already become a full-fledged “gearhead”, however at the then age of only 16, boutique guitars were much more a distant dream than a remote possibility. Still, it was at that age that I first happened upon the work of a certain Mr. Michael Stevens (or “MS”, as he’s known by his amigos) of Alpine, Texas- I have been completely obsessed ever since.
Michael founded the Fender Custom Shop back in 1986, but that wasn’t before first accruing nearly two decades of experience as a luthier at Guitar Resurrection, first in Oakland, CA (after concluding his studies at Berkeley), and then at the Austin location. Oh, there was also a few year stint training Arabian show horses somewhere in there- a legitimate candidate for the real-life The Most Interesting Man in the World, perhaps?
In 1990, after only a few short years in Southern California, Michael and his wife, Alice, looked to settle in Big Bend Country, in the small and relatively unknown town of Alpine, a ca. 30-minute drive east of Marfa, where Alice had worked extensively with famed American minimalist artist, Donald Judd.
From then on, Michael has continued to craft arguably the finest solidbody electric guitars of the modern era out of his West Texas base. Michael’s builds notably feature his unique, almost abstract, takes on familiar and timeless silhouettes, as well as some complete originals (i.e. his “Guit-Steel” model, devised for Junior Brown), while also boasting a level of attention to detail not seen elsewhere, and utilizing some of the rarest, most exotic, woods ever available for use in guitar-making. It is worth noting that Michael’s extensive experience as a repair technician has seen him inside of more 1950’s Korina wood Gibson’s and other high-value instruments than most living luthiers, and his instruments are highly desired by collectors and name players around the globe.
Ordering a Stevens instrument is not for the faint of heart, and is a multi-year undertaking relying on close collaboration with the man himself, as well as a healthy dollop of patience. On the other side of the not-insignificant wait (or cost), however, you will be rewarded by a creation like no other, a true original, crafted by the hands and eyes of one of our planets apex luthiers.
I count myself extremely fortunate to have come into a few of Michael’s creations on the second-hand market, privately, via a combination of relentless hounding and cold-calling/e-mailing folks all around the globe, as well as harbouring connections, and just sheer dumb luck. Australia, Utah, Nevada, New Hampshire… England, almost (ha!). Soon I will also be the custodian of one of my very own custom Stevens builds- beyond exciting.
After several years of talking about making the trek down to Stevens HQ, my dear friend Lance and I would finally up and embark on the painstaking mission, having the pressure of his (Lance’s) forever move to Japan rapidly nearing. The mission saw me fly across international borders from Toronto down to Atlanta, where I had to fetch a connection to El Paso (because there are no direct flights there from Toronto, where I live). Lance got caught up in an almost literal whirlwind, circumnavigating the lower-48 avoiding hurricanes, before finally being rerouted on a late-night flight into sweltering high-summer El Paso. The next day we ventured on in our black Ram pickup truck about four hours into The High Desert of West Texas. Once we arrived in Alpine, it was then a further 20 or so minutes down the winding 118 before we’d arrive at the Stevens compound, which you’d really have to know where it is to find it (4x4 strongly recommended). I’ll attach a hand-drawn map MS had sent us, so as to not get lost, below somewhere.
The following are a collection of images (with brief accompanying texts) I snapped during our few days together with MS, the bonafide living luthier legend extraordinaire. A trip I shall not soon forget.
Stevens Guitars Facebook (features thorough collection of MS’ builds)
MS proudly posing in his workshop with his beloved 1930’s Gibson Roy Smeck model acoustic guitar.
MS gazing out at the West Texas desert from his veranda.
Hangin’ out upstairs.
Out on the veranda.
MS poses with unfinished “LJ” body in his shop.
Closeup.
Candid.
MS and Ayeden with Stevens HQ in the background.
Da Map!
If you’ve made it this far, here’s your reward; a hand-drawn and highly-detailed map illustrating how to get to Stevens HQ.
Also, you will find some bonus stills snapped by Dear Lance (he is much more detail-oriented than I) here.
I hope you enjoyed this little photo montage of our trip, and that you someday get to experience one of MS’ fine builds!
Electric Avenue Guitar blog/profile entry #1 officially in the books.
