Hilson Custom Guitars
Hand-made guitars from the desert mountains of New Mexico
About Us
At just 18, Steve Hilson embarked on a journey into the world of woodworking, beginning as a picture framer at Gold Leaf Framemakers in Santa Fe, NM. Learning the art of picture framing, Steve honed his skills in wood carving, joinery, spraying/finishing techniques, and fell in love with the art of hand tool woodworking.
While working as a framer, Steve also pursued his passion for music, becoming a touring musician at the age of 20. Steve graduated from Musicians Institute in 2011, and spent several years working at a record label in Los Angeles, CA. After returning to New Mexico, Steve began building instruments in 2020.
Hilson Custom Guitars are meticulously handcrafted, tailored to each player’s unique style and preferences, ensuring a perfect fit and unparalleled sound quality. Contact us today to start designing your dream guitar, crafted to your exact specifications.
Custom Builds
24 Fret Ash/Quilted Maple SG
24.75″ Scale, Glow in the dark side dots, mother of pearl and sterling silver inlays with hand turned ebony knobs.
T-Style – Steve’s Personal Guitar
24 fret, double humbucker, 25″ scale, aluminum circle side dot markers, Hilson Custom accent carving, ash grain filler.
Any Style, Exotic Hard Woods
Purple Heart, Walnut, Birdseye Maple, Ebony, Ash, Sapele, Eucalyptus, etc. You name it, we’ll machine it.
Got questions?
Feel free to reach out.