Count Your Blessings

As Guitarist magazine celebrates its 500th issue, Alex Bishop approaches the completion of his 50th hand-built guitar

- Alex Bishop

Guitar making is a world of repetition: whether it's buffing out frets, French polishing the soundboard, or fine-tuning nut slots, lutherie offers plenty of opportunities to meditate and reflect. So it came to me - prompted by the realisation that Guitarist was nearing the publication of its 500th issue - that I was approaching a milestone of my own. The guitar I am currently building is (depending on how you count it) my 50th hand-built acoustic guitar.

"Almost all of the significant developments in guitar design originated in low-output ateliers, so I feel we have a duty to continue the tradition"