ORIGINAL INSTRUMENTS · ALPINE, TEXAS

West Texas
Soul.

A sound all its own.

Original guitars, basses and mandolins from Alpine, Texas, in the Big Bend desert. Crafted by Michael Stevens, a founding builder of the Fender Custom Shop.

Explore the instruments Meet the maker

Stevens Electrical Instruments: electric guitars and basses in a glowing West Texas desert sunset

GUITARS / BASSES / MANDOLINS

Born of tradition.
Built with a mind of its own.

Watch & read interviews ↗

01 / THE INSTRUMENTS

Originals, every one.

Choose a model. Step through its photographs.
Get to know the details that make it a Stevens.

Explore model specifications ↗

Portrait courtesy of Larry Hodge

02 / THE MAKER

A craftsman.
A cowboy.
An original.

Michael Stevens began his career at Guitar Resurrection in Oakland in 1967. His path took him to Austin, to the founding of the Fender Custom Shop with John Page, and then to his own shop in Alpine, Texas.

There is a Western thread running through that story, too. In the 1970s, Michael stepped away from guitar work to train Arabian show horses. His eventual return to West Texas brought his two worlds back together: life in the open country and exacting work at the bench.

Read Michael’s story ↗

History: Michael’s biography · The Fender Years

1967Oakland beginnings

1990A home in Alpine

03 / FROM THE ARCHIVE

A lifetime at the bench.

Instruments, artists and moments from the shop.

Explore a collection

STEVENS PHOTO ARCHIVE

The details tell the story.

Explore original photographs from the Stevens Guitars archive.

Explore collection ↗

A PLACE IN GUITAR HISTORY

From the first days
of the Dream Factory.

Michael’s place in Fender history is more than a footnote. His double-neck Stratocaster/Esquire, bearing serial number 0001, stands at the beginning of the Custom Shop story. Built for Jimmy Wallace, it joined familiar forms in a distinctly unexpected instrument.

Read the story at Fender ↗

In 2017, Fender invited Michael back for its 30th anniversary Founders Design project. His Esquire reflected the same practical imagination: vintage inspiration, carefully considered contours, and a belief that an instrument’s shape should serve the musician.

Explore Fender’s Founders project ↗

04 / THE STEVENS ARCHIVE

More than
an instrument.

Meet the players. Follow the ideas.
Explore the work through the years.

THE PLAYERSIn good company↗THE BACKSTORYA history of original thinking↗NEWS & WORKSHOP ARCHIVENotes from the shop↗

THE STEVENS COLLECTION

Western heritage.
Pieces with a history.

Browse collectible bits, spurs and Western gear from Michael’s collection. Use the fillable forms to ask about the pieces that interest you.

01 / THE CATALOG

For Sale from the Stevens Collection

Photographs, descriptions and listed prices for the collection.

View catalog Download catalog (PDF)

02 / YOUR SELECTIONS

Price list & selections

A four-page fillable list with catalog references, prices and quantity fields.

View price list Download fillable price list (PDF)

03 / GET IN TOUCH

Request & invoice form

Enter your contact details, requested items and questions for Michael.

View request form Download fillable invoice (PDF)

Download a form, fill it out, save your completed copy and attach it to an email to stevensguitars.com@gmail.com. For reliable form filling, use Adobe Acrobat Reader. Prices and availability are confirmed by Michael before payment. Questions? Call (432) 364-2487.

IN CONVERSATION / IN PRINT

Stories behind the strings.

Michael in his own words. Interviews, workshop visits and published profiles from a lifetime of making instruments.

Watch on YouTube

Read & listen

Links open the original publishers in a new tab. The Fretboard Journal entry identifies the print feature; the full story is in Issue 27.

STEVENS ELECTRICAL INSTRUMENTS

Let’s talk instruments.

For instrument inquiries and current availability,
get in touch with Michael directly.

Email Michael ↗

(432) 364-2487 stevensguitars.com@gmail.com

West Texas Soul.