Chris Alvarado has made a name for himself playing guitar and singing around South Walton for years now, but it’s his hand-crafted guitars that have earned him national attention as of late.

Alvarado was recently a recipient of Garden & Gun Magazine’s Made in the South Awards. In a studio in Freeport, just about 15 minutes north of Santa Rosa Beach, Alvarado has been quietly fashioning one-of-a-kind guitars for clients who get to customize everything — from the wood finishes to each instrument’s unique sound.

Alvarado also has a recording studio in his new shop. 30A Radio stopped by to get a peek at his process, an interview about the growing interest in his business and even an exclusive performance from his studio.

Check out the video:

Learn more about Alvarado’s guitars at driftwood-guitars.com and his music at chrisalvaradolive.com.