Stand Number: 44
Location: Main Hall
Christopher Bonham is an Australian luthier whose instruments embody a lifetime of craftsmanship, heritage timber, and musical soul. Based in Goulburn, NSW, Bonham Guitars builds electric guitars by hand using reclaimed and historic timbers — from century-old pianos to rare architectural timbers — shaping each instrument with traditional techniques, French-polished finishes, and meticulously voiced, hand-wound pickups.
Chris’ professional foundation is unusually deep and rare in the world of modern guitar making. He holds a Certificate IV in Fine Woodworking (Sturt School for Wood, 1996 under Tom Harrington) and a Certificate III trade qualification in French Polishing, later running a successful business in antique restoration and commissioned fine furniture. Decades spent restoring heirloom pieces taught him how timber ages, resonates, and reveals character over time — knowledge that translates directly into the responsive, harmonically rich guitars he builds today.
Every Christopher Bonham guitar begins with the story of the wood. Using only reclaimed or historically significant timber, Chris shapes each instrument to preserve the life already embedded in the material. His finishes are hand-applied, his pickups are wound to complement the voice of each guitar — craftsman’s intuition, and a deep respect for traditional methods.
#acoustic #australianmade
