Alejandro 1987 Concert Guitar

The Legacy of Alex van der Horst (Alejandro)

Alex van der Horst, known as Alejandro (1959–2009), was a highly respected Dutch luthier who built guitars in Málaga, Spain. While not widely known in the U.S., he was regarded as one of the most promising European luthiers of his time.

According to Otto Vowinkel (https://ottovowinkel.com/), who worked with him regularly:
“Alex’s ideal guitar has a flexible tone, great projection, and quick response. His guitars are very well built and offer the player endless tonal possibilities.”

Unfortunately, due to illness, Alex stopped building in 2008, and he passed away in September 2009.

A Personal Connection to Alejandro Guitars

I first met Alex in Sweden in 1986, while attending Ingesund College of Music. He visited to showcase his guitars to our professors, Gunnar Lif and Ove Walter. The moment I played one of his guitars, I knew I had to own one. One year later, in 1987, he delivered my Alejandro Classical India.

A few years later, while I was living in Stockholm, Alex reached out with an unusual request—he wanted to borrow my guitar! He claimed he had done something different when building it, which made it sound exceptional… but he couldn’t remember what it was!

Alex kept my guitar for precisely nine days and five hours. When he returned it, he thanked me sincerely, and we shared a bottle of red wine (his favorite), talking for hours in my small one-bedroom apartment. He never revealed what he had discovered about my guitar, but that night remains a cherished memory.

The Spirit of Alex van der Horst

Alex had a bold, passionate, and eccentric personality. With wild dark curls, a heavy Dutch accent, and boisterous laughter, he was truly one of a kind.

He used to say:
“The classical and flamenco guitar has no amplification. I need to build a guitar that projects in any room while maintaining balance, sweetness, and warmth.”

Though he wasn’t a concertmaster, his playing reflected his warm and charismatic spirit. Whenever someone picked up a guitar, he would enthusiastically yell:
“Play louder, louder—I want to hear the guitar!”

Alex was a true innovator of his era, a luthier whose passion for guitars, music, and life was as unforgettable as the instruments he created.