Bellingham man recounts making guitars for Prince

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) — A Washington state man who made more than two dozen custom guitars for Prince in the 1990s is recalling what that meant to his "little company" following Prince's sudden death last week.


Luthier Andy Beech of Bellingham says he started making guitars for the singer after moving to Los Angeles in the late 1980s and meeting a bass technician who worked for Prince.

He made a total of 31 maple and mahogany guitars for Prince, including the symbol-shaped guitar Prince played during the halftime performance at the 2007 Super Bowl.

Beech says that most people in Prince's situation would take an endorsement deal and play one brand of guitar, but Prince wanted to find unique things.

Beech called the singer's death devastating and said to have someone at that level give him a chance was huge.