bogota, Colombia • Polished rosewood and an artist's deft touch are all Colombian craftsman Luis Alberto Paredes needs to turn tools of death into symbols of hope.

One of Colombia's top musical instrument makers, Paredes has branched out from traditional methods to fashion electric guitars from shotguns and AK47 rifles once used by fighters caught up in the country's lingering guerilla conflict.

“This used to hit a target at 800 metres),” Paredes said holding up one of the guitars which still has a Kalashnikov rifle's distinctive, banana-shaped magazine. “Now the target will just depend on the concert stage.”

In a workshop above his modest family home in Bogota, Paredes has created the "escopetarras" -- shotgun guitars in Spanish -- since he was approached by local musician Cesar Lopez with the idea about three years ago.

Colombian rock star Juanes has been given one. So was Argentine singer Fito Paez and Paredes is crafting another for Carlos Vives, the local pop star who has revived the popularity of the Colombian Caribbean rhythm Vallenato.