Bastien Burlot is a French classical guitar maker in Aubazine, in the Corrèze, who has built guitars for Roland Dyens and Thomas Viloteau. His "Alkemia" guitars, with rosettes inspired by the cathedrals of Chartres, Strasbourg, Paris and Amiens, join traditional lutherie with symbolism and sacred geometry.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Aubazine, Corrèze, France
- Studied: Guitar at the Conservatory of Lille and with Roland Dyens at the Paris Conservatoire
- Full-time luthier: Since 2009
- Models: "Maestro hf" (side soundhole); "Alkemia" cathedral series
- Players: Roland Dyens, Thomas Viloteau
From the Concert Stage to the Workshop
Bastien started his music education as a guitarist at a very young age, dreaming of becoming a concert player. He studied at the Conservatory of Lille in northern France, and then, after a very difficult entrance exam, joined Roland Dyens' guitar class at the prestigious Paris Conservatoire. There he realized that he didn't feel comfortable on stage all the time, because of performance anxiety. Around then he met a luthier who offered him an internship, and he decided to build his own guitar – though becoming a luthier was certainly not his goal at first. Spending one day a week at it, he finished that first guitar in four months.
He liked the process so much that he made another guitar, this time entirely by himself – and it was not a success at all! Of course Bastien wanted to make a better one, which led to a third, a fourth, a fifth and so on. After the Conservatoire he taught guitar for seven years, building at home in his free time, and in 2009, with around 30 instruments made, he saw his work beginning to bear fruit and became a full-time luthier.
The "Alkemia" Project
At the beginning of his career Bastien worked a great deal on a modern approach to guitar making and was known for guitars with a soundhole in the side. His acoustic research led to his "Maestro hf" model, which he built for eight years. Later he grew fascinated with symbolism and spirituality outside any religious or mystical framework, and his research on symbols led him to the sacred geometry of the French cathedrals – without knowing that it would one day find its way into his guitars.
Wanting to design a new instrument, he studied the masters of the past, such as Torres and Hauser, trying to understand their state of mind, their way of working and their innovations. His "Alkemia" guitars combine his need for innovation with his research into the symbolism and geometry of the cathedrals. All the "Alkemia" guitars dedicated to a particular cathedral share the same label, and while the design is the same for all, the variations are aesthetic. Bastien calls his rosettes "the doors to spirituality"; many carry strong references to the cathedrals, such as stained-glass patterns.
A Player's Guitar with a Traditional Sound
Having studied the guitar for many years, Bastien knows exactly what instrument would be best for him, and he makes every guitar as if it were his own, to the highest standards of ergonomics, playability and comfort. He always wants a traditional sound rather than an imitation of other instruments – many modern guitars, he feels, are powerful but synthetic – balanced in power and projection and even across all registers.
Bastien Burlot in Orfeo Magazine
Orfeo Magazine No. 21 – The New French Generation
Bastien Burlot is one of the young French makers featured in this issue, with Pierre-Alexandre Bellest, Simon Burgun, Thomas Dauge and Bertrand Ligier.
Bastien Burlot Guitars at GSI
Bastien Burlot's "Alkemia" guitars have been coming to us since 2019. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the "Guitars In Museum" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Bastien Burlot?
A French classical guitar maker in Aubazine, Corrèze, who studied guitar with Roland Dyens and has built guitars for Dyens and Thomas Viloteau.
What are Bastien Burlot's "Alkemia" guitars?
A series whose rosettes and labels are inspired by the great French cathedrals – Chartres, Strasbourg, Notre-Dame de Paris and Amiens.
