Nicolas Lamoureux (born 1980) is a French classical guitar maker based in the Corrèze region of central France, and winner of second prize for classical guitar at the 2026 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain.
At a Glance
- Born: Paris, France, 1980
- Workshop: Corrèze, France (since 2017)
- Studied: classical guitar at the Conservatoire de Nancy
- Encouraged by: Dominique Field and Thomas Norwood
- Tradition: the French school of Robert Bouchet, Daniel Friederich and Dominique Field, and the 19th-century Parisian maker René Lacote
- Builds: his own concert model, plus faithful replicas of historical instruments
- Award: Second Prize, classical guitar, ninth Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition (2026)
A Classical Guitarist and 3D Artist
Born in Paris in 1980, Nicolas Lamoureux studied classical guitar at the Conservatoire de Nancy in the late 1990s. A strong interest in form and visual design then took him into architecture and computer-generated imagery. For a decade he worked in Paris as a 3D artist in animated film, advertising, and architectural visualization, and that training in precision and proportion would later shape his approach to the guitar.
From a Paris Living Room to a Workshop in Corrèze
During those years his love of the guitar returned. He listened closely to recordings, went to concerts, talked with collectors, and read the specialized literature, all while studying how the great masters built their instruments and trying to understand what gives each of them its sound. Out of curiosity and a taste for a challenge, he built his first guitar in his Paris living room. The result was a revelation. With encouragement and guidance from respected luthiers Dominique Field and Thomas Norwood, Nicolas decided to devote himself to lutherie full-time. In 2017 he left Paris and set up his workshop in the Corrèze region of central France.
Rooted in the French Tradition
Today Nicolas builds his own concert guitar model alongside faithful replicas of historical instruments. His work is firmly rooted in the French tradition, drawing on the legacies of Robert Bouchet, Daniel Friederich, and Dominique Field, as well as the Romantic-era guitars of the 19th-century Parisian maker René Lacote. His instruments combine a designer's eye with a deep respect for the French school.
The Lamoureux Concert Model
In his concert model, Nicolas blends the modern French school of Dominique Field with the Romantic-era Parisian tradition of Lacote. He pairs a sturdy, rigid body with a free, flexible soundboard – the approach behind so many of Field's finest instruments – so that very little energy is wasted and the top works very efficiently. The result is a guitar with impressive power, a wide dynamic range, and a plump, creamy richness in the true French-school manner. Even the decoration pays tribute to his Parisian roots: his rosettes have featured a band of tiny Eiffel Towers in place of the traditional arches.
Prize Winner in Granada
In 2026, Nicolas won second prize for classical guitar at the prestigious ninth Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Nicolas Lamoureux build his guitars? In his workshop in the Corrèze region of central France, where he moved from Paris in 2017.
What awards has Nicolas Lamoureux won? Second prize for classical guitar at the 2026 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain.
What style of guitar does Nicolas Lamoureux make? French-school classical guitars, in the tradition of Robert Bouchet, Daniel Friederich, Dominique Field and René Lacote. He builds his own concert model as well as faithful replicas of historical instruments.
How did Nicolas Lamoureux become a luthier? After studying classical guitar and spending a decade as a 3D artist in Paris, he built his first guitar in his living room. Encouraged by Dominique Field and Thomas Norwood, he then took up lutherie full-time.
