2003 Jean-Noel Rohe SP/IN

This guitar was built the year before Jean-Noël Rohé won the top prize at the "Un des Meilleurs Ouvriers de France" competition in 2004 and demonstrates Rohé's early command of his craft. The sound of the guitar is incredible, plenty of power and a quick, immediacy to each note with a plump, rich sound drenched in controlled overtones. This unique sound has great style, all who hear and play are won over by its charm. Some notable differences in this guitar from his current work include a rosette that was very inspired by Romanillos, with the Mosque arches perfectly constructed. Rohe would eventually switch to doing his well-known mosaic rosettes afterward. The bracing is a modified Torres-inspired system with 7 fans and long, thin bridge patch. Condition of the guitar is excellent with no damage or repairs, only some modest wear in the finish from regular use over the past 2 decades.

Rohé likes to compare the making of a guitar to wine-making, in that the vintner's personality is present in the final product in much the same way as the luthier's does. Grape varieties and scents blend in the similar fashion as do wooden framework and sound structure. One can appreciate the tonal qualities of the note as one can appreciate the complex taste of a particular wine. For the connoisseur of fine guitars, this maker's work does for the ears what the finest wines do the palates of the most discriminating wine aficionados.

Orfeo Magazine #7 - French School Luthiery

Based in Strasbourg, France, Jean-Noël Rohé is considered to be the top French maker of his generation - not just by all those who see and play his instruments, but also by none other than the late Daniel Friederich and Dominique Field, who were among his most avid early supporters. We are delighted to represent this fine maker exclusively in the USA - bringing in one guitar per year, particularly since his private wait-list is now 8 years.