2012 Bertrand Ligier SP/IN

This was our first guitar from the young and talented Bertrand Ligier, who builds guitars in the Languedoc region of Southern France. We recently re-acquired this guitar and it is a delight to see and play as it has been played in beautifully for half a decade, and has developed remarkably in its beauty of tone.

Although Bertrand has built with cedar soundboards in the past, he recently made the decision to direct his creative energies exclusively to the use European spruce - this guitar being made with a very fine top from the Swiss alps which is braced with an asymmetrical fan system. It has double sides (the interior layer being of cypress) with a combined thickness of 4.5 mm. The back is designed with a structure composed of five crossed rods. The system of back and sides is thus reinforced, allowing an optimal transfer of energy from the strings to the soundboard and to the neck. This reinforced structure also improves the projection of the instrument, creating deep and sturdy basses, as well as rounded and focused trebles. Most interestingly, the guitar body is built separately from the neck. These two parts are assembled at the end of the process, a method known as "French mounting". The resulting sound is beautifully lyrical, loose and open, even for a new spruce instrument.

The appearance of the guitar is based on Bertrand's studies of the great master guitars of the present and past, and naturally one can see hints of Bouchet in the headstock, Friederich in the plantilla and Field in the rosette, however the total guitar is uniquely Ligier. Tuning machines are Alessi. Although a "used" guitar, it is in excellent condition with barely any signs of wear.

We're very pleased to be working with this fine young maker and this is an impressive concert-level guitar in every regard. We recommend it to players of any level, from the advanced student to accomplished professional.

Orfeo Magazine article on Bertrand Ligier