2012 John Weissenrieder "1950 Bouchet" SP/CSAR

A 2012 "1950 Bouchet" classical guitar by John Weissenrieder, with a spruce top and CSA rosewood back and sides, made in Florence – inspired by a 1950 Robert Bouchet John was able to examine while building it.

Built Beside an Original 1950 Bouchet

Structurally an extremely accurate copy of a 1960s Bouchet, this guitar took a new turn when John had the chance to inspect – and possibly do some restoration work on – a Bouchet made in 1950 (see the photo of John with the original and this guitar). He was so taken with the understated elegance of its rosette that he borrowed it for this guitar.

Sound and Playability

The materials are of very high quality, with Alessi tuners. In the spirit of Bouchet, the sound has seemingly endless sustain and a creamy, warm yet focused tone, well balanced and powerful enough for any concert hall, with a graceful, easy neck.

John Weissenrieder: From Champion Cyclist to Florentine Guitar Maker

John Weissenrieder (1964–2017) was an American guitar maker who built his guitars in Florence, Italy. Born in Pennsylvania and later based in Boulder, Colorado, he grew up around woodworking – his father was a gifted amateur woodworker and his grandfather, who had emigrated from Switzerland, a machinist and furniture maker. He took up road cycling at 14, rode for the US Junior National Team, and became a professional mountain-bike racer, retiring in 1996 at 32. He also studied architecture for two years, and built a bouzouki with George Diamesis on the Greek island of Poros.

Apprenticeship with Andrea Tacchi and His Homages to Garcia, Simplicio and Bouchet

In September 1998 he arrived in Florence and began working with Andrea Tacchi, who became his teacher and friend. Together they studied the great makers of the past – a 1999 visit to the Barcelona music museum with Stefano Grondona, Simplicio copies, wood-buying trips in the Alps – and after a few more years in Tacchi's workshop John opened his own in Florence. He became best known for his guitars in homage to Enrique García, Francisco Simplicio and, above all, Robert Bouchet: faithful in spirit to their models, yet with a sound and look of his own. He died in 2017; read Andrea Tacchi's memories of John on our blog.