2016 Bertrand Ligier SP/IN

This 2016 Bertrand Ligier is a classical guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, built in the Languedoc region of southern France, and his 50th instrument.

Bertrand Ligier's 50th Guitar

Although Bertrand had built with cedar soundboards in the past, at this time he had made the decision to direct his creative energies exclusively to the use of European spruce - this guitar being made with a very fine top from the Swiss Alps, braced with an asymmetrical fan system. It has double sides (the interior layer being of Spanish cedar - normally he uses cypress) with a combined thickness of 4.5 mm, and 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.

Hints of Bouchet, Friederich and Field

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 by Klaus Scheller.

This instrument (his 50th to date) fully represents his work of this period and is remarkable for its beauty of tone, quality of build and aesthetic. Although a used guitar, it has only minor wear and is in excellent condition.

Orfeo Magazine article on Bertrand Ligier

Bertrand Ligier and the French School

Based in southern France, Bertrand Ligier is considered one of the best makers of the new French generation. Since we have been working with him, his work has constantly evolved with each guitar to reach higher levels of craftsmanship and musicality that are now internationally recognized. His attention to aesthetics and his keen sense of sound place him in the tradition of the French school that begins with Robert Bouchet, followed by Daniel Friederich, Dominique Field, Jean-Noël Rohé and now Bertrand Ligier. Indeed, both Dominique Field and Jean-Noël Rohé have played an important role for Bertrand through their helpful advice and continuous support of his work for many years.

A Workshop in Connaux, near Avignon

Before turning to the guitar, Bertrand studied art history and then trained as a cabinet-maker, with apprenticeships in the south of France and in Spain. He works in Connaux, a village between Avignon, Nîmes and Uzès, in a former silkworm house that he renovated himself into his workshop. With a growing wait-list and increasing international demand, we are pleased to have US exclusivity with this fine maker, who provides us one instrument per year.