2025 Bertrand Ligier SP/AR

This 2025 Bertrand Ligier is a classical guitar with a spruce top and African rosewood back and sides, built in the Languedoc region of southern France, with a Val di Fiemme spruce top aged 20 years.

A Tie Block Inspired by Simplicio

Each new guitar we receive from Bertrand features his latest body design - the result of many years of constant research. In his never-ending quest to improve his work, he has once again made slight modifications for more aesthetic balance, adjusting the proportions of his headstock design and purflings to match. At the bridge, the tie block is a subtle homage to Francisco Simplicio, one of his influences - but done in Bertrand's own way, with the central part in relief, almost like a carved jewel. Although "new" in many ways, the guitar is still clearly in the style of the French school: austere and complex, yet understated.

Bracing and Double Sides

Bertrand's quest, soundwise, is to increase the acoustic capabilities of his instruments as much as possible while keeping a beautiful quality of sound. That is why, in late 2019, he moved from the French mounting technique to the Spanish method, to improve the relationship between the neck and body - and particularly the soundboard. It was a difficult technical decision, since it meant changing several details of his building process, new moulds included. His guitars since then are more balanced, with strong, lyrical basses and an especially improved first string - as classy as before, with perhaps a little more old-world charm. The top has six full-length bars, symmetrically placed - three on the treble side and three on the bass side. In place of a center brace he uses a "half" bar from the bridge to the foot, with two shorter braces fanning away from the soundhole and terminating at the bridge. Two Bouchet-style braces - one under the front edge of the bridge, the other just behind it - leave a very flexible area for the bridge to move efficiently while remaining structurally stable. Like all his guitars, it has double sides, here with an inner layer of mahogany rather than his usual spruce - a "tip of the hat" to Daniel Friederich. The doubled sides make the body stiffer while keeping it light, directing more vibration to the soundboard - which improves projection (especially in the concert hall), deepens and strengthens the basses and gives rounder, more focused trebles.

A New Variation on Friederich's "Bean" Rosette

Bertrand is known not only for his quality of sound but also for his remarkable woodworking. His inlay work shows an attention to detail that is second-to-none, and his intricate, perfectly executed rosettes have become a hallmark. This one has a mosaic with a new variation on the "bean" pattern inspired by Daniel Friederich's famous rosette. The pore-filling and French polish have a mirror-like sheen that is perfectly consistent over the whole guitar - a maker with a great sense of style and real virtuosity in the delivery. Materials are first-rate - a beautiful spruce top from Val di Fiemme, aged 20 years, and an exquisite set of colorful African rosewood for the back and sides. Tuners are Alessi H1 with black horn buttons. It sounds every bit as good as it looks: precise balance, supreme clarity between voices and a sophisticated voice with a very pronounced fundamental and highly controlled overtones. An incredibly satisfying instrument on all counts - we recommend his guitars to players of any level, from advanced students to accomplished professionals.

Photos of this guitar taken after completion

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.