Bertrand Ligier 2026
NEW ARRIVAL

It is an honour for MaderaGuitarras to be able to offer our clients a guitar of the exceptional quality presented here. Bertrand Ligier is one of our favourite guitar makers, one of the most promising builders of his generation, and one whose work has impressed us deeply.

Ligier has achieved excellence in every aspect of his craft. From the extraordinary selection of woods chosen for this guitar, built especially for MaderaGuitarras.com, to the beautiful soundboard and stunning Indian rosewood back, the quality speaks for itself. One only needs to look at the photographs to appreciate the remarkable materials used in this instrument and the outstanding level of craftsmanship throughout.

An apparent perfection in every detail of the guitar. The execution is spectacular throughout, as can be seen.

There is a wonderful sense of aesthetic balance and harmony in the design of this instrument. It conveys beauty in much the same way as a painting by a great master, where every element seems perfectly placed. The body shape is elegant, the rosette is beautifully conceived, and the bridge, with its distinctive Ligier decorative detail, is unique and immediately recognisable. The “hommage to Bouchet” headstock… Every component reflects an extraordinary level of skill, refinement and I would say artistic talent or capacity to achieve aesthetic beauty and balance.

We highly recommend watching the interview we conducted with Bertrand Ligier in his workshop, where he explains the guitar in detail and discusses the ideas behind each aspect of its construction.

As for the sound, it reflects the same refinement, excellence and elegance found throughout the instrument. One quality stands out immediately upon playing it: its remarkable dynamic range. This is one of those guitars that you simply cannot stop playing once you begin, because it changes the way you interpret music. Suddenly, new musical possibilities appear. The instrument reveals aspects of the music that may have gone unnoticed before.

This is largely due to its extraordinary dynamic capabilities. The range from powerful forte passages to the softest pianissimo is exceptionally wide. The quietest notes remain perfectly clear, focused and defined. Combined with the guitar’s superb sustain, notes linger longer than expected while maintaining clarity, subtlety and beauty. The sound gradually fades in a smooth, natural and deeply satisfying way.

There is also an elegance in this guitar that I associate with the finest French tradition of guitar making, a tradition shaped by great masters such as Daniel Friederich and Robert Bouchet. It possesses that cathedral-like quality of sound: expansive resonance, remarkable balance across all registers, powerful and beautiful basses, and trebles rich in colour, definition and sustain. Superb projection.

What we have here is an exceptional guitar. It is a pleasure every time you take it out of its case and hear it come to life. With each playing session, new subtleties emerge, revealing an almost endless list of possibilities and hidden qualities that continue to unfold over time.

Bertrand Ligier is currently one of the most distinguished guitar makers in the world.

Born and based in southern France, near the Avignon area, Ligier followed a path that seems almost ideally suited to the craft of fine guitar making.

As a young man, he studied Art History at the University of Montpellier. He then pursued training in the restoration of historic furniture, cabinetmaking, design and related disciplines at the École des Beaux-Arts Georges Guynemer in Uzès. During this period, he also completed placements with the prestigious Compagnons du Devoir. This background provided him with an exceptional foundation in aesthetics, wood knowledge, craftsmanship and traditional tools long before he began building guitars.

Ligier also studied classical guitar for ten years. In fact, even before entering cabinetmaking school, the idea of building guitars was already in his mind, although it would only fully materialise later.

A decisive moment came through his guitar teacher, Bernard Piris, who introduced him to Dominique Field, widely regarded by many as the greatest living guitar maker. The encounter made a profound impression on the young Ligier, opening the door to a deeper understanding of what it takes to create a truly great guitar.

It also marked the beginning of his connection to the great French guitar-making tradition. Through Field, Ligier became part of a lineage that includes some of the most influential names in the history of the instrument, embracing their vision, their construction methods and their relentless pursuit of excellence in the creation of these unique instruments.