Hugues Boivin - 2025
Hugues Boivin - 2025
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
Delivery times are typically reliable and most instruments arrive within the estimated timeframe.
Should any unexpected delay occur, our team will keep you informed and provide support at every step. For all shipping details and exceptions, please see our Shipping Policy.
Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Hugues Boivin began his path in lutherie in 1997 with a course dedicated to the construction of lute-family instruments. Though brief, this early training laid the technical foundation for his first guitar. While later completing a degree in musicology, he continued to build instruments independently. In 2008, during a long-term stay abroad, he decided to devote himself fully to lutherie. Over the next four years, he focused on historical instruments — lutes, Baroque and Romantic guitars — alongside selected classical models. Since 2012, Hugues has worked from his workshop in Merry La Vallée, Burgundy, where he now specializes in classical guitars. His work reflects both his experience with historical instruments and his methodical approach to construction. Each guitar is the result of precise, consistent craftsmanship, shaped by a deep familiarity with the traditions of the instrument.About the guitar
This classical guitar, completed in 2025, is built using traditional methods and reflects Hugues Boivin’s disciplined, detail-oriented approach. The structure follows a classic seven-fan bracing design with a transverse bar placed behind the bridge, offering both stability and tonal clarity. The spruce top is paired with Indian rosewood back and sides, a time-tested combination that delivers articulate trebles and a well-defined bass response. The rosette is selected with care, harmonizing visually with the color and texture of the top. The French polish finish enhances the natural grain and provides an acoustically responsive surface. The neck features a 51.5 mm nut width and a 650 mm scale, ensuring traditional playability and consistent string spacing. Tonally, the instrument is balanced and focused. The trebles are clear and controlled, while the basses support with definition rather than excess resonance. The response is direct, rewarding precise articulation, and suited to repertoire that benefits from clarity and dynamic control. The Perona tuners operate with precision and complement the understated elegance of the overall design.Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.