Amelie Bouvret – 2021 “René Lacôte”

Description

Amélie Bouvret is a talented French guitar maker based in Châlon sur Saône, France. She received her training at the prestigious guitar-making school in Puurs, Belgium. Amélie gained a solid knowledge of guitar making from master luthiers Walter Verreydt and Karel Dedain. Her guitars are of great sensitivity and unique charisma. Fascinated by French lutherie and especially by the guitars of Robert Bouchet, Amelie’s instruments convey a great elegance and tonal refinement. In addition, her guitars are very powerful and have all the qualities of great concert instruments.

This fascinating guitar is an exact copy of a René Lacôte guitar. With its clear, precise, and melodic sound, it is a generous instrument with a one-of-a-kind quality of tone. The soundboard is made of spruce, and the back and sides are crafted of the first quality mahogany, as some of the finest Lacôte guitars did.
Here is a little reminder about René Lacôte, to deep dive into the story of arguably the most respected and prominent luthiers of the early XIXth century romantic guitar:

René Lacôte, (1785 – after 1868), apprentice of Joseph Pons, was the clever artisan who succeeded in exploiting his developments, both improving upon it and going further along the same road. Without let-up he tried to meet the needs of musicians, for instance improving the sound quality of the instrument, making it more powerful and ergonomic.
Lacôte was always sensitive to the needs of musicians and composers and he made his instruments trying to meet their desires. Lacôte carried on his work at various addresses, in the same quarter as his violin-maker colleagues Vuillaume, Chanot and Gand, very close to the Music Conservatory. He used at least three successive brands and won awards in 1839 and 1844 during the Great National Exhibitions.
His working life can be summed up as follows:
– Before 1818, he worked for Pons
– In about 1819, he was in rue Montmartre, where he took over the workshop from his colleague Martin
– In about 1823, rue Neuve St-Eustache
– In about 1823, Place des Victoires, where he remained until 15th April 1829; then he moved to rue de Richelieu
– In about 1832, rue de Gramont
– In about 1834, rue de Louvois
– In about 1843, still in rue de Louvois; also managing a shop in Ebury Street (London), starting the company “Lacôte & Cie”
– In about 1850, rue des Martyrs where he worked until 1868 at least.