Robert Bouchet – 1962 – No. 87

Description

After Antonio de Torres, Robert Bouchet (1898-1986) is the best-known and most sought-after guitar builder in classical guitar history. Although Robert Bouchet was known as a professor of painting in Paris, in the second part of his highly artistic life he devoted himself to the art of guitar building. In the second half of the 20th century, he built outstanding fine guitars in Paris and thereby launched a fundamentally revolutionary approach to guitar building, which would be today’s “French school of guitar building”. Robert Bouchet built only 154 instruments and left an invaluable legacy to the world of classical guitar making.

This instrument bearing the number 87 was built in the same year as the Bouchet played and owned by Karl Scheit, and is a real gem. Just by looking at it, the artistic aspect of Bouchet’s guitar can be seen. Starting with the elegant head as well as the well-shaped neck, the wonderful rosette with its fascinating colours and the plantilla, which is one of the most beautiful ever created. All this combined creates this great work of art.

The guitar has 6 perfectly stable and perfectly repaired cracks on the top. One on the left and two on the right side of the fingerboard. A longer one on the treble side, a shorter one on the bass side and one in the middle joint. Apart from that, the guitar is in good condition. The machine heads are from Rodgers.

Already when playing the first notes on this guitar from 1962 one wonders if Bouchet might have been a magician and not a painter/guitar maker. The sustain almost seems to never end. This Bouchet has an extremely charming and soulful sound character, with a sweet and almost lyrical voice. The trebles are velvety and accentuated, the basses are refined and generous; and the voice separation is also excellent. The playability is perfect so that the strings feel vibrant and responsive. Every tone unfolds perfectly and, through its complexity and richness, is almost reminiscent of a cathedral bell. This guitar can and will excel in every imaginable situation; it is indeed a concert guitar of the highest level.