Rancourt Guitars build

[mrichman]

My Rancourt 16" x 2 3/4" carved top spruce/maple archtop is getting ready for his french polish finish (autumn burst) so I thought I'd post a little photo as we met in person yesterday to finalize neck specs (I want a copy of my 60s Johnny Smith) as well as pickup choice (I will go with the Biltoff Guillaume generously already installed) and tailpiece design.

Guillaume is a masterbuilder, he floats a little bit under the radar because he works alone with no apprentices or hired help - he does everything himself and in his words "I don't have time for a lot of marketing." I own guitars from Ribbecke, Comins, vintage Gibson and others and I will say that Guillaume's work is on par with the very best. He is accomodating, flexible and communicative, sending me photos along the way as well as some good ideas I hadn't thought of.

Here is his website:

Rancourt Guitars – Custom Made Archtop Acoustic Guitars & Upright Bass

He also has developed an acoustic transducer that sounds great, and I spotted a hand built Bassman 20 watt head he was hiding at the back of the shop that he built! He is one talented guy!

If anyone has any questions or needs any additional info feel free to contact me - I am not affiliated with him in any way other than as a customer, just thought I'd commission a guitar from him being as he only lives 2 hrs from me and I can monitor the guitar's build process and I had ideas of my own I wanted to try (side porthole which he normally does use as spec, slotted headstock, violin type sides etc ...).

[marcwhy]

Congrats -- fantastic instrument!! Please show pics after the finish!

[Beyond my budget, but beautiful guitars!]

[Archie]

Very nice.
Look forward to seeing the finish.

[Gitterbug]

Aren't we lucky, with so many qualified luthiers around?

[ThatRhythmMan]

I can’t wait to see the finished guitar! Guillaume is just a great person in general. He and I have been working up a special project for some time also (to be fair, he’s doing all the real work).


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[Gilpy]

Congratulations on the new guitar!
I was fortunate to get my Rancourt when they were not so expensive. It’s simply the best sounding acoustic archtop I’ve ever heard, and I’ve played some of the best. Please post more pics or a clip when it’s done!

[mrichman]

An update to my Rancourt 16" Deluxe build - I received the guitar a couple of weeks ago and am still getting to know it, but here are some finished build photos as well as a little video clip of what it sounds like acoustically - I didn't bother plugging it in for this because I assumed the acoustic sound would be of more interest, especially given the built in pickup and non believers that a mounted pickup "ruins" the acoustic tone ... this isn't a performance video and no effort was made to enhance the recording - it is a one take, "stick a microphone in front" recording, no post production other than just a hint of reverb and very slight compression in Logic ..

[marcwhy]

Freakin' gorgeous (and sounds great, too)! Congrats!!

[AKA]

Incredible instrument; marvelous playing!

AKA