Bastien Burlot has been a staple of French lutherie for years, having built guitars for such giants as Thomas Viloteau and the late Roland Dyens, cultivating a unique voice that combines the power and presence of modern styles with the warmth and elegance of tradition for a simultaneously fresh, and timeless, flavor. Recently, Burlot launched a new project that ties these two ideas even more snugly: the Alkemia Series. These Classicals are inspired by the most famous cathedrals in France, with the first in this series being the Alkemia Chartres Cathedral (found about an hour outside of Paris). The tightly patterned mosaic rosette is modeled directly after the stained glass windows of the church, and inside the guitar the label features a labyrinth in homage to the floor of the cathedral’s nave. Here pilgrims have gathered for hundreds of years to walk the labyrinth in contemplation.
Here’s an additional video with Andy Jurik playing the lovely “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (J.S. Bach) on this Burlot Classical: https://youtu.be/3vq-Wdupyek
Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade, french polished, steve newbrough, andy jurik, hiscox, 118
France’s own Bastien Burlot brings together modernity and tradition with his Alkemia series. Each guitar is inspired by a cathedral in France, and this one replicates the stained glass windows and labyrinth of the famed Chartres Cathedral. The voice strikes an even balance across the registers, with a crisp top end and added warmth in the bass. Built in 2019 but already wide awake. | Scale Length | 25.6 in |
|---|---|
| Nut Width | 2 in |
| String Spacing | 2.27 in |
| Woods | Spruce - Engelmann, Rosewood - Indian |
Bastien Burlot has been a staple of French lutherie for years, having built guitars for such giants as Thomas Viloteau and the late Roland Dyens, cultivating a unique voice that combines the power and presence of modern styles with the warmth and elegance of tradition for a simultaneously fresh, and timeless, flavor. Recently, Burlot launched a new project that ties these two ideas even more snugly: the Alkemia Series
France’s own Bastien Burlot brings together modernity and tradition with his Alkemia series. Each guitar is inspired by a cathedral in France, and this one replicates the stained glass windows and labyrinth of the famed Chartres Cathedral 