Jean Rompré

Quebec, Canada

Jean Rompré was born in 1968 in Ste-Thècle, Quebec, and found lutherie remarkably early, teaching himself as an amateur builder beginning in 1981. He then trained formally across Canada: at the lutherie school of Cégep Édouard-Montpetit in Longueuil, at the École de Lutherie Artistique du Noroît, and at Douglas College in Vancouver. From 1997 to 2002 he passed the craft on as a professor at the École Nationale de Lutherie in Quebec, and teaching remains part of his life: he is a close friend of Michel Bélair, another fine maker we represent, and though they live a hundred kilometers apart the two teach guitar making together and are constantly exchanging ideas. He builds alone, once producing roughly eight guitars a year and now a deliberate four to six, and warmly welcomes visitors to his workshop.

His principal model is the Archback, a concert classical guitar with a carved, arched back and a raised fingerboard, most often built in Madagascar rosewood, alongside custom instruments that have included seven, eight, and ten string guitars and alternate scale lengths. Working solo keeps his output small and his attention complete, and demand reflects it: his order list currently runs about three years ahead of the bench. Each year he also builds one or two demonstrator guitars that travel with him to exhibitions and festivals, so players have a chance to hear the Archback in person.

Jean's instruments first struck us from afar, both visually and sonically, and we are delighted to now represent his work in the United States. We are far from alone in that admiration: the superstar guitarist Gohar Vardanyan fell in love with his guitars from the moment she first played one, and her 2012 Rompré is the voice of her recordings today. After more than three decades at the bench, his craftsmanship and wood selection are always top notch. With an order list running roughly three years ahead and only four to six guitars leaving the workshop each year, Archbacks are genuinely scarce instruments. Our first is expected in 2028, and our expert team is glad to help players interested in reserving it or commissioning their own.