Sylvain Balestrieri

Grenoble, France

Sylvain Balestrieri is a French luthier working in Grenoble, at the foot of the Alps, where he builds classical concert guitars and maintains a restoration atelier. His practice is rooted in the French handcrafted tradition and shaped by the major makers of the twentieth century, and his restoration work has included historically significant instruments, among them a 1964 Daniel Friederich. He builds slowly and deliberately, receiving visitors to the workshop by appointment, and his instruments have earned him a waitlist stretching several years.

Balestrieri's guitars are traditionally fan braced, looking to the lineage of Robert Bouchet, Daniel Friederich, and Dominique Field while speaking with a voice of their own. His woods are rigorously selected and aged for several years before use, and he measures flexibility, weight, and density throughout construction to guide each decision with precision. The goal is a modern, expressive concert instrument: full, resonant basses with a noble weight, bright and substantial trebles, and a sensitivity that translates every nuance of the player's touch.

We had the pleasure of offering a 2022 Balestrieri with a spruce top and three piece Indian rosewood back, and it left a lasting impression. The basses carried a noble weight reminiscent of Friederich, while the trebles stayed crisp and singing, with a brilliance and responsiveness that echoed the lively character of Field's instruments. It translated every gradation of touch, from delicate phrasing to full projection, with stunning clarity and control. We filmed a full review and performance with it, and we would welcome the chance to place another Balestrieri in a player's hands.