La Lutherie Dubeau

esults in the sounds of my first guitar, I was hooked. At the time, I was a full time guitar instructor and musician. I had no tools of my own, so I started by buying them one at a time. I was lucky to get some tools from my uncle who was a retired cabinet-maker. After 2 years, I had all the necessary tools, my own shop and several guitars completed. I now work with 6 other luthiers out of the Mile End guitar shop in Montreal. Two of my colleagues, Jeremy Clark and Mike Kennedy, also studied with Sergei de Jonge. I have learned so much from them and feel blessed to be among such talented luthiers and mentors. The specific needs of the guitarist can be incorporated into the design and making of a custom handmade guitar. When a musician has a responsive, exceptionally sounding instrument, my belief is that the playing and creative output of the musician flow more freely. I build my guitars with the finest woods available and use a mix of traditional and contemporary building techniques. The work is all done in a humidity controlled environment. The finish on my acoustic guitars is the traditional French polish method. I believed that this type of finishing technique gives acoustic guitars a better sound as the finish is thinner and lets the front and back vibrate more freely. It is my belief that one of the most important parts of the history of guitar making is the knowledge that has been passed down through the decades from one luthier to another. This is why 5% of every guitar I sell is set aside for a mentorship program. This program is designed to teach youth the art of building guitars. The funds are used to cover the expense of the materials and shop expenses incurred while making a guitar. My instruction and time are donated.