Jean Marquet - 2026 No. 40 Modèle Contemporain
Jean Marquet - 2026 No. 40 Modèle Contemporain
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
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Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Jean Marquet is a Belgian luthier whose work has quickly attracted attention for its refinement, tonal control, and consistently high level of craftsmanship. He trained at the CMB in Puurs, where he was awarded the first prize, the Gouden Bootschaaf, in 2019. His development was shaped in particular by the influence of Walter Verreydt and Gerhard Oldiges, two makers whose guidance helped form his understanding of structure, sound, and precision in guitar making.
Alongside his work at the bench, Jean Marquet also contributes to the wider guitar making community through the Guitar Builder’s Expo at the Antwerpen Gitaar Festival. His instruments are distinguished by careful workmanship and a clear musical intention. Rather than pursuing effect for its own sake, he builds guitars that aim for coherence, responsiveness, and expressive range, with close attention to how the instrument supports the player in practice.
About the guitar
This Modèle Contemporain No. 40 from 2026 is a traditionally built concert guitar with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. It belongs to Jean Marquet’s more direct and immediate line of instruments, yet it retains the elegance and control that define his work more broadly. The sound is notably responsive, with a quick release of tone and a sense of ease that allows the player to produce a full sound without resistance.
A particularly strong quality of this guitar is the combination of responsiveness and sustain. Notes speak readily and with little effort, yet they do not fall away quickly. Instead, the tone remains present and well supported, giving the instrument both clarity in articulation and continuity in phrasing. This contributes greatly to the feeling of freedom under the hands, since the guitar reacts promptly while still carrying the line with assurance.
Its tonal character is balanced, even, and elegant, with very good separation and a broad range of available color. The voice remains organized across the register and offers enough contrast in shading to keep the sound lively without losing coherence. Taken together, these qualities make this Modèle Contemporain a guitar of considerable ease and refinement, one that combines directness with tonal richness in a highly convincing way.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.