Renan Aouam - 2024

Renan Aouam, born in 1986, developed a passion for music at a young age, starting with learning the piano. During his teenage years, he discovered a love for woodworking during an internship with a cabinetmaker specializing in antique furniture restoration. Driven by curiosity, he began building guitars on his own before pursuing formal training in Madrid. In 2018, he established his first workshop in Pamplona, marking the beginning of his professional journey. Meeting Jean-Noël Rohé profoundly influenced his construction techniques, prompting a shift in his craft. Renan returned to France in 2021, where he formed a pivotal connection with Jean-Pierre Mazé, a close associate of Robert Bouchet. Mazé shared invaluable insights passed down from Bouchet, along with his own extensive experience. This brand-new guitar has a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides with a particularly striking pattern and features a traditional bracing. The sides are reinforced to improve projection. The sound is powerful and well balanced, requiring little work to shape the tone. The guitar seems to offer endless possibilities to produce different colours and vibratos bring out an airy quality in the overtones. All in all, Renan Aouam’s work reflects the rich heritage of the French lutherie tradition offering us a responsive instrument awaiting to explore vast musical possibilities.