“A well-made guitar is inspiring”, in his Millau workshop, Michel Cassan has more than one string to his bow

Le luthier fabrique des guitares depuis 13 ans. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

Luthier depuis treize ans à Millau, Michel Cassan conçoit différents types de guitares avec minutie. Portrait.

Michel Cassan has been a violin maker for thirteen years. His background as an electronics engineer, a profession he previously practiced, is useful to him today in making guitar preamps, which he supplies to other violin makers. The sixty-year-old man was looking for solitude, loved working with wood and playing the guitar. His current profession then seemed obvious to him. In his workshop on rue de la Capelle, he now designs all types of guitars. Hawaiian, folk, classical and even a hybrid guitar invention between the wood guitar and the classical guitar.

Michel Cassan presents a Hawaiian guitar. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

Responsible manufacturing

To make his instruments, almost any wood is allowed. Before the sale of exotic woods was regulated, guitar makers obtained rare woods from the other side of the world. "There has been a bit too much abuse, particularly in sales without replanting trees. The problem comes from the palm groves. There is a big problem with forest management", explains Michel Cassan. Today, the luthier works with woods subject to replanting standards once cut, particularly from Spain. "I try to use FSC-certified species, guaranteeing a responsible exploitation process. When people buy a guitar from me they can know where the wood comes from, who supplied it to me".

Michel Cassan in his workshop. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

Rosewood, ebony, padouk, cocobolo, fruit trees, maple, spruce, red cedar, cypress, so many woods used by the luthier to make his guitars. “Wood influences the sound of the guitar”, he explains. Making a guitar requires between 100 and 200 hours of work for the luthier on Rue de la Capelle. For him, “a well-made guitar is inspiring”.

Dream come true

Hanging on the walls of the workshop, posters of Piers Faccini watch over the room. Background music in the shop, his voice fills every nook and cranny with strength and sweetness. Michel Cassan made him two houd guitars, one with eleven strings, the other with twelve, as well as a fretless classical guitar (without the frets, editor's note). Ben Harper's latest album, Wide Open Light, lets you hear notes from these houd guitars, played by Piers Faccini. The luthier modestly hides his pride, a smile on his lips. “If someone had told me ten years ago that one of my instruments would be played on a Ben Harper album, I wouldn't have believed it”.

Michel Cassan presents one of his guitars. Midi Libre – Romane Levi

A return to the essential

Like many craft professions, that of luthier is making a comeback. "Schools train young people, and attract more than before. Thirty years ago there were 150 guitar luthiers in France, today there are more than 500, maybe even more. I think that more and more people are looking to return to more essential things", comments the Millavois.

Practical information: The Lutherie LEVILA is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and in the morning by appointment, website.

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