Marc Saumier Stringed Instruments

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Overview

Marc Saumier Stringed Instruments is a custom luthier workshop specializing in hand-made stringed instruments including guitars, basses, upright basses, ukuleles, mandolins, and bouzoukis. Operated by Marc Saumier since 1995 in Kingsbury, Quebec, it emphasizes sound, playability, and innovative bracing for unique voice and dynamic range, using locally sourced woods from Eastern Townships forests.¹²³⁶

History

Marc Saumier began building guitars in 1995 or 1996 in Kingsbury, Quebec, Canada. He sources tonewoods from nearby forests in the Eastern Townships, creating instruments noted for their sound quality and unique bracing. His product line has expanded to include steel-string, nylon-string, archtop guitars, acoustic basses, ukuleles, and specialty items like 12-string nylon guitars.¹²³⁶

Product Lines

Product Line	Positioning	Price Range
Steel String Guitars (acoustic)	Loud with wide dynamic range and sustain	$3,000 - $8,000
Nylon String Guitars (classical/jazz)	Fanfret designs for fingerstyle	$3,000 - $7,000
Archtop Guitars	Jazz-oriented with balanced tone	$4,000 - $9,000
Acoustic Basses	Custom models like Awasos	$4,000 - $10,000
Upright Basses	Hand-made from local woods	$8,000 - $15,000
Ukuleles & Mandolins	Custom small-body instruments	$1,500 - $4,000

Manufacturing

All instruments are hand-made by Marc Saumier in his workshop in Kingsbury, Quebec, Canada. He uses tonewoods sourced and cut from local forests in the Eastern Townships. Production is fully in-house as a one-person luthier operation.¹²³⁶

Notable Products

Awasos Acoustic Bass - Steel-string acoustic bass featured at Montreal Guitar Show.
12-String Nylon Guitar - Small body with mellow, snappy sound using local woods.
Fanfret Steel String Small Jumbo - Fingerstyle guitar with exceptional balance.
Fanfret Nylon Classical/Jazz Guitar - Designed for wide dynamic range.
Dreadnought Steel String - Loud guitar ideal for solo performance.

Reputation

Marc Saumier's instruments are recognized by guitar enthusiasts for their unique tone from innovative bracing, good note separation, and use of local woods. Professionals value the playability and dynamic range in custom builds showcased at events like Vancouver Guitar Festival and Montreal Guitar Show. Limited production as a solo luthier may restrict availability.²⁵

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