Lucien Gelas 1956 “double top”

Lucien Gélas was a guitar maker, classical guitarist and music teacher. He is known for being the inventor and designer of the double-top guitar. These guitars are known as Gélas guitars or double-top guitars (or double-resonance guitars).

Gélas was awarded a gold medal at the Bordeaux Exhibition in 1907 and a gold medal at the Brussels Exhibition in 1910 for his double resonance guitar.

The guitars have two soundboards and there is a resonance chamber between the two. However, the inner soundboard does not run parallel to the outer one, so that the guitar has a certain bend. The strings run through the bridge, which is located on the top of the inner soundboard. This creates a special angle compared to a conventional guitar, where the strings run parallel. This leads to increased tension on the inner soundboard and a special tone.

The patent was first filed in Paris in 1905.

Gélas guitars were played by numerous important artists, especially in the first half of the 20th century. Heinrich Albert (1870-1950) received a Gélas guitar (from Gaudet in Paris) and attributes much of his concert success to this guitar. He always praised the guitar's sustaining sound, quick response and timbre. Other guitarists who played Géla's guitars were Luise Walker (1910-1998) and Bruno Henze (1900-1978). Géla's guitars are still popular among connoisseurs today.

Gélas produced the instruments with the help of luthiers who built according to his patent. First Théodore Gaudet and later Jean Roviès, Beuscher, Richard Jacob and others.

This guitar is an absolutely magnificent example of a Gelas guitar. The scale length is 640 mm and the nut width is 46 mm.

By loading the video, you accept YouTube's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load video

Always unblock YouTube