ALEXANDRE BOURDONNAIS, MASTER-LUTHIER

Heaven Guitars

CRESPIERES, FRANCE

Since 2009, Alexandre has been crafting electric and acoustic guitars and basses. While he enjoys working on electric guitars, his true passion lies in making acoustic guitars. Each instrument is a unique piece, where the choice of wood, shape, and thickness are essential. With no amplifier to alter the sound, everything depends on Alexandre’s skill to produce exceptional tones.

Inspired by rock band Muse’s guitars and basses, Alexandre studied at the Newark School of Guitar Making in England. He began by building his first guitar in the family garage. Since 2009, he has been designing, building, maintaining, and customizing instruments in his workshop in the Yvelines, always striving to create the perfect guitar for each musician. This photoshoot aims to showcase his craftsmanship, studio, and workspace.

Guitar workshop with tools and license plates. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
A workshop with a "Luthiers Only" sign and a person working on a guitar in the background. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais working on a guitar piece in a luthier workshop with tools and guitars on display. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais with beard and messy hair wearing a gray T-shirt, focused and indoors with blurred background. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
A luthier working at a workbench with tools and materials, under a "Heaven Guitars Luthier" sign. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais drawing a guitar outline on paper using a ruler and pencil. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais drawing a guitar outline on a wood panel using a compass. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a compass to draw on a wood panel. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais looking at a piece of wood inside a workshop, with a sign in the background that reads 'Heaven Guitars.' Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
A workshop bench with a wooden organizer holding various rolls of tape, small drawers and shelves with tools and supplies in the background, and a digital device on the side. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Close-up of transparent jars with black lids labeled "PALISSANDRE" and "EBENE" on a wooden surface. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Wooden guitar neck in process of carving on a workbench with a green vise, surrounded by wood shavings, in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Person using a hand saw to cut a wooden plank secured in a vice in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Black and white photo of Alexandre Bourdonnais using a hand saw to cut wood, wearing a "Heaven Guitars" T-shirt. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Alexandre Bourdonnais in a workshop using a saw to cut wood, wearing a "Heaven Guitars" T-shirt. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Person using a rasp to shape a wooden guitar neck in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Black and white image of Alexandre Bourdonnais in a t-shirt working with a hand tool on a piece of wood in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Alexandre Bourdonnais working on a guitar neck in a workshop with tools and woodwork equipment around him. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Black and white photo of Alexandre Bourdonnais working with a woodworking tool wearing a "Heaven Guitars" T-shirt. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Alexandre Bourdonnais carving wood with a chisel, close-up view in black and white. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a rasp tool to shape a wooden guitar neck on a workbench. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a hand plane on wood with wood shavings on a workbench. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a hand planer on wooden plank in a workshop, wearing a t-shirt with a guitar design, and tools visible in the background. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a hand plane on wood in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Woodworking plane on workbench with shavings. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Hand selecting a chisel from a tool rack. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais carving wood with a chisel on a workbench with wood shavings and blocks. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais woodworking in a workshop, using a chisel. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre using a chisel on a wooden surface, creating wood shavings, with clamps holding the wood in place. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais working on a woodworking project in a workshop with tools and images of guitars on the wall. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Woodworking hand planes and tools in a workshop setting. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais carving wood in a workshop with musical instrument pictures on the wall. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais sanding wood in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais using a hand planer on wood in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Assorted sandpaper discs in a white container on a workbench. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Woodworking workshop shelf with various tools, cans, and a hanging leather apron. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Guitar necks on a workbench with a jar of screws. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Black and white photo of Alexandre Bourdonnais working indoors, wearing a t-shirt with guitar illustrations and text "The Heaven's Crew". Walls with framed pictures in the background. Shot by Robin Ferand with Ilford Film.
Guitar workshop with guitar bodies, CNC machine, and tools. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand.
Interior with electric guitars on a wooden wall, black shelf with books, and decorative wooden plaque. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais playing an acoustic guitar in a workshop. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Acoustic guitar on wooden wall, surrounded by ukulele, amplifier, and guitar neck sculpture. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais playing acoustic guitar, standing in a room with guitars on wall. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Portra 400.
Alexandre Bourdonnais playing acoustic guitar in workshop, surrounded by tools and guitar-themed wall art. Heaven Guitars, Crespières 78. Shot by Robin Ferand on Kodak Gold 200

Gear Used for this Project

    • Nikon F3T

    • Nikkor 35mm f/2 AIS

    • Nikkor 50mm f/1.2 AI

    • Kodak Portra 400

    • Minolta XG-2

    • Rokkor 50mm f/1.4

    • Ilford HP5 Plus

    • Canon R6

    • Canon RF 24-70 f/2.8 IS L

    • Moment Cinebloom 10%