At Guitar Haus, our mission is to connect players and collectors with the absolute finest hand-built instruments from the world’s most visionary lutherie workshops. Today, we are proud to announce a historic addition to our boutique lineup: handcrafted acoustic guitars built individually by Canadian master luthier Claude Boucher.
To understand the genius of Claude Boucher, one must first look at the family legacy that changed Canadian guitar making forever.
The Foundation: Normand Boucher and Norman Guitars
The story begins with Claude’s father, Normand (Norman) Boucher. A skilled woodworker and passionate musician, Norman made history in 1968 when he founded Canada’s very first acoustic guitar manufacturing company, Norman Guitars, in La Patrie, Quebec.
In the 1970s, Norman partnered with a young Robert Godin as his exclusive distributor. Following a devastating factory fire in 1980 and Norman’s retirement due to health, Godin acquired the brand name in 1989, saving the iconic Norman label and building it into a pillar of Godin Guitars.
The Rebirth: Founding Boucher Guitars
Growing up in the shop, Claude absorbed decades of wisdom on acoustic engineering, wood selection, and voicing. Driven to honor his father's memory and push lutherie even further, Claude restarted production in 2000 and co-founded Boucher Guitars.
It was Claude who introduced the signature use of high-grade Adirondack red spruce that made the Boucher name world-famous. While Boucher Guitars eventually grew into boutique factory production (now led by his cousin Robin Boucher), Claude chose a different path: returning to pure, uncompromised individual craftsmanship.
Solo Masterworks by Claude Boucher
Operating out of his quiet workshop in Montmagny, Quebec, Claude now builds guitars entirely by his own hands, from raw timber to final polish. Every solo piece is a true work of lutherie royalty. Claude personally hand-voices every soundboard, shapes every neck, and matches every set of tonewoods.
His instruments blend time-tested vintage appointments, such as slotted headstocks, ebony pyramid bridges, and traditional herringbone purfling, with cutting-edge tonewood aging, notably his famous use of torrefied "cooked" Adirondack spruce. The result is an instrument with staggering dynamic projection, crystalline note clarity, and an instant vintage response.
Experience Claude Boucher at Guitar Haus
We are honored to bring Claude Boucher’s individual hand-built instruments to our showroom. To celebrate this arrival, our first feature piece directly from his bench is now available: a breathtaking 00 12-Fret in Cooked Adirondack Spruce and Curly Maple.
Whether you are a fingerstyle player seeking unmatched dynamic sensitivity or a collector looking for a piece of Canadian lutherie history, we invite you to experience the extraordinary work of Claude Boucher firsthand.
Explore our current inventory online or visit the Guitar Haus showroom to audition this masterwork today.