Here we have an absolutely stunning example of this romantic era Beau classical guitar. She sports beautiful solid Brazilian Rosewood sides and a veneered Brazilian/Spruce back, her top is solid Spruce, fitted with Ebony bridge, Ebony neck and fingerboard, her body and neck are inlaid with elaborate and beautiful mother-of-pearl marquetry. Has the maker Beau stamped on the inner back. For a guitar that is almost 200 years old, aside from a couple of professionally repaired shoulder cracks she is in unbelievably lovely, all original condition, with no other damaged or repaired areas anywhere. She is in super playable condition, with a straight neck and very good playing action and comes with her original wooden coffin style case, which is also in excellent condition.
Simon Beau was a French luthier active in early 19th-century Paris, working during the height of the Romantic guitar movement. He is documented as having collaborated with the celebrated Parisian maker René François Lacôte around 1830, one of the most influential guitar builders of the era.
Style and Construction:
Beau’s instruments reflect the refined aesthetics and proportions typical of late 18th- to early 19th-century French guitars:
- Spruce tops (soundboards), prized for resonance and clarity
- Rosewood backs and sides, often beautifully figured
- Smaller-bodied, lightweight construction, characteristic of Romantic-era guitars
- Elegant purfling, delicate rosettes, and finely shaped headstocks
Historical Context:
Beau worked during a transitional period in guitar history. The instruments of this time were:
- Generally, six single strings (the transition from double courses had recently concluded)
- Built for the more intimate salons and chamber settings of the Romantic period
- Designed to support the expressive repertoire of composers such as Fernando Sor and Mauro Giuliani
Significance:
While less widely known than Lacôte, Simon Beau’s surviving instruments represent the refined Parisian tradition of guitar making. His work embodies the elegance, craftsmanship, and tonal delicacy that defined French Romantic guitars, they are becoming very rare and collectible instruments.
Payment
Payment can be done via PayPal, bank transfer, cheque or cash on collection!
Very important: If paying by PayPal, please note that we will only ship to confirmed Paypal addresses! Please double check your address is confirmed with Paypal!
Feel free to drop us an email for our bank details for SWIFT/BACS transfers and for any international shipping costs.
If paying by cheque, or collecting in person, please contact us on 07932 074096 to arrange.
Shipping
Our shipping policy is simple: We ship Guitars, Amps and Accessories to the UK, Europe & ROW. We’ve been shipping items to the UK and abroad for many years without any issues, as we always use the best and most reliable shipping companies. All guitars and amps will be shipped insured and tracked. So you can check your shipping status anytime. We always package them to the highest possible standard.
Note: All amps are preferably UK shipping or collection only. We rarely ship amps internationally, due to potential breakage, unless this is agreed separately. If you are outside Europe and are interested in any of our guitars or amps please contact us for a special shipping quote.
Returns
We operate a 48hr approval period for on-line mail order purchases only. Customers who buy goods in the RGG showroom can fully evaluate them prior to making the payment, and as such do not have this return and refund option available to them. The 48hr mail order returns period offered is with regard to either a problem with the guitar upon receipt, IE, the goods appear to have a defect that was not outlined in the sale listing or clearly not sold as advertised. If the purchaser wishes to return the goods for any other reason, then there will be a re-stocking fee of 10% of the original sale value & return carriage must be paid by the purchaser, there are no exceptions to these rules.
If you want to return an item please make contact for a returns authorisation. You have 2 days to try the instrument. We offer a full refund minus our shipping costs (including our cost of free shipping if applicable) It is the purchaser’s responsibility to organise the return promptly to the company in the condition it was received, using the original packaging and with a copy of the sales receipt. (We recommend you insure the item in transit). The item must be shipped back via a service comparable with which it was delivered, within 24 hours (Excluding weekends) upon receipt of the return authorization. Goods that have been altered from their original condition in any way cannot be returned.
Any items returned after the 48hr agreed approval period, and not exceeding more than two weeks, are subject to a 10% re-stocking fee, based on of the original sale value of the goods. PayPal, Credit/Debit card refunds will be processed immediately upon receipt of the returned goods and normally take 3-5 working days to show on the customer’s account. Bank transfer and cash purchase payments will be refunded by Bank transfer to your nominated bank.
