Marin
My name is Marin Nourry-Belforti, and I’m the founder of Belforti Instruments Inc.
Belforti was not born from nostalgia. It was born from dissatisfaction.
Early in my training, I noticed a contradiction in the boutique world: remarkable craftsmanship coexisted with inconsistency, and tradition was often used to justify technical imprecision. I was not interested in reproducing the past. I wanted to understand it deeply — and rebuild it with higher standards.
My education combined traditional lutherie with exposure to modern production systems and engineering precision. That dual foundation shaped everything that followed: craftsmanship without structure creates variability; engineering without sensitivity creates lifeless objects.
Belforti stands precisely between those two extremes.
From the beginning, I embraced modern tools — CNC machining, digital measurement, controlled tolerances — not as shortcuts, but as instruments of discipline. Precision is not an obsession. It is a form of respect for the musician.
Over time, my role evolved from building instruments to designing a coherent instrument house: structured collections, defined ranges, controlled customization, and a clear visual language. Every decision — technical or aesthetic — serves consistency.
Belforti is not about volume.
It is about standards.
(TOWARDS LUTHERIE)
My Career
2019
From Science to Sound
Before building instruments, I worked in marine biology.
After early studies in design and applied arts, I chose a scientific path, working across research centers and organic farms in places such as New Caledonia and Madagascar. Fieldwork requires rigor, observation, patience, and systems thinking — qualities that later became central to my approach to instrument making.
During one mission, I bought an acoustic bass to play by the campfire on remote island trips. What started as a simple companion quickly reawakened a deeper connection to music. That moment was not nostalgic — it was decisive.
2020
The Turning Point
Following a demanding mission in Madagascar, I began building a bass as a personal challenge. What started as meditation became obsession. Each instrument revealed both the beauty and the inconsistency of the craft.
I wanted more than approximation. I wanted mastery.
In 2020, I committed fully and joined the long-term program at Crimson Guitar School in the UK. There, I refined my technical foundations and designed three original basses — my first structured exploration of design language.
But technique alone was not enough.
2021
Mastering the Craft
In late 2021, I entered the Master’s Program at the Galloup Guitar School. The training was intense, technical, uncompromising. I advanced through the highest graduate-level courses and earned the Taylor Guitars Silver Certification.
During my final course, I built a personal prototype with the Galloup team. That instrument — serial number 001 — became the first official Belforti Instrument.
It marked the transition from student to founder.
2022
Building Belforti
While training, I was already shaping a broader vision: not just building instruments, but building a structured instrument house.
Belforti was created to merge high-end craftsmanship with engineering discipline. From the beginning, the objective was clear: state-of-the-art luxury guitars and basses designed with precision, coherence, and long-term brand identity.
The name Belforti honors my mother’s and grandfather’s family name, a tribute to my Italian heritage. My grandfather passed down a deep respect for hand work, discipline, and independence — values that remain embedded in every instrument we build.
2023
A Collective Journey
In building this company, I received invaluable help and advice from talented guitar makers and friends worldwide, whose support I will forever cherish. Special thanks to Paul Lairat, Nikola Adamovic, Marcel Furlanetto, Bryan Galloup and his incredible team, my friends Léa, Sasha, Orlando, Dan, Nicolas, David, my loving family, and all those who encouraged me on this journey.
Now, here we are at a turning point in 2023, launching the Belforti Shop in France and preparing for a commercial debut in early 2024!
2024
Production & Confrontation
2024 marked the beginning of full-scale production.
With attendance at major events such as the Paris Guitar Show and the Guitar Summit, Belforti instruments were placed directly in the hands of demanding players. These confrontations were essential. They validated strengths, revealed weaknesses, and sharpened direction.
This phase led to:
Process optimization and tighter production control
New artist partnerships
The development of our online configurator
Strengthened brand positioning
Belforti moved from concept to structure.
2025 and Beyond
International Expansion
Since 2025, Belforti entered a new phase of international exposure.
Participation in major global events such as NAMM marked an important milestone. Presenting our instruments on an international stage was not about visibility alone — it was the opportunity to measure our standards against the highest level of the industry.
These experiences reinforced a core conviction: Belforti does not need to imitate. It needs to refine.
This new chapter focuses on:
- Strengthening international distribution
- Expanding artist collaborations with carefully selected musicians
- Refining production systems for scalability without compromising standards
- Continuing technical innovation in design, finishes, and customization
Growth remains controlled. Precision remains non-negotiable.
The ambition is not rapid expansion, but long-term establishment as a modern French instrument house recognized worldwide for consistency, design coherence, and technical rigor.
The Team
Marin
Founder - CEO
My name is Marin Nourry-Belforti, and I’m the founder of Belforti Instruments Inc.
What led me to guitar building is a rather long story that started years ago. I began my musical career on the oboe, then moved on to the guitar to emulate the guitar heroes I admired at the time, but something was missing.
When I was 13, I picked up my first bass, and all of a sudden I found my spirit instrument. Often relegated to a background role but structurally important in the music ensemble, I always found something beautiful in this pivot position, balanced between the rhythmic and melodic sections. I always loved having a key role without being on the front stage, this suited my rather shy nature perfectly.
Yuri
CEO - Cat Executive Officer
Introducing our supreme Cat Executive Officer (CEO), Yuri, who holds the highest office in the company with unshakeable confidence. Carrying himself with the poise and dignity of a lion, Yuri is nothing short of an embodiment of authority, always watching over the company with his keen eyes that miss nothing.
Never one to shy away from making tough decisions, he's regularly found meditating on high perches or in sunlit corners, contemplating the best ways to ensure we deliver on our promises. His favorite meeting spot? The cozy lap of the nearest available colleague - a strategy to ensure a regular flow of ideas (and scratches).
Yuri's charisma and mysterious charm set the tone for our work environment, inspiring creativity, warmth, and a touch of whimsy in our daily tasks. He has taught us that balance is key, mastering the art of working hard (usually involving a chase after an elusive red dot) and resting harder (usually sprawled across Marin’s keyboard).
His mastery of resource allocation is unparalleled, ensuring every patch of sunlight, every cozy blanket, and every attention minute is utilized to its fullest potential. A true leader, Yuri’s dedication to his role ensures that our operation purrs along smoothly, living up to the standards that only a feline of his stature could set.
Yuri, with his sleek coat and wise eyes, brings joy to our workdays and keeps our spirits high. His guidance, though often expressed in purrs and tail flicks, remains invaluable to us. Here's to our Cat Executive Officer, a purrfect leader in every sense.
Ebi
CFO - Chief Feline Officer
Meet Ebi, the dynamic and energetic Chief Feline Officer (CFO) of our company. Despite her many naps and relentless pursuit of laser pointers, she excels in her role, providing key oversight, bringing a playful spirit to the team, and taking charge of the highly critical task of "mouse" management.
Ebi ensures every bit of our business is up to scratch, taking a paws-on approach to company morale, regularly performing routine purr-sonnel checks on staff's and customer’s lap availability and readiness to provide belly rubs at a moment's notice. With her keen eye for detail (especially when it comes to suspiciously moving guitar strings), she keeps the workplace environment invigorating and lively.
From grooming to prowling, Ebi's approach to her role is both ambitious and flexible. This inquisitive feline doesn’t let a running dust collector or buffing wheel deter her from her path. Indeed, her curiosity is a constant reminder to us all to never stop exploring, learning, and chasing after our dreams, even if they are, in her case, usually feathered or filled with catnip.
Ebi has played a crucial part in maintaining the creative atmosphere here, enhancing everyone's workday with her unique feline charm. With Ebi on board, we are assured that our operation runs as smoothly as her silky coat.
Mochi
CMO - Chief Meow-meow Officer
Mochi joined the Belforti Instruments team with a singular mission: to bring a touch of whimsy and chaos to the workshop. As Chief Mischief Officer, Mochi excels in critical roles such as box quality control (ensuring every package is suitably nap-worthy), thorough keyboard testing (pressing all the buttons, often simultaneously), and string tension analysis (pulling and swiping as needed).
Mochi’s expertise in strategic napping positions him as a role model for proper work-life balance, while his uncanny ability to appear precisely where he’s least expected ensures the team remains alert and agile. Always curious and perpetually playful, Mochi has a particular fondness for exploring guitar cases, occasionally commandeering them as his personal fort.
When not conducting mischief, Mochi can be found supervising production from high vantage points or lending moral support during late-night creative sessions. His boundless energy and unorthodox methods make him an irreplaceable part of the Belforti Instruments family.
Honorific Members
Greg Pujals
Formerly the 3D Acoustics Manager at Devialet, Gregory Pujals brings extensive expertise in acoustic engineering to Belforti Instruments. Collaborating with our team, he focuses on the design and manufacturing of our custom guitar and bass pickups, ensuring exceptional sound quality and performance.
Lorenzo Belforti
The inspiration behind our name, Lorenzo Belforti embodies the values of hard work and craftsmanship. His dedication to meticulous handcrafting has been a guiding principle for Belforti Instruments®, influencing our commitment to quality and attention to detail.
Cyprien Begous
Currently interning with us, Cyprien Begous is revitalizing our CNC, CAD, and CAM workflows. His innovative approach and technical skills are enhancing our production processes, contributing to the efficiency and precision of our instrument manufacturing.
The Galloup Guitars School
The Galloup Guitars School is an American luthery school located in Big Rapids, Michigan. It was founded by the reknowned luthier Bryan Galloup, and has been the training facility for a new generation of luthiers coming from accross the world during the last 30 years. It was thought from the beginning to be a place where knowledge would be passed from experienced builders to apprentices and students. To this day, it is undeniably the best guitar building school in the world, and it has the best training program for aspiring luthiers and techs.
The Crimson Guitar School
The Crimson Guitar School is a guitar building school located in Dorset, United Kingdom. Founded by the master builder Ben Crowe, it is a school that allows students from all over the globe to train and learn the art of luthery, with a strong focus on freedom and personal initiative.
Multiple training courses are available, with the longest one enabling students to build their own instruments with limits close to zero. With the help of the teachers and apprentices, one can achieve almost anything in this school.
On top of providing professional guitar building training, Crimson Guitars produces luthery tools and supplies that are used by many builders, highlighting their understanding of the field.
Belforti® is a Certified Warranty Service Center
Taylor Guitars is a renowned manufacturer of high-quality instruments with authorized warranty service centers worldwide. These centers undergo Taylor’s required training to handle warranty repairs. The Galloup Guitar School is one of the few institutions partnered with Taylor, offering specialized training for Silver Certification—showcasing Taylor’s trust in Bryan Galloup’s programs.