At Belforti Instruments Inc. each instrument I design
is the fruit of my passion for music and craftsmanship.
Marin
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.
(TOWARDS LUTHERIE)
My Career
2019
From Marine Biology to Music
After early experiences and a brief study in design and applied arts, I pursued my interest in marine biology, working across research centers and organic farms in places like New Caledonia and Madagascar. During one mission, I bought an acoustic bass to play by the campfire on desert island trips, rekindling my passion for bass with even more intensity.
2020
The Start of a New Adventure
After a challenging mission in Madagascar, I began building a bass as a form of meditation. Encouraged by positive feedback, I kept going, slowly improving with each instrument. In 2020, I went pro, completing the long-term program at Crimson Guitar School in the UK, where I designed three unique basses showcased here. I knew then that further steps were needed to craft truly professional instruments.
2021
Mastering the Craft
A friend recommended the renowned Galloup Guitar School, which I joined in late 2021 for a Master’s Program. After six months of intense training, I advanced to the highest graduate-level courses, earning a Taylor Guitars Silver Certification.
In my final course, I had the rare privilege of building my own prototype with the Galloup team. This instrument, serial number "001," became the first official Belforti Instrument.
2022
Building the Vision
While training, I began designing and building what would become Belforti Instruments®, with the goal of creating state-of-the-art luxury guitars and basses. Over time, I refined every detail, from design to visual identity.
Naming the brand Belforti honors my mother’s and grandfather’s family name, paying tribute to my Italian heritage. He is the one who gave me the love for hand work, hardwork and independance. My hope is that these instruments will carry this legacy and inspire musicians worldwide.
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 Starts !
The year 2024 is the year we started production at full scale. With multiple attendance to guitar shows, the Paris Guitar Show and the Guitar Summit, we confronted our ideas, designs and instruments with the players. With great feedback, new ideas for improvements, and renewed confidence, we moved to the next phase of the Belforti Project.
This includes new partnerships with amazing musicians, major innovations like our configurator, improved processes and many more !
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
The Taylor Guitars company is a renowned and respected guitar building company that has been producing world-class instruments for decades.
There are authorized warranty servicing centers for Taylor Guitars available all around the world. These service locations have successfully completed the Taylor Guitars-required training and are qualified to handle warranty repairs. Any Taylor Certified Service Center can accept direct warranty claims.
In order to obtain a Silver Certification, you have to attend a specific training that was approved by Taylor Guitars. The Galloup Guitar School is one of the only places in the world that is partnered with Taylor Guitars to enable students to obtain a certification. This is a testimony of how much trust the company puts in Bryan Galloup’s training programs.
To learn more about our instruments and facilities,
visit our showcase site.