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 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.