Guitarist celebrates 40th anniversary with world tour

Often described as ‘a guitarist’s guitarist’, Pierre Bensusan is celebrating his 40th-anniversary world tour this year. Also celebrating 40 years is Irish luthier, George Lowden, of Lowden Guitars. The two have a long working relationship.

“In the beginning, I met one of George’s friends in 1977 at Warrenpoint in Co Down, where I was playing,” says the French-Algerian guitarist. “He invited me to visit the factory the next morning. I couldn’t come, but gave him the contact of two friends in Paris. I forgot about it until six months later when they called to say they had received six guitars and I absolutely had to come. I went to visit and was blown away by what I saw.”

In 1978, Bensusan received the first instrument Lowden made for him. He has played it all over the world and on many albums. “It’s interesting for a musician to define what they’re looking for in terms of sound,” says Bensusan.