The "Bardophone"* was born from the fusion of practical and aesthetic
considerations.




- Ergonomic problem :
A traditional guitar is structurally made in a way that it is impossible to play it in a correct position without using all kinds of awkward stratagems that can have bad physical effects on the guitarist :
- Using a guitar stool (like classical guitarists) warps your spine and alters the blood circulation in the leg on the stool !

- Folding your legs obstructs the blood stream in the higher leg!
- Using a strap puts weight on your shoulders and your spine!

If you try not to use any of these tricks, your right shoulder(for a right handed person)will stand too high and your left hand will play the guitar's neck in a position that is too low to achieve a respectable velocity ! The ones who still try ,end up with a bent back!

The idea, granted that I play in a sitting position, was to find a new
shape of guitar that would allow me to have at the same time :
- both my feet flat on the ground,
- my shoulders relaxed on a horizontal line,
- my spine straight and vertical (like a good position for a pianist), while having the neck of the instrument raised to the height and angle that would be the most natural ,the least straining ,for a comfortable and efficient playing position (the position advised by all classical teachers!).

Aesthetic :
- What would be the ideal design ?
- What would be the shape that would comply with these ergonomic restraints
while respecting the feeling ,and sensuality of the traditional guitar ?
- How could I give to this classic instrument, a brand new physiognomy and
bring it to a new and refreshing light ?

The answer of those questions are all contained in an truly original instrument that is aimed to be the first of a new generation ...

..The BARDOPHONE !!

At last, a guitar that looks different (just walk around in any music stores, in any town of any country and you will see endlessly the same old guitars everywhere !) and that feels different!

This is what I claim for, as a professional guitarist ,in my 25th year of performing, recording, composing, with an unmistakably recognisable sound and style that I invite you to check out through my recordings presented here on this site !

* The Bardophone's design is protected under an international patent

Jérôme Barde