Close-up of an unfinished acoustic guitar body showing wood bracing, soundboard, and curved sides
Close-up of a polished wooden acoustic guitar body with textured wood grain and curved edge binding
Close-up of a luthier using a fret leveling tool on an acoustic guitar neck
Person repairing an acoustic guitar with a bridge-mounted pickup and capo
Bald man wearing sunglasses and a black shirt poses with an acoustic guitar in a garden.
Hand plane and wood shavings on a freshly carved wooden board
Close-up of a St. Denis guitar headstock with six chrome tuning pegs and strings
Unfinished wooden model boat ribs and planks arranged on a workbench

Hand Crafted Acoustic Guitars

  • Image of a Dreadnaught Guitar

    Dreadnought

    My Dreadnought delivers rich bass, powerful projection and a bold, balanced tone. Perfect for strumming, flatpicking, country, folk and bluegrass.

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  • Image of Standard Steel String Guitar

    Standard Steel String (Triple S)

    My Triple S offers warmth, clarity and a beautifully balanced sound. A comfortable, versatile guitar that's equally suited to fingerpicking and strumming.

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  • Image of a Triple O guitar

    000 (Triple O)

    My 000 combines a comfortable, compact body with rich, expressive tone and clear note definition. Ideal for fingerstyle playing and intimate performances.

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About St. Denis Guitars

I’m Claude St. Denis, a Canadian luthier transforming wood, steel and passion into music. In my Emsdale, Ontario workshop, I handcraft acoustic steel string guitars with carefully selected tone woods, precise attention to detail and a deep love for the instrument. I invite you to explore my guitars, discover my approach to guitar making and see what gives each instrument its own unique voice. From dreadnought to standard and 000 designs, I build every guitar to grow with its player over a lifetime of music.

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Woodworking workshop with a guitar clamped to a jig, yellow tools, green vise, and shop equipment

Acoustic Guitar Repair & Service

I bring the same care and attention to guitar repair and service that I put into building my handcrafted instruments. Whether your guitar needs a setup, routine maintenance or a repair, I’ll help you explore the options for keeping it sounding and playing its best.

I invite you to get in touch and tell me about your guitar. Together, we can discuss what it needs so you can get back to making music.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Handcrafted Acoustic Guitars by Claude St. Denis

Choosing a handcrafted acoustic guitar is a personal experience. Whether you're considering your first custom-built guitar or adding something special to your collection, I'm happy to answer your questions.

I've put together answers to some of the questions I hear most often about my guitars, the woods I use, the building process and the guitar repair services I offer from my workshop in Emsdale, Ontario.

Ask Us A Question

  • Every guitar I build is made by hand, one at a time, with careful attention to detail. Unlike mass-produced guitars, I personally select the tonewoods, shape and assemble the instrument, and fine-tune it to bring out its natural sound.

    I only build a small number of guitars each year, allowing me to give every instrument the time and attention it deserves. My goal is to create a guitar that feels right, sounds beautiful and brings you enjoyment for a lifetime.

  • I specialise in three handcrafted steel-string acoustic guitar designs:

    • Dreadnought: A larger-bodied guitar known for its rich bass, full sound and strong projection.

    • Standard Steel String (Triple S): A versatile guitar offering a comfortable playing experience and beautifully balanced tone.

    • 000 (Triple O): A smaller-bodied guitar appreciated for its responsiveness, clarity and comfortable feel.

    Each design has its own character, and I'd be happy to help you explore which one best suits your playing style.

  • Absolutely! That's one of the wonderful things about having a guitar handcrafted just for you.

    I enjoy working with guitarists to discuss their playing preferences, the sound they're looking for and the materials that might suit their instrument. From selecting beautiful tonewoods to discussing specific details and finishes, I want your guitar to feel like it was made just for you, because it was!

  • The choice of wood plays an important role in both the sound and appearance of an acoustic guitar.

    I work with carefully selected tonewoods, including Sitka spruce, Adirondack spruce and a variety of hardwoods for the backs, sides and necks.

    Every piece of wood has its own characteristics, and I take the time to select and work with materials that will bring out the best in each guitar.

  • Building a handcrafted guitar takes time, patience and careful attention to detail. I personally work on every stage of the process, from selecting the wood through to the final setup.

    Since I only build a limited number of guitars each year, timelines depend on my current projects, the design and the details of your guitar.

    If you're interested in having a guitar built, contact me and I'll be happy to discuss my current availability.

  • The price of a handcrafted acoustic guitar depends on the design, the tonewoods selected and any custom features you'd like included.

    Rather than offering a one-size-fits-all price, I prefer to talk with you about what you're looking for so we can explore the options together.

    Feel free to contact me to discuss your ideas and pricing.

  • Of course! I enjoy meeting fellow guitar enthusiasts and sharing my passion for guitar building.

    My workshop is located in Emsdale, Ontario, just north of Huntsville in the Almaguin Highlands. Visits are by appointment only, so please contact me ahead of time to arrange a suitable time.

    You can see my workmanship firsthand, talk guitars and, when instruments are available, experience how they feel and sound.

  • Yes! Along with building handcrafted acoustic guitars, I also provide professional guitar repairs, setups, maintenance and restoration.

    I've had the pleasure of working on instruments from manufacturers such as Martin, Gibson and Collings, helping owners improve playability, address problems and restore treasured guitars.

    My services include guitar setups, neck adjustments and resets, bridge and saddle repairs, pickup installation and more extensive restoration work.

    If your guitar needs some attention, give me a call. I'd be happy to discuss what it needs.

  • Ontario's changing seasons can be particularly challenging for acoustic guitars. Dry indoor air during winter and higher humidity in summer can affect the wood, tuning and playability of your instrument.

    I recommend keeping your guitar in a stable environment, away from direct heat, excessive moisture and sudden temperature changes. Maintaining a relative humidity of approximately 45% to 55% is a good target for most acoustic guitars.

    A quality guitar case, a reliable hygrometer and an appropriate guitar humidifier can go a long way towards protecting your instrument.

    If you're ever unsure about caring for your guitar, just ask. I'm always happy to offer advice.

  • Getting started is easy. Just give me a call or send me an email!

    We can talk about the type of guitar you're interested in, your playing style, the sound you enjoy and any special details you have in mind.

    Whether you're ready to commission a handcrafted acoustic guitar or simply have a few questions, I'd be happy to hear from you.

    Claude St. Denis
    Emsdale, Ontario
    Phone: 705-788-4592
    Contact me

    Workshop visits by appointment only.

A Few Words Between Chords

  • “What I love the most is that my guitar was built by a man that puts every ounce of passion into his art and my guitar will forever carry that energy from Claude. I play her with pride.”

    Christina Hutt

  • “Claude impressed me right away. Everything he does is very precise. In fact he explains all aspects of your guitar to you including as Martin would say ‘the care and feeding’ of your instruments. He’s been a Godsend for me having worked on some of my very expensive instruments.”

    Dave Matheson (custom 000)

  • “St. Denis specializes in very specific workmanship, which he applies to the three designs of guitars he makes – dreadnought, standard, and 000. He only makes 3- 6 guitars per year. Each individual guitar is hand detailed and made in his shop. Claude attends to all the details personally.”

    Douglas McLean

  • “The real proof is in the playing and, simply put, Claude’s guitars look and sound fantastic. As a songwriter I have owned a number of good quality guitars over the past 45 years, but I have never owned a guitar that ‘fit’ me as well, or sounded as good as this St. Denis guitar does.”

    Jamie Oppenheimer

  • “I can honestly say that I have never worked with someone with such an eye for detail as he walked me through each phase of the build. With the level of quality, it is of little wonder as to why his guitars produce the sounds and sustainability that they do.”

    Bob Gray

  • “One of my favorite things in the world is taking the guitar to Claude’s shop, then waiting while he opens the case and gently says ‘Well, Hello!’ to the guitar. It is obvious the love and caring he puts in his craft and watching that unfold is priceless.”

    Christy Flynn-Sollman & Jamey Sollman

  • “After three years, I know that I will play and enjoy this guitar for my entire life. I highly recommend that any guitarist looking for their next ‘true love’ visit Claude and learns first hand what perfection sounds like.”

    Dave Gray

  • “I have owned and played many guitars over 40 years. The passion Claude shows, the attention to detail, and the uncompromising quality set his guitars apart. The sustain goes on forever and the sound is out of this world. You must drop in and see him. Hearing is believing!!”

    Mark Hockey

  • “Unfortunately, time and circumstances had rendered it almost unplayable. If not for drastic surgery by Claude, it would have been reduced to firewood. With the quality of his workmanship, and frankly, compassion, he restored the old girl to her status as first love. The price was damn reasonable too.”

    Jim McCuaig

  • “Bought my custom-built St. Denis guitar two years ago. The sound of this instrument is amazing and the quality and craftmanship is superb. I am only a self-taught player, but this fine guitar has truly helped me to learn. Claude St. Denis, you are a master at building guitars.”

    Peter Turnbull

  • “The feel and balance are great, and the action was excellent. I was amazed at the overall tone and natural volume. The sustain was like a big old bell. It seems to ring forever.”

    Dave Papernick

  • “Claude did such an incredible job on my harmony and has unparallel attention to detail in both guitar repair and guitar building. Since I have met Mr. St. Denis, I have had the pleasure of playing a dozen St. Denis guitars and every single one is a masterpiece.”

    James Gray

  • "Claude went above and beyond my expectations and my guitars sound and play great!"

    Doug Spiller

  • “For every one of my guitars he takes in he explains exactly what he’s going to do and then he does it. What a concept! Beyond that Claude has become a friend.”

    Dave Matheson (guitar repairs)

  • "Very fine guitars have had mine now for a number of years and it’s fantastic Never had any issues and the sound is awesome"

    Peter Turnbull

  • "I've owned one of Claude's guitars for about a year now, and it is an exquisite instrument. I would recommend his guitars to anyone who knows the difference between a good guitar and an exceptional one. Claude has also worked on three of my other guitars and his repair work is excellent."

    Jamie Oppenheimer

  • "Claude is a luthier beyond compare. If you are looking for a custom handmade guitar right here in Almaguin Highlands in Ontario, you came to the right place cowboy."

    Jimbo

Read all our Testimonials

Get in Touch

If you are thinking of a very special guitar that is a handcrafted quality build, for yourself, or someone else, please contact me for details.

Phone: 1-705-788-4592

Claude St. Denis
Emsdale, ON. P0A 1J0