The unique instrument played by the band Angine de Poitrine is turning heads – and garnering attention for the luthier who created it. The band’s double-necked guitar, a microtonal instrument, was custom-made by Raphaël Le Breton, owner of Lutherie Le Breton in Alma.
Le Breton admits the band’s recent surge in popularity has been a surprise. “I didn’t think that a part of my work would have music fans dancing overseas a few months later,” he said.
While double-necked guitars have been popularized by musicians like Steve Vai, they remain a relatively rare sight for Western guitarists.
“I haven’t seen any others quite like it,” Le Breton said in an interview with Place publique, referring to Khn’s black and white guitar.
Le duo rock Angine de Poitrine.
Photo : Constantin Monfilliette
Le Breton was contacted by the musician in July 2023 and immediately felt a connection to the project.
“He already had a basic prototype – he had done some quality work. But he’s not a luthier, there were some shortcomings in terms of functionality and ergonomics. It needed to be reworked,” he added.
A Unique Sound
“Instead of the standard for an instrument – a traditional guitar, a traditional bass – which is in half steps, this required being in quarter tones. Instead of 12 traditional notes, you end up with 24,” explained Le Breton.
This unique design means the frets on the guitar are closer together, requiring a great deal of precision when playing.
“The standard fretting remains in place. We really install another fret between two [frets] to get, precisely, another fraction in the scale,” the luthier continued.
This unique configuration is what creates the band’s signature sound, recognizable in tracks like Sherpa and Tohogd. The band’s growing popularity is a testament to their innovative sound and striking visual aesthetic.
To ensure smooth handling of the instrument, Le Breton opted to combine two classic bodies: a Stratocaster and a Precision bass, both timeless designs from Fender.
When you see him switch between the two, he’s pretty fast.
A Flood of Messages
Since the band’s rise in popularity, Le Breton has been receiving a lot of messages. People are curious and want to know how he designed the now-famous guitar. “I even had someone from Poland reach out to me.”
For now, he isn’t being asked much about the identities of the people behind the masks of the duo from Saguenay. And he has no intention of revealing it.
“I keep professional secrets like a doctor with his patient. They asked me to keep it confidential,” the luthier said.
As for the future, he doesn’t know what Khn’s next guitar will seem like, but he already knows it will likely push boundaries.
“We’ll see if One can make it even more extravagant,” he concluded.
