Paris Guitar Festival 2025: essential rands & game-changing Gear unveiled!

This was my second time attending the Paris Guitar Festival, and once again, it was a fantastic experience! Not only was I amazed by the exceptional gear and incredible new products, but I also had the pleasure of meeting several Guitar Pro users and fans. It’s always great fun getting to chat with them, hear their feedback, and see how Guitar Pro has become an essential part of their learning journey.

Over three days, this year’s edition brought together more than 110 exhibitors from 11 countries, offering visitors an exceptional showcase of handcrafted guitars, amplifiers, pickups, pedals, and accessories.

The festival also featured over 50 showcase concerts, workshops, and conferences, along with test zones and isolated trial rooms, allowing visitors to try out instruments in complete peace.

Some of the festival’s highlights included concerts by big names such as Manu Lanvin & The Devil Blues, Gérard Lanvin, Berta Rojas, Angelo Debarre, and Anne Sila. The event also showcased the initiative “Osez la Guitare” (Dare to Play Guitar), which is dedicated to introducing guitar playing to people of all ages and skill levels.

Here are the new releases that caught my attention. I hope you’ll find them as exciting as I did!

Guitars you won’t find anywhere else!

Berg Guitares is a French company founded in 2022 by Jonathan Berg, specializing in high-end electric guitars. Based in Pontoise, the brand highlights French craftsmanship and follows an eco-friendly approach by using sustainably sourced local wood and natural finishing materials.

One of their standout new models, “La Muse,” combines vintage aesthetics with modern innovations, making a high-end guitar more accessible. This model retains the sound and visual appeal of an authentic 1960s guitar while integrating contemporary features.

Berg Guitars has received two public awards—at the Paris Guitar Festival 2024 and the Montreux International Guitar Show 2024—demonstrating its growing reputation both in France and internationally.

I was immediately drawn to the stunning guitars from Belforti !

Belforti Instruments is a French brand that redefines electric guitars and basses with a unique approach, combining innovation, design, and exceptional sound. Founded in 2022 by Marin Nourry, the company caters to musicians seeking an instrument that stands out both visually and in terms of feel and playability.

Belforti is also committed to sustainability, using carefully selected woods and high-quality materials to ensure durability and superior sound quality.

For those who love a personalized touch, Belforti offers an advanced 3D configurator that lets you customize every detail, with over 10,000 possible combinations!

I had the pleasure of discovering Florent Guesdon, a luthier based in Marseille who specializes in crafting high-end guitars that blend traditional craftsmanship with acoustic innovations. Each instrument is meticulously designed with a focus on ergonomics, sound balance, and tonal richness.

TAMPCO: French pedals with a bold character

Since 2021, TAMPCO has been making waves in the effects pedal world with its unique approach: high-quality sound, standout style, and, most importantly, a strong personality. Each pedal is designed and built in France with an obsession for originality. No soulless clones or copy-paste circuits here, but pedals that bring something fresh to musicians’ setups.

Their catalog includes some buzz-worthy models:

• The Gazelle:
  A tube preamp that delivers unmistakable warmth and dynamics, it’s perfect for waking up a dull amplifier.
  
  
• The All-Bender:
  A fuzz inspired by Tone Bender circuits, but with expanded versatility for tones ranging from silky smooth to aggressive grit.
  
  
• The Tone Oven:
  An overdrive that preserves the instrument’s natural tone while adding character.
  
  
• The Twist:
  A modulation pedal that sits between a dreamy chorus and a thick flanger, it’s ideal for adding movement to your sound.

And then there’s the Distorter, their latest creation, developed in collaboration with Nelson Martins (bassist and guitarist of Skip The Use).

What makes it special? It blends three circuits in parallel:


– A clean boost
– A warm overdrive
– An aggressive fuzz

The result? A massive range of tones, from subtle crunch to heavy saturation reminiscent of Muse or Queens of the Stone Age.

What sets TAMPCO apart is its ability to craft pedals that don’t just sound “good” or “efficient”—they add real character to a musician’s tone. If you’re looking to break free from the ordinary and shape a unique sonic identity, TAMPCO is definitely a brand to keep an eye on.

Invaders Amplification: the Belgian sound that stands out

Founded in 2014 by François Deschamps, Invaders Amplification has established itself as a Belgian reference in the world of guitar and bass amplifiers and pedals.

Among their standout models:

The 535 BlueGrass is known for delivering crystal-clear tones and natural crunch, thanks to its 6L6 tubes and adjustable power from 35W to 17W. Its compact design makes it a great choice for guitarists looking for versatility and high-quality sound.

The 950 Bad’As – A 50W EL34-powered high-gain amp with two channels, perfect for those seeking rich distortion and exceptional dynamic response.

To celebrate its 10th anniversary, the brand unveiled a special edition of the 530 BlueVerb Combo Reverb. This 30W/15W combo amp (1×12”), featuring 6L6 tubes, is inspired by vintage Californian tones, offering warm cleans and a slightly fuzzy crunch. The anniversary edition stands out with a solid walnut finish and a woven cane grille, all hand-assembled in Belgium.

Can’t Wait for Paris Guitar Festival 2026! I’ll definitely be back next year.