Our top quality products are the result of two very different passions :

Passion for Wood and Passion for Music.
In the 20's, Marius Despiau decides to build up a sawmill. Jean-Louis Despiau heritates from his father's knowledge of wood and later on takes over the sawmill from his father.
As violin and viola player and as a passionate person for Music, Jean-Louis Despiau acquires a sensitiveness for sound. In the 70's, he begins his first research on acoustics.

In 1984, together with his son Pierre-Jean, they create the first DESPIAU bridge. Moreover, they create the first bridge in plane. This wood is softer than maple and used to correct nasal sounds.Combining these two passions was a great idea. Indeed, Chevalets Despiau is now supplying luthiers and dealers in over 20 countries around the world.

In 1999, Jane and Nicolas Despiau decided to join the company too.

Today, the Chevalets Despiau Company offers a range of 850 different models.

Our knowledge of wood and more generally of forestry is a know-how shared by a family.
The mechanics and acoustics of a bridge is very complicated but also determinant to get the purest sound.

This is the reason why our models are the outcome of years and years of research on both bridge mechanics and acoustics.
Moreover, in order to guarantee you the best quality of wood, we choose only wood coming from Ex-Yugoslavia.

We also made research to improve our treatment. Now, with our new treatment method, we are able to control the hardness of the wood. The treatment is not only on the surface but inside the wood too. This new treatment also makes the wood stronger. This is why you will get a purer sound with our treated bridges.

" OPTING FOR OUR PRODUCTS IS DISCOVERING OUR PASSION FOR BRIDGES AND OUR TECHNOLOGICAL KNOW-HOW. "