Guitar Geek Tony Polecastro, host of Acoustic Live has tried, played and recorded over 500 top-notch acoustic guitars and here is what he thinks about Bourgeois Guitars:
In the United States, Dana Bourgeois Guitars have been the cream of the crop for years, because Dana is an absolute authority when it comes to tone wood. The Guitar Professor just knows an awful lot about guitars and uses and shares all that knowledge to put a contemporary twist on his own acoustic guitars. In the 1980’s he was very much involved with of the revival of the Orchestra Model (OM), that later on gained even more momentum by players like Eric Clapton and John Mayer. Nowadays, OM’s or almost as common as dreadnought guitars, but all of this started with Dana.
Whatever Bourgeois makes, you know that the tone woods, the finish, the sound and playability are as good as it gets. But Bourgeois has one slight disadvantage: availability. Every year Dana and his small team make about 400 guitars...
... and they know how to find their way to professional musicians like Ricky Skaggs, Doc Watson and other enthusiasts.
Every now and then one found it’s way across the Atlantic and even to our store in Dedemsvaart, but those were very rare occasions. Thanks to a new collaboration between guitar giant Eastman and Bourgeois, the worldwide distribution is now getting a boost.
During the previous NAMM show, Fellow Coen Bults was already allowed to create its own Bourgeois CustomModel, which we expect soon. And there's a lot more beautifull guitargoodness on the way from Maine. We can't wait and luckily we already have some pictures.
SJ Custom Legacy Series
A guitar that feels like winning the lottery, literally. Because with this one we won in a special raffle for dealers during the 2021 Virtual NAMM Show. Coen was the lucky winner to order this unique model.
This is a Bourgeois that really stands out: an oval soundhole with some unique pick-guards dressed up in a jet black tuxedo. And that is just the front. The secret weapon on the back and sides is sinker-mahogany.
This mahogany has been at the bottom of a river for over a century, has recently been recovered after decades of slow and steady aging, carefully salvaged, dried and is now an exceptional tone wood. Described by most as 'like mahogany, but on steroids', especially impressive in the low end. Add a short-scale neck and you know you're getting your hands on something special.
Dreadnought Country Boy Heirloom Series
Dana Bourgeois has spent years researching old dreadnoughts. Why does one guitar sound a bit stiff but also crystal clear, the other one 'boomy' and the even older models perfectly balanced? According to the wood alchemist from Maine, this has to do with the stiffness of the soundboard, and due to the fact that wood changes, this stiffness sort of shifts across the soundboard over the course of the years, hence changing and improving the sound over the years. If you create a clever bracing pattern, taking you get a guitar that sounds great from day one. Like this Country Boy dreadnought with an adirondack top, a beautiful mahogany back and a glorious hi gloss finish. The Country Boy also features animal protein
glue (Hide Glue) and will be available very soon.
Bourgeois Grand Auditorium One-fifty Legacy Series
Bourgeois was often asked why he makes dreadnoughts and OM models, but not a Grand Auditorium? Because those guitar hit the sweet spot between an OM and a dreadnought. The reality is that Bourgeois has been doing this for years, but under a different name: Jumbo Orchestra Model (JOM). Now they also release those guitars under the more commonly accepted name Grand Auditorium.
This “One-Fifty” was another guitar from the 2021 NAMM selection that TFOA was able to
buy. These NAMM guitars are highly sought after, as Dana Bourgeois is known for really
making the extra mile when it comes to the yearly NAMM show collection.
This guitar has a slightly wider neck (1 23/32 inches), adirondack spruce and beautiful curly rosewood. A dream for fingerstyle players, but thanks to the model a great all-rounder.
If you want to know more please feel free to contact us at: info@tfoa.eu or +31 (0) 523-232205
