A band I played in years ago was mixing in the B room of a large nashville studio years ago and George Straight and his long time recording crew were in the A room recording that week. Late at night I walked through the main room they were recording in and they had an iso room just for acoustic guitar off to the side. I walked in and was amazing to find a room filled with roughly 20 different Bourgeois guitars. At the time I literally had no idea what they were. OMG it was ear openning. I still havent been able to own one but nothing and I truly mean nothing has come close to those instruments for me. They sound so big and alive especially the smaller ones. Its been nearly 20 yrs and Im still floored by the sound they have. One day before I go I hope to own one.
I’ve played a bunch and my large sound hole deep body OM with Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack top is my favorite to date. You’re number one pick was the review I saw that started me down my love of Bourgeois guitars path. I’m now on the hunt for a 000 with sinker mahogany and a European spruce top. I’ll be sure to let my wife know that you’re willing to take the blame when I find it. Thanks for taking one for the team Ton. I’ll be sure to send you some coffee for your troubles 😅 P.S. you know you’re a guitar geek when you’re on vacation in Italy and you set you’re alarm with the time change to watch acoustic Tuesday
Hi, Tony: I have a Jumbo OM (Adirondack spruce/Indian rosewood). The serial number is 000194. I had Dana make this for me in 1994 when he was still selling direct. I needed a guitar to play in a Hawaiian trio and compete with a very loud ukulele. The JOM really worked. Over the years it has opened up even more and is still a favorite for tone and playability. My latest Bourgeois is a 2008 Country Box Deluxe (Adirondack/figured mahogany) dread. My inspiration was a 2015 video of Bryan Sutton and Courtney Hartman playing Bourgeois 40th Anniversary limited editions. The dread had everything I could imagine - warmth, woodiness, projection, and sustain. I started looking for other 40th anniversary guitars for sale in 2021 and found the 2008 Country Boy Deluxe which reminded me of the sound I heard from Bryan's video. Oddly enough, just after I bought this guitar, a 40th anniversary dread showed up on Reverb - too late for me. But my 2008 is a beauty and has everything I could ask for in a mahogany dread. I am primarily a rhythm guitarist. Thanks for your video. Aloha, MIKE McCRARY
Thanks for those suggestions, Tony. I LOVE Gwennifer Raymond!- I just got tickets to her show here in Ann Arbor, a tiny little place where you're right up on the little stage. I cannot wait. I came across this Welsh treasure on your show as well!!!
I don't have an OM in my collection, and that OM tone was mesmerizing. I have heard nothing, but great things about Bourgeois, and the tuned soundboards. A great video Tony!
The only Bourgeois I have ever played is the one I own. 🙂 It is a 2015 DS Custom, 12 fret, slotted head stock, aged tone adi top, Cuban Mahogany back and sides, aged tone finish and braces, hyde glue, ebony bridge and pins. Beautiful tone both finger picked or flat picked, and has such a fabulous fragrance.
That sounds like a smok’n guitar! Right up my alley. Is it a custom order? Or a standard build ? Basically, can I view it online? I’m shopping for a 12 fret, slot head, preferably with a 25.5” scale. I’m a sucker for straight grained quarter sawn rosewood, but an exotic mahogany type may just do the trick! I always recorded with mahogany, but preferred rosewood “on the couch”, and at 64, my recording days are over (other than for family “posterity” - lol) I’m also ready to hang up my HD-28 and get a 12 fret dreadnaught, too. Any thoughts or recommendations? Peace
An after thought……I had a 12 fret, 25.5” scale, mahogany Collings, that I should never have sold! Can’t remember the model number, but it’s a long standing regular build for them. It was the 1 13/16” nut that I couldn’t adjust to. So I guess a 1 3/4” is my nut width. Funny that my 1970 Guild f-112 with a 1 13/16” nut doesn’t bug me at all. Peace
@@cherrypickerguitars here is a link to a past Reverb listing, which is very similar to my guitar. Nice thing about it, projects well with a light touch finger style, but you wont overdrive the top flat picking. I have a Bedell 12 fret, red spruce top / rosewood back & sides. It is very touch sensitive to finger style, but you have to be careful how hard you hit with flat pick or you will end up overdriving the top, you don't have to worry about that on the Bourgeois. Peace my friend!
@@cherrypickerguitars Adjusting to different nut widths is best handled with proper action. I prefer 1 11/16" but have a couple of guitars with 1 3/4" that are fine with a nice, low action. Of course, it depends on your playing style, but a proper setup with good action is a great equalizer. Find a good luthier and have them set up your guitar to fit your style. Since someone has mentioned age, I'm 75. Play on!
I've unfortunately never played a bourgeois guitar but am about to go out to LA to a guitar shop to play some. They've mostly been out of my price range or there were Martin's I would rather have for about the price or cheaper. However Bourgeois has now come out with the touchstone series for $2,950 with a collaboration with Eastman. The tops are voiced in Lewiston, Maine and the Bourgeois factory and the rosewood back and sides are voiced and assembled by Eastman luthiers in China but trained by Dana. I have heard them on review and they sound like a Bourgeois. I would actually like to see you review one. Or do a show on Eastman who I believe makes some of the best valued handmade guitars right now. Thanks Tony.
My favorite is a Slope D custom, Adi/Sinker Hog with Guatemalan Rosewood board and bridge. It’s a 12 fretter with amazing subtle aesthetics truly beautiful but a full on monster that can be soft and delicate or almost too powerful
Hey! Could you do another one of these “best of” in regards to Boucher? I’m aware of your previous Boucher reviews, but I’d like your take on this small Canadian builder who brokers ALL the best red spruce in the whole wide world! Do they truly keep the very best Adirondack spruce tops for their own builds? I’m looking for a long scale 000, 12 fret slot head, and their Heritage Goose is top of my list. Peace
Bourgeois oo all Sinker mahogany. Best Guitar I've currently played is a Custom Bourgeois OM Adi/indian rosewood and its was just divine. I had the luxury to own this OM for 2 years. I now own the oo all mahogany and it is the perfect guitar for me sonically and size. Bottom line is Bourgeois is my favorite builder! #GuitarIsLove
there is 2, first is a ds-260 slope shoulders 12 frets with sitka and ziricote b&S, 2nd is a custom LDBO 12 frets EIR+adirondack top on a gorgeous sunburst, the thickness of the treble on the LDBO o my...
I bought a Martin 000-28 and I reckon the action's too high. It needs setting up. Any suggestions about how to find a decent luthier? What do you look for? All hints, advice, suggestions gratefully received. I am concerned I'm gonna hand over a very pricey guitar to some stranger who'll mess it up.
Depends on where you live, but there are good luthiers around. Ask for recommendations from local music stores and for suggestions from other guitarists. Don't base your decision on price - good work costs and is totally worth it. A little research will point you in the right direction.
Some fantastic guitars you've got there, Tony. I wonder if Bourgeois include a free pair of socks with their guitars to compensate for all yours which have been knocked off? This is why I'm a teacher and not a comedian.
I've got a very nice L-DBO black blues guitar...baked Adi top Honduran Mahogany built wit AP glue....selling it so I can buy an OMS with a baked Italian spruce top and sinker mahogany back and sides also built with AP glue...oh yeah Gwenifer Raymond!
OK, TAC MEMBERS AND OTHERS!!! If you haven't figured it out by now in the RUclips world, "LIKES' help out a channel a whole lot--- I mean REALLY, a whole lot. So I see 2,258 views and only 108 likes????? REALLY, Tony deserves so much more than that. If you view the episode and take even a smidge of good stuff from it, LIKE IT!!! It doesn't hurt you, (nobody ever goes back and looks at their 'liked' episodes anyway) and it helps the channel HUMONGOUSLY! One second of your time means a world to these content creators who work their butt off for YOU, their subscribers. Nuff said...
Surely the first scratch on a guitar well north of £5k would see you fall to the floor, tuck into the foetal position crying mummy its broken I need a hug ...
A band I played in years ago was mixing in the B room of a large nashville studio years ago and George Straight and his long time recording crew were in the A room recording that week.
Late at night I walked through the main room they were recording in and they had an iso room just for acoustic guitar off to the side.
I walked in and was amazing to find a room filled with roughly 20 different Bourgeois guitars. At the time I literally had no idea what they were. OMG it was ear openning. I still havent been able to own one but nothing and I truly mean nothing has come close to those instruments for me.
They sound so big and alive especially the smaller ones. Its been nearly 20 yrs and Im still floored by the sound they have.
One day before I go I hope to own one.
I’ve played a bunch and my large sound hole deep body OM with Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack top is my favorite to date. You’re number one pick was the review I saw that started me down my love of Bourgeois guitars path. I’m now on the hunt for a 000 with sinker mahogany and a European spruce top. I’ll be sure to let my wife know that you’re willing to take the blame when I find it. Thanks for taking one for the team Ton. I’ll be sure to send you some coffee for your troubles 😅 P.S. you know you’re a guitar geek when you’re on vacation in Italy and you set you’re alarm with the time change to watch acoustic Tuesday
Definitely Bourgeois OM with IRW. Gorgeous tone and super comfy to play!
I want to be Tony Policastro when I grow up! Great guitars, phenomenal playing - you're the real deal. Thanks for this excellent video!!
Hi, Tony: I have a Jumbo OM (Adirondack spruce/Indian rosewood). The serial number is 000194. I had Dana make this for me in 1994 when he was still selling direct. I needed a guitar to play in a Hawaiian trio and compete with a very loud ukulele. The JOM really worked. Over the years it has opened up even more and is still a favorite for tone and playability. My latest Bourgeois is a 2008 Country Box Deluxe (Adirondack/figured mahogany) dread. My inspiration was a 2015 video of Bryan Sutton and Courtney Hartman playing Bourgeois 40th Anniversary limited editions. The dread had everything I could imagine - warmth, woodiness, projection, and sustain. I started looking for other 40th anniversary guitars for sale in 2021 and found the 2008 Country Boy Deluxe which reminded me of the sound I heard from Bryan's video. Oddly enough, just after I bought this guitar, a 40th anniversary dread showed up on Reverb - too late for me. But my 2008 is a beauty and has everything I could ask for in a mahogany dread. I am primarily a rhythm guitarist. Thanks for your video. Aloha, MIKE McCRARY
Thanks for those suggestions, Tony. I LOVE Gwennifer Raymond!- I just got tickets to her show here in Ann Arbor, a tiny little place where you're right up on the little stage. I cannot wait. I came across this Welsh treasure on your show as well!!!
I don't have an OM in my collection, and that OM tone was mesmerizing. I have heard nothing, but great things about Bourgeois, and the tuned soundboards. A great video Tony!
The only Bourgeois I have ever played is the one I own. 🙂 It is a 2015 DS Custom, 12 fret, slotted head stock, aged tone adi top, Cuban Mahogany back and sides, aged tone finish and braces, hyde glue, ebony bridge and pins. Beautiful tone both finger picked or flat picked, and has such a fabulous fragrance.
That sounds like a smok’n guitar! Right up my alley. Is it a custom order? Or a standard build ? Basically, can I view it online?
I’m shopping for a 12 fret, slot head, preferably with a 25.5” scale. I’m a sucker for straight grained quarter sawn rosewood, but an exotic mahogany type may just do the trick! I always recorded with mahogany, but preferred rosewood “on the couch”, and at 64, my recording days are over (other than for family “posterity” - lol)
I’m also ready to hang up my HD-28 and get a 12 fret dreadnaught, too. Any thoughts or recommendations?
Peace
An after thought……I had a 12 fret, 25.5” scale, mahogany Collings, that I should never have sold! Can’t remember the model number, but it’s a long standing regular build for them. It was the 1 13/16” nut that I couldn’t adjust to. So I guess a 1 3/4” is my nut width. Funny that my 1970 Guild f-112 with a 1 13/16” nut doesn’t bug me at all.
Peace
@@cherrypickerguitars here is a link to a past Reverb listing, which is very similar to my guitar. Nice thing about it, projects well with a light touch finger style, but you wont overdrive the top flat picking. I have a Bedell 12 fret, red spruce top / rosewood back & sides. It is very touch sensitive to finger style, but you have to be careful how hard you hit with flat pick or you will end up overdriving the top, you don't have to worry about that on the Bourgeois. Peace my friend!
@@cherrypickerguitars Adjusting to different nut widths is best handled with proper action. I prefer 1 11/16" but have a couple of guitars with 1 3/4" that are fine with a nice, low action. Of course, it depends on your playing style, but a proper setup with good action is a great equalizer. Find a good luthier and have them set up your guitar to fit your style. Since someone has mentioned age, I'm 75. Play on!
I've unfortunately never played a bourgeois guitar but am about to go out to LA to a guitar shop to play some. They've mostly been out of my price range or there were Martin's I would rather have for about the price or cheaper. However Bourgeois has now come out with the touchstone series for $2,950 with a collaboration with Eastman. The tops are voiced in Lewiston, Maine and the Bourgeois factory and the rosewood back and sides are voiced and assembled by Eastman luthiers in China but trained by Dana. I have heard them on review and they sound like a Bourgeois. I would actually like to see you review one. Or do a show on Eastman who I believe makes some of the best valued handmade guitars right now. Thanks Tony.
My favorite is a Slope D custom, Adi/Sinker Hog with Guatemalan Rosewood board and bridge. It’s a 12 fretter with amazing subtle aesthetics truly beautiful but a full on monster that can be soft and delicate or almost too powerful
Can't wait to one day play a Bourgeois. I've already told my wife I'm splurging on one asap
Curious how the Touchstone line will be. My D-Vintage Heirloom is one of those guitars that would take a lot to get me to part with it.
Hey! Could you do another one of these “best of” in regards to Boucher? I’m aware of your previous Boucher reviews, but I’d like your take on this small Canadian builder who brokers ALL the best red spruce in the whole wide world! Do they truly keep the very best Adirondack spruce tops for their own builds? I’m looking for a long scale 000, 12 fret slot head, and their Heritage Goose is top of my list.
Peace
Bourgeois oo all Sinker mahogany.
Best Guitar I've currently played is a Custom Bourgeois OM Adi/indian rosewood and its was just divine. I had the luxury to own this OM for 2 years. I now own the oo all mahogany and it is the perfect guitar for me sonically and size. Bottom line is Bourgeois is my favorite builder! #GuitarIsLove
Also a great finger style guy I learned of from you who bears repeating - Glenn Jones
there is 2, first is a ds-260 slope shoulders 12 frets with sitka and ziricote b&S, 2nd is a custom LDBO 12 frets EIR+adirondack top on a gorgeous sunburst, the thickness of the treble on the LDBO o my...
Hey Tony! Have you had a chance to play the Touchstone Series?
I bought a Martin 000-28 and I reckon the action's too high. It needs setting up. Any suggestions about how to find a decent luthier? What do you look for? All hints, advice, suggestions gratefully received. I am concerned I'm gonna hand over a very pricey guitar to some stranger who'll mess it up.
Depends on where you live, but there are good luthiers around. Ask for recommendations from local music stores and for suggestions from other guitarists. Don't base your decision on price - good work costs and is totally worth it. A little research will point you in the right direction.
Some fantastic guitars you've got there, Tony. I wonder if Bourgeois include a free pair of socks with their guitars to compensate for all yours which have been knocked off?
This is why I'm a teacher and not a comedian.
Question Tony: How does a large sound hole Effect the tone
I've got a very nice L-DBO black blues guitar...baked Adi top Honduran Mahogany built wit AP glue....selling it so I can buy an OMS with a baked Italian spruce top and sinker mahogany back and sides also built with AP glue...oh yeah Gwenifer Raymond!
Bourgeois guitars are great and gorgeous no doubt but it's also very expensive that not everyone can afford
OK, TAC MEMBERS AND OTHERS!!! If you haven't figured it out by now in the RUclips world, "LIKES' help out a channel a whole lot--- I mean REALLY, a whole lot. So I see 2,258 views and only 108 likes????? REALLY, Tony deserves so much more than that. If you view the episode and take even a smidge of good stuff from it, LIKE IT!!! It doesn't hurt you, (nobody ever goes back and looks at their 'liked' episodes anyway) and it helps the channel HUMONGOUSLY! One second of your time means a world to these content creators who work their butt off for YOU, their subscribers. Nuff said...
Nobody:
Tony: "Hey check out the extra wide nut on this guy (pointing towards guitar)
Surely the first scratch on a guitar well north of £5k would see you fall to the floor, tuck into the foetal position crying mummy its broken I need a hug ...