(NEW) After a long wait and plenty of excitement in the acoustic guitar world, we are finally seeing our first Vintage OM/TS from Bourgeois Guitars' Touchstone series, a collaboration with the Eastman Guitars shop in Beijing.
In an effort to create instruments that can be offered at a price point between the guitars made by the Eastman and Bourgeois shops, respectively, the manufacturing is divided between the two locations. The tops are chosen, braced and voiced at the Bourgeois shop in Lewiston, ME, and then sent to Beijing for body assembly and finishing. The guitars are then brought back to Bourgeois for final setup.
The first offerings feature the familiar pairing of solid Sitka spruce and East Indian rosewood, with scalloped Adirondack spruce braces and small maple bridge plates. This Orchestra Model has more or less traditional "28 style" appointments, a look that has endured for 90 years now: three ring rosette, herringbone top trim, ivoroid body binding, zipper back strip. The mahogany neck has Bourgeois' comfortable modified V shape, with a 1 23/32" nut width, 2.2" bone saddle and a long 25 1/2" scale length. The fingerboard and bridge are ebony, the bridge pins are ivoroid. The tuners are Schaller Grand Tune, a smooth 20:1 machine that we are quite fond of around here. Includes a quality hard case.
The voice has a sound that is reminiscent of both makers' guitars... much of the balance that Bourgeois is known for, but with a bit more of a scooped midrange and excellent articulation up and down the neck. A lovely guitar!
Serial #T2310080 (Actual instrument pictured)
List price: $3,300... AMW Price: $2,975
For more information, email info@acousticmusicworks.com or call (412) 422-0710