PLEASE READ: As you can see by googling my on-line store ALUMPSTER’S GUITARS, I generally sell only Martin, Gibson, Guild, Taylor, Larrivee, and Alvarez-Yairi guitars. Most of these models are made so well that they tend to increase in value and improve in the complexity and resonance of their sound as they age, regardless of their appearance. This guitar, like all my guitars, is available at a negotiable Buy It Now price in my on-line store at any time. I will also consider reasonable offers in my store, including installment payments and trade-ins. If you have a question about this guitar, please Google “alumpster’s guitars” to ask on-line or call 803-731-0515.
Crafted by Dana
Bourgeois in Lewiston, Maine, Bourgeois guitars take the traditional forms of
American guitar craft and bring them to life with superb craftsmanship and
expert wood selection. Dana Bourgeois has a reputation as one of the best
"guitar-voicers" ever, and his work over the past four decades has
helped set the mark for what luthier-built acoustic instruments should be. By
the year 2000, Dana Bourgeois Guitars had crafted about 1,500 of the finest
acoustic instruments played by musicians around the world for more than a
quarter of a century. Now re-incorporated as Pantheon-Bourgeois Guitars, this “boutique”
company sells guitars for prices into five figures, such as the Bourgeois Aged
Tone OM42 with Brazilian Rosewood for a retail price of $13,295.
Some player comments
from the web:
You'll
be knocked out by the beauty, the tone, and the playability - you'll be
impressed with every facet of these incredible instruments!!! These are the
type of instruments that you play the first thing in the morning when you get
up and the last thing at night before you go to sleep--please warn your
significant other.....
Their
sound runs more along Martin lines than Taylor. Each Bourgeois guitar is voiced
individually to suit a specific set of specs, so tone varies more between
Bourgeois guitars than Taylors; ours has the voice of a mature Martin HD28V,
maybe not quite as loud, but louder than most….Conclusion? If I really wanted the Martin sound I'd get a
Bourgeois. Are you listening Martin? TRUE, TRUE, TRUE.
Bourgeois
guitars are handmade, and you can bet the build quality is going to be even better
than Taylor’s. The sound--well, my Bourgeois Slope D is a very different animal
compared to my Taylor. It has a wonderful mellow, woody, throaty sound, not too
bright, nice deep but not overpowering bass.
I've
only played one once...and it was in my pre-Taylor days. I was completely blown
away by the playability and the sound. I should have said I was literally
stunned. I think they sound wonderful. I have an 814ce and I play my Bourgeois
more. They are very different.
As
to my Bourgeois, it is "so damn good" that I could care less about torrification
and other modern technology. I have played quite a few Bourgeois guitars and
they are insanely great instruments.
Dana Bourgeois is possibly best known for “The Country Boy,” a version of the Martin style dreadnought shape,
which was first built for country star Ricky Skaggs. Most folks order this
guitar with Sitka spruce tops and Mahogany back and sides and feel it is a
wonderful dreadnought with a clear clean balanced tone, with a strong punch for
single note runs. As the Bourgeois site says, “Mahogany has a quick velocity of
sound, relatively light weight, and noticeable midrange overtone attenuation.
As a result, mahogany guitars have their own sound. Warm, dry, woody, not
particularly complex, but direct, lively, and famously easy to record. We dress
the Country Boy in classic appointments such as ebony fretboard and bridge,
wooden rosette, tortoiseshell binding, nickel Waverly tuners, and the same
diamond volute that we use on the back of our Vintage Dreadnought peghead. In
addition to selecting only the finest quartersawn and matched South American
mahogany backs and sides, the Country Boy Dreadnought is appointed with an [AAA]
spruce top, whether Adirondack or Sitka.
Bourgeois adds “When
Ricky Skaggs suggested the name ‘Country Boy’ for our mahogany dreadnought, we
all fell on the floor. We still wonder where he got such a great idea for a
name! Over the years we have considered changing the name but we can’t, it was
a gift!”
Some on-line player
reviews of the Country Boy:
Just
awesome, this is what a mahogany Dread should sound like. Old enough to be full
of life and power, young enough to look great. I guarantee you Ricky would be
happy to own this one himself.
Each
note has commanding presence, yet is balanced and well represented. Chords ring
with powerful, driving volume and lead notes are clear, punchy, and distinct.
At
a recent show, after playing 10s of guitars, the best guitar in the place was a
Bourgy Country Boy. Absolutely righteous. Loud, beautiful tone, perfect set-up
and it even fingerpicked like a dream.
The Ricky Skaggs model
is an exceptionally fine dreadnought. Currently the "Country Boy Deluxe"
guitar lists for $4695, and sells for $4225... OR, you could buy this one in very
good condition for only $2695!
This particular Ricky
Skaggs Country Boy dreadnought is a great example of Dana Bourgeois' work. The
serial number is 001306, which I believe indicates a build date of 1998. It has
choice Honduran Mahogany back, sides, and neck, with a select Sitka Spruce top,
Kluson closed-back tuners, Ebony fingerboard and bridge with small dot inlays
in fingerboard, black white-dot bridge pins and
endpin (also possibly Ebony), and a bone nut and saddle. The full body
binding and pick guard are vintage tortoise, the inlaid rosette is natural
wood, and the headstock veneer appears to be Brazilian Rosewood.
This is a Ricky Skaggs Signature
Model guitar, with Ricky’s signature on the label and a beautifully figured bearclaw
Sitka Spruce top. Most luthiers believe that bearclaws indicate that the wood is
stiffer and possibly older, creating a larger stiffness/weight ratio that
allows for a thinner and therefore more responsive top. Bluegrassers—any guitarist!--will
love this guitar, as it plays like a dream and is very responsive across the
entire fretboard. The notes are clear and distinct, the attack is quick and
sure, there is plenty of "growl," and the balance from bass to treble
is perfect. This guitar really shows the difference between a true "voiced
top" instrument and a factory formula-built guitar.
The action is very fast
at just 2/32” at the 12th fret low E, making intricate solos
effortless to play, especially with the slightly longer 1 23/32” nut. There is
some visible fret wear in the first five frets, and a professionally repaired
crack in the bottom lower bout side. The excellent Gearlux hard shell case is
near perfect, including a key—this is essential, because everyone’s
gonna want to play this guitar!
Buyer pays a flat rate
of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs
elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payments by Paypal, cashier’s
checks, or personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every
effort to describe and illustrate this outstanding guitar and case with
scrupulous accuracy. Please read the description carefully, check out the pictures,
and ask any questions you might have before purchasing this guitar. Its return
will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously
misrepresented in this listing.
Thank you for your
interest in this wonderful guitar.