Bourgeois Style 0 Prototype Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2009)
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Item # 10893
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Bourgeois Style 0 Prototype Model Flat Top Acoustic Guitar (2009), made in Lewiston, ME, serial # 006006, natural finish, mahogany back and sides, European red spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
This beautiful modern small-body guitar is a prototype by Dana Bourgeois for the Style 0 model, his rendition of the classic Martin 0-18. This exact guitar was shown at Summer NAMM '09 as #6 out of 8 prototypes. The label is hand-signed by Dana Bourgeois, with the above information notated neatly on the label in his hand. Bourgeois guitars in general are among the finest of the many traditionally inspired modern flat-tops, very finely crafted of extremely high-grade materials. Both the mahogany back and sides and the European red spruce top on this guitar show a superb straight and even graining, the way Martin liked it "back in the day".
The Style 0 model is still in production at Bourgeois, this is how they describe it: "Larger than the Piccolo Parlor and with a 25" scale neck, Style 0 represents the smallest body size in this classic progression, offering 'bring-it-anywhere' comfort paired with 14-fret playability. Don't let its diminutive size fool you. Style 0 is voiced to emphasize surprising balance and presence, perhaps more familiar to players of our medium-sized guitars."
We can only add that this prototype espouses these ideas in spades, offering a big round tone that belies its small size. The slightly longer scale length than comparable Martins definitely contributes a little of extra power to the sound, aided by the very finely worked scalloped X-braced top. Today we find these traditional Martin-style smaller guitars are often overbuilt by modern luthiers weaned on Dreadnoughts. This Bourgeois is a fine example of a concert-size guitar done right, a fine playing and excellent sounding instrument that is also a neat part of this company's history.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar has seen some use but shows only some light wear and plays perfectly. The top has one noticeable ding along the bottom edge but hardly any play wear; the pickguard shows some very light scuffing from picking and that's about it. The back and sides are similarly clean, the back of the neck is almost completely unmarked as well. The frets have some light divoting under the B and E strings the lower positions but nothing that affects play. A vintage Gibson style plastic strap button has been added at the heel, this and a K&K under bridge pickup were fitted by noted luthier George Youngblood. This is a superb playing and sounding instrument, a fine example of Maine-based luthier Dana Bourgeois' work and easily one of the best modern "0" sized guitars we have encountered. It comes in a fitted tolex hard shell case with a sticker array on the lid. Excellent + Condition.
This beautiful modern small-body guitar is a prototype by Dana Bourgeois for the Style 0 model, his rendition of the classic Martin 0-18. This exact guitar was shown at Summer NAMM '09 as #6 out of 8 prototypes. The label is hand-signed by Dana Bourgeois, with the above information notated neatly on the label in his hand. Bourgeois guitars in general are among the finest of the many traditionally inspired modern flat-tops, very finely crafted of extremely high-grade materials. Both the mahogany back and sides and the European red spruce top on this guitar show a superb straight and even graining, the way Martin liked it "back in the day".
The Style 0 model is still in production at Bourgeois, this is how they describe it: "Larger than the Piccolo Parlor and with a 25" scale neck, Style 0 represents the smallest body size in this classic progression, offering 'bring-it-anywhere' comfort paired with 14-fret playability. Don't let its diminutive size fool you. Style 0 is voiced to emphasize surprising balance and presence, perhaps more familiar to players of our medium-sized guitars."
We can only add that this prototype espouses these ideas in spades, offering a big round tone that belies its small size. The slightly longer scale length than comparable Martins definitely contributes a little of extra power to the sound, aided by the very finely worked scalloped X-braced top. Today we find these traditional Martin-style smaller guitars are often overbuilt by modern luthiers weaned on Dreadnoughts. This Bourgeois is a fine example of a concert-size guitar done right, a fine playing and excellent sounding instrument that is also a neat part of this company's history.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 13 7/8 in. (35.2 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 in. (10.2 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 in. (635 mm.). Width of nut is 1 11/16 in. (43 mm.).
This guitar has seen some use but shows only some light wear and plays perfectly. The top has one noticeable ding along the bottom edge but hardly any play wear; the pickguard shows some very light scuffing from picking and that's about it. The back and sides are similarly clean, the back of the neck is almost completely unmarked as well. The frets have some light divoting under the B and E strings the lower positions but nothing that affects play. A vintage Gibson style plastic strap button has been added at the heel, this and a K&K under bridge pickup were fitted by noted luthier George Youngblood. This is a superb playing and sounding instrument, a fine example of Maine-based luthier Dana Bourgeois' work and easily one of the best modern "0" sized guitars we have encountered. It comes in a fitted tolex hard shell case with a sticker array on the lid. Excellent + Condition.