Innocent_Bystander
New member
After a fun search, looking for a nice acoustic to pair with my Gibson AJ, I finally found a great guitar. I was looking for an acoustic that had a lot of string clarity but some low-end to back it up. I thought I had it down to a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner but when I learned of the other guitars that were in stock at my favorite local shop, I had to go back and play them all. My, how quickly things can change. 
After eliminating a few guitars, within my price range it was a shootout between a Bourgeois Slope D, a used Collings CJ and a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner. Short of a $7400 Brazilian rosewood Collings CW that blew me away, I found the Bourgeois to be the best guitar for what I wanted. If I only had the money for that Brazilian Collings. :notworthy The SC VS was great but sounded more like my current Gibson and I was looking for something completely different. I honestly wish I could have brought both the Santa Cruz and Bourgeois home, they're both fantastic instruments. The Collings CJ was really, really good as well but I couldn't get over the color of the burst, it was a little "off" in my opinion. I know it's the way it sounds and not the way it looks but when the Bourgeois was equally as good of a guitar and it was more the whole package, I couldn't pass it up, plus that snakehead headstock is awesome. It also has a great neck carve, really nothing out of the ordinary but it's nothing short of perfect. I'm also really loving the satin finish on the neck, it looks fairly glossy to the eye but feels fantastic when playing. Some satin necks look flat when compaired to the rest of the finish on the guitar but somehow Bourgeois figured out how to give it a satin feel while still retaining a nice luster.
While playing the Slope D someone said something that I think nails the guitar perfectly. He said that when you play the Slope D, you hear all 6 strings. The clarity is that beautiful but it still has the lows and mids to back it up which was very important as I didn't want a bright guitar. I was looking for something that would pair nicely with my Gibson Advanced Jumbo and I think the Bourgeois does that perfectly. I'm also in love with the beveled edges of the pickguard, it may sound weird but it's those little details that really put the guitar over the top for me.
Pics!
After eliminating a few guitars, within my price range it was a shootout between a Bourgeois Slope D, a used Collings CJ and a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner. Short of a $7400 Brazilian rosewood Collings CW that blew me away, I found the Bourgeois to be the best guitar for what I wanted. If I only had the money for that Brazilian Collings. :notworthy The SC VS was great but sounded more like my current Gibson and I was looking for something completely different. I honestly wish I could have brought both the Santa Cruz and Bourgeois home, they're both fantastic instruments. The Collings CJ was really, really good as well but I couldn't get over the color of the burst, it was a little "off" in my opinion. I know it's the way it sounds and not the way it looks but when the Bourgeois was equally as good of a guitar and it was more the whole package, I couldn't pass it up, plus that snakehead headstock is awesome. It also has a great neck carve, really nothing out of the ordinary but it's nothing short of perfect. I'm also really loving the satin finish on the neck, it looks fairly glossy to the eye but feels fantastic when playing. Some satin necks look flat when compaired to the rest of the finish on the guitar but somehow Bourgeois figured out how to give it a satin feel while still retaining a nice luster.
While playing the Slope D someone said something that I think nails the guitar perfectly. He said that when you play the Slope D, you hear all 6 strings. The clarity is that beautiful but it still has the lows and mids to back it up which was very important as I didn't want a bright guitar. I was looking for something that would pair nicely with my Gibson Advanced Jumbo and I think the Bourgeois does that perfectly. I'm also in love with the beveled edges of the pickguard, it may sound weird but it's those little details that really put the guitar over the top for me.
Pics!
