Bourgeois Country Boy

Mine has the red spruce top. The Waverly tuners are great, nice and smooth (they stay in tune too!). This is a basic guitar, which makes it a beauty in my book.

This guitar nails the mahogany/spruce dreadnaught sound. Even with the coated strings, the guitar can be a cannon. The sound is well balanced and there is excellent note separation. This guitar has plenty of bass and still cuts through when needed.

The Country Boy's come with a "bluegrass action", which isn't that tall. There is no buzzing. Volume is controlled by pick attack. Superb finish, beautiful wood.

This is my first Bourgeois, and the first one that I have seen.

I bought it at Charleys, they treated me like a rock star from the time that walked in, until the time I left the store... total pros, highly recommended.

I've been playing for over 40 years, I have owned various brands of acoustics, the Country Boy is the cream of the crop. I would definitely replace it with another on if anything ever happened to it.

Standard finish, no additional things. Mahogany body, spruce top. This is a 1999 model. No electronics or pickups.

Remarkable sounding instrument. The bases really stand out. Playing in drop D is especially cool. I play in alot of alternative tunings and this is an ideal guitar for that as the base notes really work perfect with F# or D for the E string and E for is a usual choice of mine for the A string. The high notes are not as rich however, which maybe ok, depending on what you are doing. At times though I have trouble with tap harmonics as I really have to pay attention to what I am doing to get a good sound. Such sounds are alot easier to get out of say a Godall.

Action is great, use medium strings, and it can be though, but as I said I use quite a few alternate tunings, so it works out ok or me. No flaws. Although one of the neck screws came of once, after doing some percussion, which was easily put back in.

Case is though, but I think this maybe be a better guitar kept at home.
It feels too cool to be played for drunk people.

I have been playing for 20 years or so. I own some vintage gibsons, taylors and few electric guitars. This is the guitar I play most often. If it were lost I would replace it. I love the way it sounds, the way it plays and its simplicity.

2006 Standard Country Boy Dreadnought. As most on this site try to give themselves some "authority" to their review, I humbly submit that I played guitar professionally up to 30 years ago and have continued as a hobbyist. Sold guitars for 8 years in my youth, working in Mel Bay's Retail Store in Kirkwood, Missouri. I am thoroughly familiar with well made and good sounding guitars of all varieties.

The Country Boy has a premium Sitka spruce top (plenty of medular ray; "lace") and solid mahogany sides and back. The assembly reflects true craftsmanship and superior attention to detail in fit and finish.

Gve this a "9" because they make even better guitars, but I can't afford them.

For a "standard" mahogany dreadnought, the sound is full and well balanced. This is again a tribute to the craftsmanship, selection of fine and useful tonewoods and Bourgeois' claimed attention to producing well made, great sounding instruments. This guitar lives up to the maker's claim.

As with any other instrument, don't try to blaim your lousy playing on the guitar. This acoustic box has plenty of potential if you can "extract" it from the instrument. As the guitar ages and "opens up" more, the tone will only get better.

Have looked this instrument over every time I play it. It is virutually flawless. Even the bracing and kerfling look perfect, as far as I can tell.

Given adequate care, I expect this guitar will last a lifetime.
Waverly tuners - doesn't get any better. Stays in tune well.

It appears this guitar will require little "settling in", even though it is a brand new instrument (made October 2006).

The guitar should stand up to vigorous use - but not abuse, of course.

Any guitar's finish is expected to wear with use and age.

I was gratified to see that Bourgeois mastered the art of the "bolt on neck". For all the "glue purists" out there, these guitars are routinely played by the finest professionals. I suppose some might claim to be able to hear some lack of tone? Please! Any neck resetting required in the future will be relatively easy - and relatively inexpensive. Bourgeois said on their website it was a "15 minute job" and I've talked to two (2) local luthiers who agree.

Along with other reviews here, I must say I will be surprised if I need customer support.

I have talked and email Bourgeois and they are very attentive and helpful. This is a small "boutique" shop and their reputation is "everything". I am confident I will be well served if needed, but gave this a "9" because I can't say for sure.

If you have the money for one of these - and want a "keeper" for bluegrass, acoustic country music, or "just because", I recommend you just go ahead and pay the best price you can get on a Bourgeios Country Boy. I suggest you don't hesitate, as I did. I bought a Martin D-18V and was eventually dissatisfied after only a few months. Compared to the Country Boy, it was unsatisfactory in my opinion.

I was glad I finally "sprung" for a Country Boy and my only regret was the money I lost trading the D-18V.

Except for lacking just a litle volume, the Country Boy compared very well with a Martin D-18 1934 Golden Era I played and was seriously considering. The volume difference was attributable to an adirondack spruce top as opposed to a sitka spruce top. Otherwise, tone and workmanship were as good or perhaps better. Nevertheless, I believe the premium top on the Country Boy might just develop into a "killer" one of these days.

I have no doubt I would replace this guitar if necessary. I just hope Dana Bougeois stays healthy in the event I need to replace it :-).

Country boy with adirondack top. Made in early 2005. Same as country boy model except the top. The neck is a dream. The best neck I've ever played.

The sound of this guitar is just what I was looking for. It's balanced, loud, clear, and punchy. I can throw down on it and it maintains it's clarity. It's louder than the D-35 that I owned. Even when I capo it, it only loses a nominal amount of volume. It's very responsive, in that it responds to light strumming very well.(I don't fingerpick)It seems to me that this is what a mahogany guitar should sound like. I love how punchy it is. It just makes me want to play harder. A really great guitar to own.

Set up was a little hight for my tastes. Hard core bluegrass height. But I've gotten use to it. It's strengthening my hands and toughening my callouses. The neck is a perfect shape so that's made it easier also. Fit and finish is perfect. I can't find any flaws with it. The top is very nice, wide AND tight grained.

The guitar is actually more heavily built than I was expecting(I bought it unplayed) but that's okay with me. I've played some other high end mahogany guitars that were a lot lighter, and I'd rather have one more heavily built. If I played professionally, I wouldn't hesitate to take it on the road. Its construction inspires confidence.

I've only had it a week, so i haven't dealt with customer support. The warranty is a lifetime, nontransferable of course.

What a great guitar. I've been playing about 10 years. I own a D15 also. I'm absolutely satisfied with this guitar and I plan on keeping it for a long time. I love the sound, playability, and it's aesthetic beauty. I've played many bourgeois guitars and they've all sounded great, so I wasn't too reluctant in buying one unplayed.

Built in 2003 in Lewiston ME

Bourgeois Country Boy mahogany 14-fret dreadnought with Adirondack spruce upgrade. Nickel Waverly tuners. TKL Premium hardshell case.

As far as features, this is a pretty plain guitar. Just the way it should be. So I give it a 9, because if you're looking for a D-45, this isn't it.

Amazing sounding instrument, and I'm the original owner. I can only imagine how much better it will sound after opening up over the next couple of years. I especially like it with phosphor bronze, medium gauge strings.

The sound is excellent for flatpicking, bluegrass, etc. The midrange blows away any guitar I've played, and the bass and treble compare favorably with some old D-18s I've owned.

So far, I've found the guitar to be flawless. The setup was surprisingly perfect from the shop. It plays and sounds great, and looks perfect as well.

With proper care, the guitar should provide a lifetime of playing.

Very friendly folks. I haven't had any problems to discuss, but when I asked questions, they were excellent.

Country Boy with a twist - Honduran Rosewood and Andirondack Sprue Top. Looks more or less like a Martin D18...very simple....nothing fancy. Compensated saddle.
If SOUND is considered a feature, I rate it 10!
If it means how fancy the inlay is, then I give it a 7.
So, all in all, 9, cuz sound is more important to me

This is, by far, and without a doubt, the finest instrument I have ever owned. If Dana makes another Country Boy with Honduran RS instead of the standard mahoganey...BUY IT! This guitar is amazinginlhy responsive...it can do everything from hold your breath sweet soft finger picking to full out CRASHING G chord with a stiff pick and respond in ways I thought not possible.
And this is owning the guitar for 2 weeks as original owner. I don't know what they do up there in Maine, but if this instrument opens up in the traditional manner, I truly believe I am lucky enough to have one of the world's finest guitars!

Blah Blah Blah - world class...

This is the real deal. Fret now about this aspect!!
On the other hand, I've only had the instrument for 4 weeks. But hey, it's a high end guitar with high end construction and high end tonewoods, etc. Take care of her, and she will take care of you.

Don't Know, and dont' expect to have to.

Although the name Bourgeoise is slightly offputting if you are a regular person, I HIGHLY recommend this man's instruments. His name is Dana Bourgeois....some of your friends may think you have gone too high class with a name like Bourgeiose, but they will soon wish they had your guitar once they hear it. 35 years of playing... hit harmonics and they ring for upwards of 25-30 seconds; truly an amazing intstrument.

This is a 1997 mahogany guitar. The top is either Adirondack or sitka spruce. It is whiter than "normal" sitka and the grain is a streaky red, like Adirondack. However, there is a little silking, which is not often seen on Adirondack. Tonally, it definitely has that typical red spruce clarity. The appointments are tasteful and spartan, like a typical D18.

This is a fantastic flatpicking instrument. It has a big, round bass, powerful midrange, and bright, clear treble. This guitar reminds me more of my old Collings D1A than my D18GE. The individual notes are quite clear and distinct. It has that Norman Blake "rolling bass" sound going for it. The first G chord I played made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.

Bourgeois' wood selections are as nice as any builder out there. The fit and finish are perfect, again as nice as my old Collings. The nut width is 1&3/4". The neck profile is the best I have ever played. It his kind of a shallow V shape. It is so comfortable, it actually feels warm in my hand.

The top has a bit more of a belly than I would like, but it seems stable.

I have not had the need to contact Bourgeois and, as this is a used guitar, there is no warranty.

I am in love with this guitar. It has everything I want for a mahogany flatpicking dreadnought. My Martin hasn't even come out of its case since I brought this Bourgeois home.

Previously reviewed.

This is an update of an earlier review now that I have been able to play the guitar at gigs. This is one strong player. It demands to be played hard and seems to have unlimited "headroom". Even though it responds well to a light touch, the sound never breaks up no matter how hard you play it. It's a wonderful instrument for playing in a group, providing a very fine chord tone for back up as well as shining as a lead instrument. It reminds me of the old Mossman guitars but it has a finer, fuller tone overall. You don't have to stay in the background with this guitar; its got what it takes to compete with fiddles and banjos as a lead instrument.

After having the guitar several days, I noticed several flaws which I can only assume happened in the store. There was a small ding on the bass side of the guitar near the waist. I repaired this myself. I then noticed what appeared to be two 1" long cracks near the end block
on the side. It had obviously been in some kind of an accident and I know that it didn't happen while I had the guitar. Rather than return the guitar to the store (350 miles away in Raleigh, NC), I had a luthier friend repair the cracks and refinish the area of damage. He did a wonderful job and there is no evidence of damage. I guess that's why this guitar was half price. It pays to carefully inspect your purchase, even if you assume you are purchasing a new guitar. I am going to re-evaluated this catagory as "8" even though the guitar is now back at a "10"

The Country Boy is Dana Bourgeois' interpretation of the classic Martin D-18, an elegantly constructed mahogany dreadnought guitar with a few subtle differences. It's called "Country Boy" because it was designed in collaboration with Ricky Skaggs, Nashville's country boy and stellar multi-instrumentalist. Like a D-18, the body and neck are constructed of solid Honduras mahogany. The soundboard is Sitka spruce with narrow grain and a hint of bearclaw figure. The fingerboard and bridge are ebony and nut and saddle are bone. Fretboard dots are the little "microdots" so popular these days. The body binding is plastic tortoise, just like the originals. Tuners are Gotoh kluson copies with "butterbean" buttons. The neck features a shallow diamond volute similar to D-28, although with this guitar the volute doesn't get in the way of the capo. The neck shape is contemporary thin with just the hint of a V. Reinforcement is via a truss rod accessed through the soundhope. The neck is affixed to the body with two bolts screwed into threaded inserts, an idea I like. The guitar is stained with a stain similar to many current mahogany Martin's and is finished in high gloss lacquer. If you like vintage D-18s looks, tone, and vibe, this guitar has got you covered.

I was seriously considering a Martin when I tripped over this guitar in the store. I just happened to see the name "Bourgeois" inlaid on a headstock in the close-out section when I was ready to close a deal on a new Martin 00-16 which had knocked me over. The Bourgeois was even better. The tone is premium mahogany; that mellow, aromatic, soft yet bright quality with a definite edge in the high end. This guitar has it all; volume, tone, balance and separation. The Martin I considered (which featured a mahogany top) was delightful, but the Bourgeois came out tops on volume and separation, which is really important to my fingerpicking. Nothing else in the store came out close to these two guitars for my playing.

The guitar was set up just about perfectly. Nice low, comfortable action yet high enough not to buzz under spirited picking. It seems that most high end guitar makers have gotten the action thing pretty well under control these days, and I don't think I'll change a thing action wise. The construction on this guitar is first rate, especially the interior. The bracing is meticulously carved to a high but thin profile, providing necessary strength with light weight. This optimizes tone while preventing the dreaded boominess which plagues so many Martin dreadnoughts. All the corners and surfaces of this guitar are sharp and smooth, providing that elegance which makers such as Bourgeois, Santa Cruz, and Collings are noted for.

Although this guitar is lightly made, I see no reason why it shouldn't outlast me. It is carefully and lovingly constructed to the tried and tested Martin design, and a lot of those old ones are still around after 50-70 years. Why should this be any different?

This is my second Bourgeois and I've had no reason to contact the builder.

I had visited this store several times because I was enamored with a lovely little Martin 00-16 all mahogany guitar which was a killer little fingerpicker at a reasonable price. I was ready to buy. When I found this guitar sitting in a stand I quickly realized this guitar just had more than the Martin did. Added to this was the fact that the store was closing out Bourgeois, this was their last one, and it was half price. Since I already owned a wonderful Bourgeois JR-A (rosewood), this guitar offered the same quality with a slightly different tone quality. I now have a premium rosewood guitar and a premium mahogany (in addition to my Larrivee OM-09). I love both these guitars and would be highly dissappointed to lose either of them. I am really excited about playing gigs with the Country Boy alongside my JR-A.

While shopping for this guitar I looked at guitars by Taylor (a beautiful walnut cutaway caught my ear), Martin (the 00-16 was really close), Charles Fox, and Everett. There is really some good stuff out there these days. What sold me on this guitar was the combination of sound and price. The store's loss was my gain.