Bourgeois PJ Petite Jumbo

This review is for a one-off PJ Petite Jumbo (16 inch lower bout), which I bought new from the excellent Buffalo Brothers about 2 years ago. Given that it is unique it follows that there is nothing identical to compare it with. Bourgeois made a number (Don???t know how many) of one-offs in various different wood combinations before deciding on the production spec of this model (Now in Madagascar Rosewood and European spruce). Made in Lewiston, Maine by Dana Bourgeois and Pantheon Guitars. Back and sides are of HIGHLY figured and stunningly beautiful quilted African Mahogany (Sapelle), top is Bearclaw Adirondack (Something I have never seen before and is also beautiful). To quote directly from Bonni at Pantheon in an email she sent me when I bought the guitar ???What a beautiful guitar that is ! We couldn't believe the figure in that African Mahogany. It looks wonderful with the rosewood body binding and with the Dana Bourgeois backstrip. The top is a great set of Red Spruce and picked by Dana to be a good match tonally with the back. We hope you enjoy the guitar for years and years. I'll pass along your kind email to Dana???
Nothing prepares you for the sheer look of this instrument when you first see it for real, it is breathtaking!! The photographs on Pantheon's site just can't do it justice, good as they are. Bracing is Adirondack, body binding is subtle rosewood, Abalone Rosette. Brazilian Rosewood peghead veneer. Tiny MOP dot inlay fret markers and MOP Logo. I have to say at this point that I do feel a little self-conscious sitting there with Bourgeois written on my guitar but??? Square peghead with Waverley nickel tuners (IMHO the best out there). Fretboard and bridge are ebony, nut, saddle (Which in itself is beautifully sculpted) and pins are bone. 1 3/4 inch at the nut, 14 frets to the body. 25.5??? scale length. Not sure of neck radius but it is thicker than a Taylor and shallower than a Lakewood (If that gives you any idea). High gloss finish all over (Including the one piece mahogany neck). Quote from Pantheon ???The Petite Jumbo features an X-braced back to enhance lower register articulation. In the tradition of fine, handmade fingerstyle guitars, the Petite Jumbo is bound in darker woods. Rosewood on the body.??? You can check out the actual guitar at www.pantheonguitars.com, it is number 5969 in their gallery. Came with a TKL custom case and bone strap button (Unfitted), no truss rod tool (Would you really use one on this guitar???)
One comment on the TKL case is that though they are undoubtedly fine cases they need to pay more attention to quality control as there were splashes of glue inside the case which could potentially rub on the guitar. Having said that it is the best fitting case I have ever had on any guitar.

I am essentially a fingerpicker and the 1 3/4 inch nut width suits me perfectly, even though I have small hands. The sound is....ASTONISHING. As I said, I bought this guitar new and I know from experience it takes a long time for any guitar to mature, especially with the Adirondack top. This guitar sounds like it has already been played for 20 or more years, and that straight out of the box. Unbelievable! There is totally clear separation and evenness of volume and timbre of all notes, even when strummed. Fingerpicking is a guitarist???s dream. You hear EVERYTHING. The trebles are bell-like, the mids perfectly separated and balanced and the bass had me looking for a subwoofer. Not that this is slow in any way but the bass is rich, deep and warm. This guitar responds to everything from the lightest touch to hard driving. Harmonics are spot on and will ring for 30 seconds plus. I have it strung with D'Addario EXP 13 gauge and it blasts out the sound. I have owned and still own many fine guitars Larriv??e, Taylor, Lakewood and played just about everything out there but I have never heard anything like this. On top of that is the feeling you get as the vibrations resonate through your whole body. Everyone who has played a top quality acoustic knows what I mean; you just seem to get it in bucket-loads with this thing. Sound is always subjective but all of my guitar-playing mates (Some professional) have just been blown away. All you want to do is play it all day. It scores a worthy 10 and I would give it 11 if I could.

Here is where the story gets a little complicated. When I got this guitar the setup seemed fine, however I was getting the dreaded Sitar effect, particularly on the G string, all the way up the neck when I dug in. I had a luthier remake the saddle slightly higher but to no effect. I took it to TAMCO in Brighton but they were unable to resolve it. I then sent it directly to Pantheon. It came back better, though I still get the sitar effect if I dig in hard. I will keep trying to get it sorted and I am not concerned by it but it is a little frustrating at times when you get stuck into heavy fingerpicking. That being said the finish is a real work of art in every respect. The woods are perfectly bookmatched with the most stunning woods I have ever seen. The quality of the workmanship is flawless and the overall effect leaves you lost for words.

This guitar will easily stand up to live playing but I would be so terrified of anything happening to it I wouldn???t play it on stage unless I was sitting down and had a couple of heavily armed guards to look after it any time it wasn???t in my hands. Everything about it exudes quality and I believe it will last several lifetimes.

The guitar came with a limited lifetime warranty (To the original owner). This is where Pantheon, in the person of Bonni Lloyd, demonstrated their total commitment to customer service. Over several weeks of email conversations and phone calls Bonni was quick to respond and helpful way beyond the call of duty. She did everything possible to help and was always courteous, bright and cheerful. If I lived in the US it would be much easier to resolve any problems but it is purely the distance and cost of shipping that is prohibitive. My problem was that this was THE guitar I wanted and I would not hesitate to buy it from wherever I could. If you buy a high-end guitar and want the full cover buy one from your local authorized dealer (Though there aren???t many Bourgeois dealers in Europe), that way you have the peace of mind of knowing that Pantheon really do back up their claims and your problem (If any) will be resolved. I would like to finish this section by saying they are extraordinary in their level of support. The only other maker I have had to deal with was Martin Seeliger of Lakewood, he goes the extra mile too (See my review of a D12 and thank you Martin).

I have been playing on and off for 40+ years. I have had some very fine guitars including but not limited to Lakewood D12 (Brilliant and great value still), Larriv??e D05 6 and 12 strings (See my review on the 12) plus an OM05 ((Bought for my brother and another D05 bought for a friend)) ??? ditto, another Bourgeois, a DRA Deluxe ??? awesome, and assorted semis and electrics. All of the above I still have and will never sell. I have had a Taylor 415 and an 810 (Neither of which I have any longer but which are fine guitars). I am fortunate to be able to play a selection of the world???s best guitars including other Lakewoods and Larriv??es owned by me or because of me by friends, and a Martin D35 owned by another brother (Guitars really are a family thing).

My Petite Jumbo plays like a dream and I am a better player for owning it (I can???t put it down). With 13s on it sounds like it is on steroids and is as loud as any guitar I have played (Including the DRA with 13s). Play it softly and you would swear there are angels in there. (I nicked the quote on angels from another reviewer ???cause I know what he means ??? thanks)
If this guitar were stolen I would cry forever. It would however be impossible for the thief to have it maintained anywhere reputable though because it is so striking and unique.

Having just re-read my review it sounds like I am gushing. I suppose I am, however when tying to give an honest review the superlatives count only if they are truly justified, and in this case they are. Also, I haven???t just bought this guitar, I have had it a couple of years so this is not a honeymoon review, however I believe I will be on honeymoon with it forever.

My advice to anyone about to spend a lot of money on a high-end guitar is to try as many different ones as you can (Obviously). You will never be disappointed with any of these top-of the-line guitars, but do yourself a favour and make sure you try a Bourgeois as well.
I bought this guitar because I fell in love with it when I saw it 8000+ miles away on Buffalo Brothers??? website. This guitar is a lifer. If I had had the option to go to any builder to make me a custom guitar for $5000+ (A new Petite Jumbo now retails at $5795) I would go to Dana Bourgeois and this is what I would have him build, identical in every detail. (That about says it all)