Bourgeois Guitars | Touchstone - The Standard L-DBO 14

The Bourgeois Touchstone Standard L-DBO 14 combines vintage American styling with robust build quality, resulting in a beautiful Depression-era style acoustic guitar with refined, classic details. This guitar is a dependable tool for performing musicians who appreciate the beauty of the Bourgeois sound.

The L-DBO body shape sits between a 00 and a 000/OM in size and features a 25" scale neck. Its slightly narrower upper bout contributes to its distinctive wedge-like appearance. Notably, the L-DBO incorporates a larger-than-usual soundhole for its size and narrow, 1/4" top bracing. This combination is engineered to produce a surprising amount of power and presence from a relatively compact instrument. Dana Bourgeois, the company's founder, attests to the L-DBO's capabilities, stating that it has become his preferred guitar after years of playing dreadnoughts, and suggesting that its sound can be mistaken for that of a much larger guitar; just listen to Sierra Hull or Courtney Hartman to hear for yourself.

The Standard features a torrefied Sitka spruce soundboard, a process that gives the guitar a warm, aged tone right from the start. This soundboard also offers a dynamic response and clarity that is expected to improve over time. The resulting tone is versatile, accommodating both strumming and fingerpicking techniques. The mahogany back and sides further contribute to a balanced and versatile voice, making the guitar suitable for a wide range of musical applications, from delicate fingerstyle to flatpicking and strumming.

Comfort and playability are key features of the Standard. It has a 14-fret mahogany neck paired with a Ziricote fingerboard and bridge, all finished in a high gloss. The inclusion of Adirondack spruce bracing and Bourgeois' meticulous attention to detail ensure a powerful and responsive sound that is designed to mature over time. Schaller Grand Tune nickel tuners provide reliable and vintage-inspired functionality.

Dana Bourgeois has been crafting guitars since 1975, driven by a commitment to quality and a deep respect for traditional guitar making. Over the past five decades, his innovative designs and focus on detail have established a high standard in the acoustic guitar market. His work, from developing voicing techniques to carefully selecting tonewoods, has influenced the sound of many musicians.

Each Touchstone guitar undergoes Bourgeois' tap-tuning process, a skilled technique used to optimise the soundboard's natural resonance. By carefully tapping and listening to the wood, luthiers can identify its tonal potential and balance its stiffness and durability. The braces are then meticulously hand-carved to fine-tune the top and back, enhancing resonance and tonal richness. This detailed approach results in guitars with a unique and harmonically balanced sound, reflecting a commitment to craftsmanship intended to last for many years. The nut width is 1 23/32" and is made of bone, while the saddle width is 2.2" and is also made of bone.