I have info about Bourgeois & Eastman

[KarenB]

This may be old news to some. I asked the question about the partnership, and here is what Bourgeois replied:

Though the guitars or information on the guitars is not yet posted on the website, I can share some information with you.

These guitars will initially be available in OM and Dread body shapes, a 25.5” scale and a 1 23/32” nut.

We anticipate the guitars to be available from our dealers in quarter 4 of this year with a staring MSRP of $2,650.

These guitars are designed to allow for a lower price entry point to the Bourgeois brand while still incorporating what makes Bourgeois guitars great: sound boards sourced and voiced by the same team in the same manner as all our Bourgeois guitars and guitars built using Bourgeois guitars specifications and standards.

More information about the guitars will be available on the website as we get closer to having the guitars in dealerships.

We could not be more thrilled about this new Bourgeois guitar line and believe it has the ability to make a big impact.

[KevinH]

Still vague but will be interesting to see how it plays out. I assume they’ll be branded as Bourgeois but mostly built by Eastman?

[Rev Roy]

Thanks for the update. That’s the most specific info I’ve heard so far. I’m not in the market for these collaborative models but I know others are eager to try them. And I’m always interested in what Dana’s up to. If he’s going to be voicing all the Bourgeois guitars and the tops of the Eastman collaboration guitars he’s gonna be a busy boy.

[Rev Roy]

Originally Posted by KevinH

Still vague but will be interesting to see how it plays out. I assume they’ll be branded as Bourgeois but mostly built by Eastman?

No. My understanding is that the Bourgeois brand will only be used on the highend guitars that will still be coming out of Lewiston. The collaborative guitars will a have separate brand label.

[Shishigashira]

Thanks for sharing! That's much more detail than what i've seen before. I've reposted to the Eastman fans site as well.

[Bob from Brooklyn]

Originally Posted by KarenB

1 23/32” nut

No doubt the subject of many future threads

[guitar george]

Originally Posted by KarenB

... still incorporating what makes Bourgeois guitars great: sound boards sourced and voiced by the same team in the same manner as all our Bourgeois guitars and guitars built using Bourgeois guitars specifications and standards.

Is building Eastman guitars using the same team and in the same manner using Bourgeois specifications and standards expected to improve Eastman guitars? From what I have been reading in this forum both companies build excellent guitars their own way, so, why make them all the same now?

[Glennwillow]

Great information!

By the way, I like the idea of 1 23/32” (1.72") nut width. It's a good compromise since 1.75" is too wide for a lot of players, including me. Even most surveys on the AGF have shown that more people prefer 1 11/16" over 1 3/4" nut widths.

I think this is very good thinking on the part of Bourgeois. Build as good or better product for less money. From an engineering standpoint, that is always a winning combination. I'm not sure I will ever be in the market for another guitar, but I always admire good thinking.

- Glenn

[zmf]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Great information!

By the way, I like the idea of 1 23/32” (1.72") nut width. It's a good compromise since 1.75" is too wide for a lot of players.

This nut width is common among Bourgeois (my Sig D has it). Suggests to me that Bourgeois is influencing the specs on this hybrid line. I'm looking forward to taking one for a spin.

Thanks for the info, KarenB.

[Rosewood99]

The nut width disappoints me and almost guarantees that the string spacing will be less than 2 1/4. I think 1.75 is the most versatile and allows various string spacing, from 2 3/16 all the way to 2 5/16. I’d like to know when a survey was done asking forum members what their preference was. I’ve been on the form for 10 years never got that one.

[Rudy4]

Originally Posted by KarenB

This may be old news to some. I asked the question about the partnership, and here is what Bourgeois replied:

Though the guitars or information on the guitars is not yet posted on the website, I can share some information with you.

These guitars will initially be available in OM and Dread body shapes, a 25.5” scale and a 1 23/32” nut.

We anticipate the guitars to be available from our dealers in quarter 4 of this year with a staring MSRP of $2,650.

These guitars are designed to allow for a lower price entry point to the Bourgeois brand while still incorporating what makes Bourgeois guitars great: sound boards sourced and voiced by the same team in the same manner as all our Bourgeois guitars and guitars built using Bourgeois guitars specifications and standards.

More information about the guitars will be available on the website as we get closer to having the guitars in dealerships.

We could not be more thrilled about this new Bourgeois guitar line and believe it has the ability to make a big impact.

Dana covered the details pretty extensively in his last Fretboard Journal interview.

[KarenB]

1.75 doesn't fit my hand. I much prefer 1 11/16. We are all so different. Though if the neck is thin enough, and the radius more curved, sometimes I can get by with a 1.75 nut.

[Scotso]

A fat lil birdie says the co-produced Eastman/Bourgeois guitars will have a brand name of Touchstone

[Dru Edwards]

Karen, thanks for the update!

"sound boards sourced and voiced by the same team in the same manner as all our Bourgeois guitars"

Makes me think that the tops will first go through the Maine shop first and then shipped overseas, or more likely some team member(s) will be working at the Eastman shop.

[brencat]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Great information!

By the way, I like the idea of 1 23/32” (1.72") nut width. It's a good compromise since 1.75" is too wide for a lot of players, including me. Even most surveys on the AGF have shown that more people prefer 1 11/16" over 1 3/4" nut widths.

Glenn you sure about that? Because I seem to be of the view that if a survey were done today the results would show overwhelmingly a preference for 1 3/4.

Anyway, count me in the camp who likes the price point of these new guitars but will pass on the 1 23/32" nut width. Bourgeois necks are already too similar to the Martin MLO/PA and that is entirely too shallow for my hands.