NAGD...an amazing afternoon at Guitar Village

Ungulate

So I was hunting for something to complement my Brook Teign, a dread, rosewood & spruce.

And decided to explore mahogany rather than rosewood back & sides, but smaller, so OM/000 18 territory in the language of Martin.

Made a short list from Guitar Village's website & just rocked up.

I couldn't have had a warmer reception the guys there were so helpful, interested & left me & my girl to just explore so many beautiful instruments, in really lovely surroundings too!

The Martin North Street OM 18 was first in my hands, really lovely guitar but then an Atkin 000 essential immediately pushed that into touch to my surprise.

Next Lowden S 50, admittedly rosewood...with spruce top - was beautiful, but quite bright.

Then I spied 2 Bourgeois in the corner & picked up the LDBO-14 Standard sunburst , but the deep version.

I had promised not to buy with my eyes but jeez, that thing is a work of art. Bit concerned it's too small, but that meant it sat nicely on my lap & the depth was comforting, first impressions, the volume it projected!! Neck felt great.

After an hour or so, trying more Atkins, some 00 size Gibsons, not bad...

I bought the Bourgeois.

My girl said it made her resonate when I played it across the room from her, I felt it too.

Thank you Guitar Village & Dana Bourgeois.

Aged Adirondack top & curly maple back & sides, not quite what I expected to leave with!

Tannin

Wow! That is stunning! And this come from a card-carrying member of the Can't Stand Black Paint On Acoustic Guitars club.

Lust at first sight.

deejayen

Oooh, that's lovely!  

I'd really like to try one of those.

Ungulate

Well...it was a hell of a spend but life is unpredictable as my last year taught me, so I grabbed the opportunity & will never regret it, it was discounted 20% too...

Ungulate

Tannin said:

Wow! That is stunning! And this come from a card-carrying member of the Can't Stand Black Paint On Acoustic Guitars club.

Lust at first sight.

That's what worried me, that I was buying with my eyes, but after loads of guitar swaps I thought I was playing a different guitar, said this is the one, looked down & it was the Bourgeois again...

Ungulate

deejayen said:

Oooh, that's lovely!  

I'd really like to try one of those.

So did I....was nearly out of financial reach but it was so full & warm such presence...I think the deep body & larger sound hole offsets the smaller body size, plus the bracing is so delicate & attention to detail is amazing.

duotone

I would never get bored looking down at the beautiful grain on the sides.

HNGD!

Ungulate

duotone said:

I would never get bored looking down at the beautiful grain on the sides.

HNGD!

The back is the same! 

Ungulate

Ungulate

Pity about the mobile phone/lighting artefacts...trust me, it's F*ckin ace! To look at & play.

tomjax

That looks stunning. A guitar for life, so I'm sure it was worth the financial stretch.

stickyfiddle

That’s fantastic - well played!! 

My current acoustics are an Atkin 47 (also from Guitar Village) and a Bourgeois dread. Neither were what you could call “budget”(!) but both are among the very best guitars I’ve ever played. 

The team in Maine seriously know how to build a guitar… 

PC008

That's a fine looking guitar - I can imagine how great it sounds. I love Guitar Village too - bought a Lowden O22 from them a few weeks ago: a wonderful guitar and a great buying experience.

SlopeSoarer

That is so sexy, looks stunning! Enjoy!!

bertie

wow that is lovely,    the top is dark, but somehow when you see the lovely maple, it really kind of "lightens" it ?   works well together - 

Whats the neck like ?   oh and we do need a soundbite or two..............

 about the same £ as WIlfys vets bill (so far) but they dont give me discount 

Shadow

What a fabulous looking guitar. I really like that body shape.

Soupman

Very nice. In a few years time you'll see the price you paid as not so painful, especially as the guitar will improve with age.
Love the back & sides. As Bertie says, they compliment the top.
I think the top could have been a shade or two lighter personally, but if it sounds/plays that good then yes it wouldn't figure in the decision much. (The price might though!)
A very HNGD !

GoFish

That guitar is doing things to me. Would love to hear a clip. I think it's great that you got 20% off - that satisfies any bargain hunting tendencies, though of course price is almost secondary with a guitar of this standard. Worth pushing the boat out for. HNGD.

Gandalph

That's stunning, congratulations. 

Love a bit of maple! 

Kilgore

That is very pretty! HNGD.

PCT57

Lovely looking guitars. Congratulations!!