Bourgeois Guitars  

ABOUT US. 

Bourgeois- Pantheon Guitars, LLC  was formed in October, 2000 when Dana Bourgeois, a well known master luthier, and a set of new business investors came together to form Pantheon Guitars. 

 Dana and Bourgeois Guitars had, up to that point, crafted over 1,000 of the finest acoustic instruments played by musicians around the world. At that time, having designed and built guitars for more than a quarter of a century, it was exciting for Dana to be part of Pantheon Guitars and combine strong business resources, marketing capability and great guitar building into the same organization.

 Together, everyone at Bourgeois-Pantheon Guitars is working to be the best "small shop" acoustic guitar builder in the world, and Dana, working full time at the helm of his small crew, has the opportunity to focus on designing and building instruments of the highest quality and making Bourgeois guitars the best they can be.  

As of 2010, Dana Bourgeois has been designing and building guitars for thirty five years.   "I am particularly excited about our new guitars and the very positive responses we are receiving from customers," commented Dana. "Pantheon has provided me with the opportunity to focus  on designing and building instruments of the highest quality.”

All Bourgeois guitars are handcrafted in Maine and carry the Bourgeois headstock signature which guarantees a level of quality that players and enthusiasts alike have  come to expect in fine steel string acoustic instruments.  

Roy Continental Mill.  Built in 1866. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places -1979.  Home to Bourgeois Guitars - 2000.

Located in an 1860's mill in Lewiston, Maine, Dana and his fellow craftsman, build about 30 guitars a month and remain committed to giving each instrument a level of attention to detail that is hard to find in the world today.  

ABOUT DANA BOURGEOIS 

Dana Bourgeois . Photo by Kevin Kinnear.

 

Dana Bourgeois is known around the world for his superb craftsmanship and also as one of the foremost authorities on the voicing, selection and utilization of fine acoustic tonewoods.

 He selects and matches the woods for each guitar at the beginning of the production process and, once each guitar is complete, checks it from top to bottom insuring it is aesthetically perfect and sounds and plays up to the demanding Bourgeois standard. Throughout the production process you can find Dana applying bridges, spraying a sunburst top, buffing the final finish coat, selecting and applying pick guards as well as overseeing the eight other individuals working on the various facets of the guitars being built. 

Dana Bourgeois at his Bench.

Dana's career began when he built his first guitar in his dorm room at his alma mater, Bowdoin College in Maine. From there, using the knowledge he gained primarily from the repair of guitars, he launched into lutherie on a full-time basis in 1978. 

His experience with a more extensive production came after he received a request from Eric Schoenberg to build an OM cutaway in the traditional design.  This initiated a decade long partnership with Schoenberg and the engagement of Martin Guitars in the final assembly of instruments designed by Dana and with tops he individually voiced. Over 300 guitars were built in this fashion bearing the Schoenberg label and carrying the signature of Dana's design and sound. Dana was then retained by Paul Reed Smith Guitars in 1990 to spearhead acoustic development for the PRS organization, and later by Gibson Guitars to assist in construction and setup of their new production facility in Montana. With this experience and knowledge Dana went on to establish his own small-shop production company, Bourgeois Guitars in 1995.  In 2000, he co-founded Pantheon Guitars and currently oversees and participates in the design and annual construction of about 400 guitars bearing his name.  

THE CREW.

In our small shop, every instrument is tweaked, shaved and prodded by expert hands.  It starts with each set of wood being approved by Dana Bourgeois himself.  And moves through the shop from bench to bench with Dana as the final word on  each process.  We have been lucky that Dana's reputation as a master builder has brought people from around the country to our door for a chance  to work in our shop.  The small tight-knit group of craftsmen are proud of what they do and work hard to build the best guitars they can.  

As testimony to these great instruments, they have become a favorite of many professional players, such as Ray LaMontagne, Ricky Skaggs, Bryan Sutton, Martin Simpson, Sean Watkins of Nickel Creek, Steve Earle, Ron Block,  Dan Tyminski and Marshall Crenshaw.  Bourgeois guitars are cherished by many serious musicians around the world, young and old.  

 

And here's me, Bonni Lloyd.  I met Dana when he came to work doing R&D at Paul Reed Smith Guitars.  I worked for PRS for about 10 years  before coming to work with Dana in 2001.  I love hearing from our great customers.  Thank you all for the opportunity to build the best guitars in the world!  

Bonni Lloyd (Photo: Kevin Kinnear)

 

 

page last updated:  11/14/12