Bourgeois Luthier's Choice  
No. 5000 -"Victoria"


 
Photo of Dana Bourgeois 
click for larger view.

 No. 5000 "Victoria"
Availability:  February 2010 - This one of a kind guitar is available from Acoustic Vibes, contact Jeff Looker for more information.  We are proud to announce that Jeff is our "Dealer of the Year".  He has done a wonderful job and knows a great guitar when he sees one!  Give him a call and he will tell you all about it.

We are so honored to have "Acoustic Guitar" magazine put "Victoria" on the cover of the March 2010 issue.  What better way to celebrate this guitar.  You can see what they have to say (and hear it on video ) HERE.   

 Dana and the guys had a wonderful time building this guitar.   See pictures from this great experience below .  Here's what Dana has to say:


“This year I turned 56.  I’ve been building guitars for more than 35 years.  To this day, I spend most of my time in the shop, making all major decisions regarding the construction of each guitar that bears my signature, physically assisting in all areas of assembly and overseeing the work of a fine team of co-workers.  I could have moved to less of a hands-on position long ago, but this is what I love doing.  I still look forward to coming to the shop each morning and having another crack at building the perfect guitar.  I always say my favorite guitar is the one I’m working on right now-- but I expect the next one to be even better!  


  
 All pictures can be clicked on for larger view. 

I am now working on my 5000th guitar.  I wanted it to be something unique, challenging and memorable.  Lately I’ve been working on smaller and smaller guitars, tackling the problem of maximizing dynamic and harmonic range with limited soundboard area and air volume.  I’ve learned a lot making 000, 00 and 0 sized guitars, and even my Dreadnoughts have begun to reap some of these benefits.

   

So I figured while I’m headed down this path  I might as well keep going.  

For No. 5000 I decided to make a Victorian style, baby Parlor guitar in Brazilian rosewood and Adirondack spruce, with fancy 19th century decorations and a traditional wooden coffin case. 


(Look close at the underside of the top.  everyone in the
shop has signed it )

This style of guitar bridged European and American guitarmaking traditions, providing the DNA for all modern steel strings.  Advancements in acoustic theory and construction technique provide a unique opportunity to take a fresh look at the possibilities inherent in a baby parlor guitar.  That roused my curiousity.   

 

 

 

 

 

 “Victoria” is designed for thoroughly modern players. She’s not a travel guitar, and not a toy.  She’ll have a full harmonic and dynamic voice in standard tuning, suitable for solo or ensemble work or vocal accompaniment.  

Over the course of my career I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to work with some of my favorite guitar players, and these rich associations have greatly informed my craft. 

We will be documenting Victoria’s construction and have taken over 60 pictures to date.  

Thanks for giving me the opportunity to do what I love to do for the past thirty five years. " 
Dana Bourgeois  

HERE ARE PICTURES OF THE FINISHED GUITAR:

JULY 15, 2009 .  We've finished the guitar just in 
time to ship her to the Summer NAMM show in Nashville. 
We had our fingers crossed that it would be a perfect match for the hand built (from scratch) coffin case.  It was.  We are pleased with the result.  Suprisingly loud but with an unusual rich bottom end that belies its size!  Here are the pictures of the finished guitar:

 

 



Dana Bourgeois and Victoria.  
Serial #5000.

We also had a blast building the hand-made (and we do mean hand-made Coffin Case from scratch.  I'll put some more pictures up of that process soon.  

  

   
  All pictures can be clicked on for larger view. 

 No. 5000 "Victoria"
Availability:  February 2010 - This one of a kind guitar is available from Acoustic Vibes, contact Jeff Looker for more information.  

Page last updated: February 4, 2010