If you’re looking to get some inside into the Bourgeois vs Martin guitar brands, then this is the post for you!
For most guitarists, when it comes to high-end acoustic guitars, then Martin is probably one of the first brands to come to mind.
It’s no coincidence given that Martin guitars have been on the market for almost two centuries.
Martin has also inspired other guitar brands throughout the 20th century to up their game when it comes to manufacturing acoustic guitars.
You can see Martin guitar’s influence with their instruments from many well-known guitar manufacturers such as Gibson, Fender, Yamaha, Ibanez, etc.
However, one brand that mightn’t be as popular is Bourgeois guitars.
Bourgeois acoustic guitars have grown in popularity, so for those of you who are interested in a comparison between Bourgeois and Martin guitars, let’s take a quick dive.
Martin Guitars
Martin guitars are one of the oldest acoustic guitar manufacturers in the United States.
They’re also one of the oldest in the world when it comes to the standard shape of acoustic guitars that we know today.
One of Martin’s most important innovations has been the creation of the dreadnought guitar body type.
It didn’t take long for the dreadnought style to become so popular that almost all other guitar manufacturers began to copy it. Unlike previous models, the dreadnought has a louder and richer sound. This is because of the size of the body, with it significantly larger than other types.
You may have known the Martin dreadnought guitars as “D-“. The most famous models being the D-18, D-28, and D-35.
Bourgeois Guitars
Dana Bourgeois has earned and maintained a reputation for making high-performance acoustic guitars based on iconic Martin designs. Their in-depth approach to voicing has come to define the Bourgeois sound. Bourgeois is an established name, making guitars for the acoustic connoisseur looking for something very special.
While Bourgeois offers guitars at different price points, this beautiful instrument. Lovers of Bourgeois guitars are probably familiar with the DB Signature line. This product turns things up a notch as it’s their Deluxe model.
Martin Sound
From their formation, Martin has strived to set the standard for a perfect acoustic guitar.
Most believe that they’ve maintained that dedication to quality from the beginning. In fact, Martin has made a name for itself as the brand that has defined the traditional acoustic guitar sound. Although Martin has different models, most models have a warm and full sound with plenty of natural reverb.
In fact, Martin is so popular with so many guitarists, particularly in the 60s and 70s, that their guitar sound dominated the “Oldies” era. This has been the single biggest indicator of Martin’s sound quality; the number of musicians who have played or currently play their guitars.
Bourgeois Sound
Bourgeois guitars have combined the future of vintage tone, combining old-world hand-voicing techniques with modern innovations in design and materials. The company originally began in 1850, in the industrial town of Lewiston, Maine. Dana Bourgeois, who is the master luthier and his small team of highly skilled craftsmen have produced some of the finest steel-string instruments available today.
Bourgeois guitars are known for their tonal excellence, meticulous craftsmanship and top-notch materials. They’re played by six-string luminaries such as Bryan Sutton, Ricky Skaggs, and the late Doc Watson and countless professional and nonprofessional enthusiasts. Bourgeois guitars have had a prominent role in the American steel-string guitar renaissance for more than two decades, helping to shape acoustic music’s most recent rise in popularity.
Bourgeois Vs Martin: Build
Both Martin and Bourgeois are handmade guitars. With both brands, quality and originality take precedence over quantity. So, you’ll know what you’re getting with that the best guitar makers in the world use the highest quality wood to make each guitar.
To have a fair comparison, we’ll compare two models, similar in quality and price.
For Martin, we’ll use the D-28, as it’s one of Martin’s most popular models.
The D-28 guitar is made of high-quality Sitka Spruce for the top, East Indian Rosewood for the back and sides, Genuine Mahogany for the neck, and Ebony is used for the fretboard with a satin finish.
The Bourgeois Generation L-DBO Series is made with quality Sitka Spruce for the top, Mahogany for the back, sides, and neck, while the fretboard is made of Ziricote.
Although the materials are a bit different for both guitars, making them unique and still of the highest quality.
Bourgeois Vs Martin: Pickups
The first difference the Bourgeois has is a slight advantage with its L.R. Baggs Lyric Pickup.
Unlike Bourgeois, Martin installs Fishman pickups in their guitars.
Fishman pickups are high quality; especially as Martin uses them for their pickups. In short, both pickup systems are of the highest quality. Therefore, it’s hard to answer as to which is better, it’s simply a matter of taste.
Bourgeois Vs Martin: Price
When it comes to the price, both guitars are quite pricey and typically range between $1000 and $6000. You can also find some limited-edition models costing upwards of $14000.
It’s no surprise when considering the price, that it’s usually expert guitarists that go for these guitars. As you’d expect, you won’t find a lot of amateur players playing a $14,000 guitar.
Conclusion
The difference between the guitars that these companies make is minimal and mainly depends on personal taste.
In a perfect world, you would play the instrument you are looking to get before purchasing it. However, you can always order online and use the retailer’s return policy if the guitar isn’t to your taste.
Either way, these are high-quality brands that will provide you with a great guitar.