BOURGEOIS

Upon the very first strum on this stunning A-350, one is immediately greeted by a voice that is confident and firm.  While it would be unrealistic to expect a profound bloom in the low end of any acoustic archtop guitar, this instrument offers a composed low E and A that are substantive and slightly warm without being overly blended. Meanwhile, the mid-range is forward without being oppressive or honky, and the trebles ring out clearly and linger with pleasingly strong sustain. Indeed, the overall presence of this guitar could be described as compellingly balanced and articulate. 

For those unfamiliar, acoustic archtop guitars such as this A-350 are not as responsive as flattops, as they were designed with another purpose in mind—that being the ability to withstand higher string tension, a harder attack, all with the aim to cut through the mix in ensembles where, if we’re being honest, guitars were dynamically outmatched (think big bands with horns!). Along that line, a punchy voice and a strong dynamic range were the name of the game!  In this respect, this guitar is quite content as a rhythm instrument, swinging and chopping away. Yet, in the intimate moments, the player detects an admission from this guitar, stated in its confident, articulate, and balanced way of speaking, that melodic work is its joie de vivre….  Such romance aside, Dana Bourgeois’ A-350 is not only a beautiful example of his craftsmanship, but an outstanding instrument that is competitive with some of the best acoustic archtops on the market at most reasonable price. 

Condition

For its age, this A-350 has been very well-preserved, with scarcely a trace of wear—perhaps most significant is a small dent on the back of the headstock at the top edge.  Apart from this, we do know from the previous owner that the pickguard is a replacement from Bourgeois, as the original was irrevocably damaged during a failed pickup installation.  Along that line, the endpin has already been reamed for a strap jack, and a gold strap jack is presently installed; however, there is no pickup present!  It is clear that many players have elected to install K&K passive pickups on the A-350 (which is not too surprising, given the high quality of this model’s acoustic voice), but a conventional low profile floating pickup could certainly be installed as well.  EXCELLENT+ to NEAR MINT Condition

• 16” Archtop
• Solid Spruce Top
• Solid Curly Maple Back and Sides
• Faux Tortoiseshell Binding
• Black/White Top Border Purfling
• Gloss Body Finish
• Full Body Sunburst
• 2-Piece Curly Maple Neck with Center Strip
• Ebony Fingerboard
• 20 Frets
• Ebony Headstock Veneer
• Floating Ebony Bridge
• Compensated Ebony Saddle
• Hinged Ebony Trapeze Tailpiece with Inlaid White Border
• Schaller Gold Tuners with Ebony Buttons
• Ebony Pickguard with Inlaid White Border
• Bone Nut
• 1 23/32” Nut Width
• 25 1/2” Scale Length
• Gold Strap Jack Installed (No Pickup Present!)
• Original Hardshell Case