If you've been curious about Bourgeois but haven't wanted to jump straight into boutique level pricing, this OMCE Soloist Downeast Series is a really cool guitar.
This series is a collaboration between Dana Bourgeois and Eastman, combining Bourgeois voicing and design philosophies with Eastman's incredible craftsmanship. The end result is a guitar that feels way more expensive than you'd expect once it's in your hands.
The Aged Tone Sitka spruce top gives it that broken in feel right away, and the Indian rosewood back and sides add a ton of depth, warmth, and richness without ever feeling muddy. And aesthetically, they did a really nice job. The ziricote binding, abalone inlays, and subtle Bourgeois touches make it feel classy without trying too hard.
The OM body size is one of our favorites around here too. It's comfortable to sit with for long stretches, super responsive to fingerstyle playing, but still has enough punch there when you decide to dig in with a pick. And the LR Baggs HiFi system keeps things sounding natural whenever it's time to plug in.
