Meet the Guitars
Bourgeois Touchstone Vintage OM
Bourgeois has built a reputation for crafting boutique instruments, and their guitars often sit in the $7,500+ range. The Touchstone series, however, brings Bourgeois’ renowned craftsmanship to a more accessible price point. This series results from a unique collaboration between Bourgeois and Eastman Music, leveraging both companies’ strengths.
- Construction Process:
- The tops are hand-selected, built, and voiced by Dana Bourgeois in Maine.
- These tops are then sent to Eastman’s factory in Beijing, where the rest of the guitar is completed to Bourgeois’ exacting specifications.
- Once finished, the guitars return to Maine for final setup alongside Bourgeois’ high-end models.
- Specifications:
- Top: Old-growth Alaskan Sitka spruce with Adirondack bracing.
- Back and Sides: Indian rosewood.
- Neck: Slim profile with a satin finish, featuring a slightly narrower nut width of 1-23/32″.
- Appointments: Herringbone purfling, black-and-white rosette, and ivoroid bridge pins.
- Hardware: Schaller GrandTune tuners.
The result? A lightweight, balanced guitar with impressive projection and tonal clarity, suitable for everything from strumming folk ballads to intricate fingerstyle pieces.
Martin OM-28 Standard
The Martin OM-28 is a highly revered acoustic guitar, known for its balanced tone, comfortable playability, and rich heritage. A body style originally designed by Martin in the late 1920s/early 1930s for players who needed more projection and clarity than smaller guitars, particularly for orchestral accompaniment
- Construction Process:
- Built entirely in the U.S., the OM-28 showcases Martin’s meticulous craftsmanship.
- It’s a mid-sized guitar, larger than a 000 but smaller than a dreadnought. It features a narrower waist, and a more elongated body compared to a dreadnought.
- Specifications:
- Top: Sitka spruce with scalloped X-bracing.
- Back and Sides: East Indian rosewood.
- Neck: Modified Low Oval, offering a comfortable, rounded, and not overly chunky feel.
- Appointments: multi-stripe rosette, bold herringbone top trim, ivoroid binding, and diamond/square fingerboard inlays.
- Hardware: Open-gear tuners are common, nodding to its vintage inspiration.
Sonically, the OM-28 delivers a focused, bright tone with taut lows and exceptional headroom, making it a dream for recording and live performances.
Side-by-Side Sound and Playability
Tone
Both guitars excel in tone, but their characters differ significantly:
- Bourgeois Touchstone OM: Offers a refined and polished sound with even string-to-string balance. Its lows are warm and resonant, while the highs are clear and articulate, making it versatile across genres.
- Martin OM-28: True to its lineage, the OM-28 has a classic, old-school tone. It emphasizes high-end detail and a tight, bright response, ideal for players who love that unmistakable Martin chime.
Feel
- Bourgeois: The slightly narrower nut width and satin neck finish provide a sleek, modern feel that’s comfortable for both fingerstyle and flatpicking.
- Martin: Its wider nut and balanced tone make it perfect for intricate picking.
Projection and Dynamics
- Bourgeois: The Touchstone OM delivers robust projection and a rich dynamic range, handling alternate tunings beautifully.
- Martin: With its Adirondack bracing and modern materials, the OM-28 offers unparalleled headroom and dynamic responsiveness, making it perfect for heavy-handed strummers or precision fingerpickers.
Value for Money
The Bourgeois Touchstone OM is a game-changer, bringing boutique-level quality to a broader audience. Priced significantly lower than Bourgeois’ standard lineup, it offers exceptional value while retaining the craftsmanship Dana Bourgeois is famous for.
The Martin OM-28 represents the pinnacle of Martin’s innovation and tradition. It is a beautifully crafted instrument that offers a compelling blend of comfort, versatility, and iconic acoustic tone, making it a beloved choice for serious guitarists worldwide.
Final Thoughts
So, which guitar is right for you? Here’s the breakdown:
- Choose the Bourgeois Touchstone OM if: You want a modern take on vintage tones with top-notch craftsmanship at an accessible price.
- Choose the Martin OM-28 if: You crave that iconic Martin sound with cutting-edge features and a luxurious playing experience.
Both guitars are exceptional instruments that any player would be lucky to own. For me, the Bourgeois Touchstone OM edges ahead with its refined sound and innovative collaboration with Eastman, but the Martin OM-28 remains a classic for a reason.
