Introduction
The Touchstone acoustic series represents a remarkable collaboration between Eastman’s manufacturing facility in Beijing, China, and the renowned workshop of dana Bourgeois in lewiston, Maine, USA.
For those unfamiliar, Dana Bourgeois is celebrated as one of the leading luthiers globally, with his guitars commanding premium prices. The inception of the Touchstone Series occurred when Eastman,already known for producing high-quality acoustics,partnered with Bourgeois to create a more efficient production process.
Here’s how it effectively works: Dana and his team meticulously source, brace, and voice the guitar tops in Maine before shipping them to Eastman’s workshops in China.There, the backs, necks, and other components are assembled according to Bourgeois’s precise specifications.
Quality assurance is stringent, with every step closely monitored to guarantee that each instrument meets the highest standards. Our review of a couple of Bourgeois/touchstone acoustics left us thoroughly impressed, with the OM model earning a 9/10 and the dreadnought achieving a perfect score of 10.
This collaboration allows for more cost-effective manufacturing,enabling musicians to access one of the top brands at a significantly lower price point.
Dana Bourgeois takes great pride in the quality achieved through this partnership, and it’s noteworthy that the Bourgeois name is prominently displayed on the headstock of these instruments, rather than Touchstone or Eastman.
The Slope D Standard is a recent addition to the Touchstone lineup, and its design certainly evokes the classic J-45. This resemblance is intentional; Bourgeois describes it on their website as “The Standard revitalizes a classic design that has earned its reputation as the ‘workhorse’ of acoustic guitars.”
The J-45 earned its ‘workhorse’ nickname after its debut in Gibson’s catalog in 1942, quickly becoming a reliable choice for musicians over the years. The signature sunburst finish is a key identifier, though the neck inlays and the smaller squared-off headstock may not be as recognizable.
regarding the finish, a craftsman from Eastman was flown to Dana’s workshop in Lewiston to ensure the sunburst submission was executed flawlessly. That’s a testament to their commitment to detail.
The specifications of the Slope D closely mirror those of the J-45, featuring a Sitka spruce top that has been torrefied to mimic the sound of a well-played instrument, complemented by mahogany back and sides. Both woods exhibit premium quality, with the spruce showcasing its characteristic cross-grain shimmer and the mahogany displaying an appealing striped grain pattern.
Turning to the neck, it is indeed also crafted from mahogany and appears to have a relatively slim profile. While the J-45 typically features a rosewood fingerboard, this model opts for ziricote, a wood sometimes referred to as ‘Mexican ebony,’ though it is not a true ebony.
Ziricote serves as an excellent option to ebony, known for its distinctive ‘spiderweb’ grain pattern, even if it lacks the deep black hue of true ebony. At the headstock, a bone nut is paired with schaller GrandTune tuners and the understated pearly Bourgeois logo.
With such specifications, it’s challenging to identify any areas where costs have been cut, as the quality appears extraordinary throughout. In fact, the features suggest an instrument that would typically retail for at least double the price.
It’s challenging to identify any areas where costs have been cut
One notable difference from the J-45 is the scale length, which measures 635mm (25 inches) compared to Gibson’s 629mm (24.75 inches). Additionally, Bourgeois has slightly reduced the nut width. While these differences may be negligible in practice, they are interesting to note.
Aside from these minor details, the guitar features 20 well-finished frets, a precisely cut nut, a striking scratchplate, and a compensated bone saddle set within a ziricote bridge, which is adorned with six ivoroid bridge pins.
With all these factors considered, we were eager to discover how the Slope D performed in terms of sound.
Specifications
- PRICE: $2,767/£2,899 (includes hard case)
- ORIGIN: China/USA
- TYPE: Slope-shouldered dreadnought
- TOP: Torrified Sitka spruce
- BACK/SIDES: Mahogany
- MAX RIM DEPTH: 124mm
- MAX BODY WIDTH: 406mm
- NECK: Mahogany
- SCALE LENGTH: 635mm
- TUNERS: Schaller GrandTune nickel with ivoroid buttons
- NUT WIDTH: Bone/43.6mm
- FINGERBOARD: Ziricote
- FRETS: 20
- BRIDGE/SPACING: Ziricote with bone saddle/55.8mm
- ELECTRICS: N/A
- WEIGHT: 1.9kg/4.2lb
- OPTIONS: None
- RANGE OPTIONS: The Standard range also includes a L-DBO 14 (£2,899)
- LEFT-HANDERS: Not available yet
- FINISHES: Natural high gloss with a satin neck
- CONTACT: Bourgeois Guitars
Playability and sound
Image 1 of 3
