Boucher Guitars: MASTER GRADE over AAAA Tops. Is it worth it?

A close up comparison by ROGER SCHMIDT
Guitars used:
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[@jazzlehazzle]

On headphones, INSTANT difference. Wow. Master is like a concert hall in your lap! 😯

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Using headphones, the difference was astonishing.......really. While both guitars sound great, the master grade/master pack with it's grand piano sound, totally eclipsed the other guitar. I was expecting only a subtle difference, so I was quite shocked.

[@DixieTony-78]

The same

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

Both are wonderful sounding guitars. The master grade has more of a bell ringing chime to my ears.

[@vyvynylification]

I'm waiting for the opportunity for a Boucher SG51-M to pop up in EU (preferably used). The day that happens I'll buy it in a heartbeat.

[@acousticguitarcanada]

Thank you for sharing this informative video Roger. Four years ago, I sold my Martin D35 to help fund the purchase of a similar Master Grade HG56 ... and I couldn't be happier. PS. I'm a big fan of this KZbin channel, …you’re one of my guitar gurus. The next time I travel to southern Ontario, I hope to visit Brickhouse Guitars.

[@marco_cee_]

To my ears they were virtually identical. Both wonderful sounding, too. I'd love a Boucher 12 fret one day...

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thanks. They are indeed both wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Cheers. Roger

[@marco_cee_]

@@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener I imagine with headphones the subtleties will come across. I shall listen again later.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

My friend, you are truly missing out. Ya really should be using at least a decent set of headphones. Firstly: using headphones causes the sound to be FOUR FOLD BETTER ( which works out to about 16 times better, but nobody uses that terminology ) than any tiny speakers used in laptops, desk tops, and worst of all: smart phones. Trust me on this: any tiny speaker/speakers used in these devices gives you only a thin, tinny sound, the bass tones are practically absent, with hardly any volume. Therefore: the listener is cheating themselves out of most of the volume & wide range tone timbres. Secondly: while both guitars do sound fantastic, the master grade top even surprised me, with it's "grand piano" sound. The difference was VERY noticeable with headphones. Lastly: when it comes to music or anything where the audio is the subject at hand, I ALWAYS use headphones. The only other true alternative is a quality home hi-fi system with large speakers spaced far apart. Headphones are much cheaper, lol.

[@baronguitars]

My headphones probably don't do them justice but I hear a difference. And as you pointed out at the end of the video, bluegrass players might not need as much overtones to be satisfied, but for melodies such as those you played, its absolutely a plus. Great comparison video Roger.

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks Maxine! Thanks for listening and sharing your thoughts. Cheers. Roger

[@cmakely60]

Roger, I recently purchased the GR-SG-161T with the 5A Master grade top. I wasn't able to compare with a 4A top. I trusted your judgement and Robin's word that the 5A tops are not only nicer in appearance but more overtones and overall better sounding. I am really enjoying this guitar. Thank you.

[@ramspencer5492]

Yep. The first one was incredibly beautiful, but the master grade had even more! Incredible projection and story complex harmonic content.

[@darrylbrooks3361]

I haven't been able to get enough of my SG-51-MV. From the minute I played it, I knew I had to have it.

[@howabouthetruth2157]

I posted 2 other comments earlier. I love the sound of these 2 guitars so much, I keep coming back just to hear them again, lol. Now that I've listened several times, and can still say that the master pack guitar does sound better.........I believe the 4A top version would probably be better suited for recording, because of having less overtones. I know recording engineers really like to work with acoustic guitars that have a good punchy mid tone ( much like Bluegrass pickers ) without all of the overtones, because the overtones present problems with the overall mix with other instruments in the recording. If the guitarist is playing on a recording that will be only the solo guitar without any other instruments, then the overtones wouldn't be a problem, of course.

[@GlennMelrose]

Great comparison, really well done & honestly presented. I completely agree and in fact played three Boucher OMs today, one with a master top. All were quite good, yet the master really did have something extra special going on. Also just as you pointed out, the master top on the one I played -while attractive- was not the "best" cosmetically, but was best tone-wise. I applaud Boucher for grading tops based on tone and not simply on cosmetics the way other luthiers -certainly larger ones- do.

[@gds739]

Really nice video Roger! Very informative. It’s potentially fairly important to underline once more that the HG-56 (4A) is 3 YEARS old and the HG-56-M (Master Grade) is probably 5 DAYS old… Thank you very much Roger!

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks. Great point about the age of the AAAA. Roger

[@johnschneider4089]

Thanks Roger, incredible,both. I hear it, not as minuscule as I assumed it would be.

[@robertforbes6502]

The Master grade had a larger sound and a massive sustain but like you said both of them were so goooood😮❤

[@flash8051]

I just listened on my laptop with the limitation (obviously) of the speakers...although pretty decent for a laptop (B&O). 😄 Is there a difference? Absolutely...more than I thought there would be! After your beautiful playing on the HG-56, I thought..."how much better could the new one with the Master pack be?". Well, now I know. Side note...my Boucher is a SG-51 MV (Master pack, Vintage pack) and yes, the tone is remarkable. Even people who don't play or know guitars comment on the sound. As Roger said, get the M pack if you can. Added benefit is the gorgeous abalone rosette and the Koa binding which is just stunning!

[@firecrackerheart]

excellent comparison between two stellar instruments, roger. for lack of a better word, the newer, master grade guitar sounds "fuller". they are both gorgeous, but after several back-and-forths, i'm hearing very similar tonalities, overtones, balanced eqs, etc; just a bit more body in the master grade. thanks as always! (ps, what is the price difference between the 4A/MG?)

[@paulhamilton6652]

Both sound pretty awesome, but there is a difference. I think you stated it most accurately with the way you described them. Sitting behind as opposed to hearing it recorded also makes a difference, but what a sound they both produce!

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thanks for sharing! Cheers. Roger

[@williss9995]

Roger your musicianship is an absolute joy to listen too! Furthermore I am blown away by the exquisite craftsmanship and tone of Boucher guitars. Though I might give advantage to the HG-56 master grade version. Both guitars produce an enveloping bell like tone and i’m not sure Boucher Guitars has an equal?

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thank you so much. Thanks also for sharing your thoughts. Cheers. Roger

[@ricktralla8976]

hi roger greetings great playing i heard a difference immediately the 5a master top had a louder and more clear sound than the 4a top to me there is a difference but they are both great guitars

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Hi Rick. Thanks for listening. Seems like we have a very similar impression. Cheers. Roger

[@anthonylane9547]

To my ears, the 4a had more warmth to it, you just cant buy time. Dont get me wrong, the Master grade was fantastic with greater projection but it just lacked that warmth tone that time will only give you.

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thanks for sharing your impressions. Cheers. Roger

[@CrisGuitarBR]

Hi Roger. Great comparison!!! I assume that the HG-56 also differs not just on the top grader but also from the new moldes I guess they used for the newer models. Does it make sense?

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Good point! Thanks for sharing this. Cheers. Roger

[@don911donny9]

The master grade notes sound fatter and warmer to me which I prefer

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thanks Don. Cheers! Roger

[@newffee]

The master grade is more base and equalized cleaner notes. The AAAA is more brighter louder response. Both sound amazing.

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks. Cheers. Roger

[@jimcrook8326]

I'm well after the fact here, but the Master Grade notes seemed to have a little more clarity with a little more pop and maybe a bit sweeter sounding. The guitar almost sounded as if it had a little reverb added. Both very very nice though. Now if only I could afford one ;-(

[@jamesmacdon9351]

I can hear it too Roger - all registers seem to ring and sustain clearer.

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Thanks James. Cheers. Roger

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks for sharing. Cheers. Roger

[@michaelwebster8389]

Both such great guitars. Seems like the second one had a slightly different resonant frequency which came out in some of the bass notes. I think it would be very hard to prefer one to the other.

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks, Michael. Cheers. Roger

[@ramspencer5492]

Not just the bass notes.. Up top too...

[@quigley4440]

Hell yes there's a difference with the Master grade. Listen to those bells and sparkle. Is it subtle - no it's there. Could hear it in seconds.

[@John-wr6yo]

Like to see robin do a 12 frett oooo with figured walnut and torrified red spruce or engelman with red spruce braceing.

[@rossmuir4609]

Roger, first up, thank you for the quality recording setup and your playing ability which allow the instruments to show themselves. I'm taking a different tack here in that I prefer the older one because it sounds more integrated and whole if you like which is possibly because of it's age? The newer one sounds very fine but a little 'new' (duh?). Both lovely instruments which look smaller than a dreadnought, what body size are they please. Thanks again, Cheers, Ross

[@rossmuir4609]

Don't worry Roger; I got on their website ,it's a 000. Tis

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Many thanks and cheers to you as well. Roger

[@robm.4512]

I think that everyone’s perception will be different, no pair of ears responds to inputs the same as another. From my own, very individual, perspective the Master grade top had a more even tonal response and evenness of harmonics throughout the range, whereas the 4a sang out more richly on certain notes than on others. In some way I suppose that one might say that the 4a imposed more of its own individual character because of its varying responses. I think that ultimately one’s preference is entirely subjective, whether in favour of tonal “character” in the instrument such that it adds it’s own colours to a piece, or a transparency where the instrument is more purely a means of allowing the player to impart their own nuances to the music. Either way, it’s all subject to the vagaries of YT sound compression and I might just be talking out of my hat. I’d give my eye teeth to be the custodian of either instrument, they’re each beautiful and both are superb. Thank you for your giving me the opportunity to hear them, a real gift and much appreciated. Cheers, R. 😎👍🍻

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Hi Rob. Thanks for taking a careful listen and sharing all of your thoughts and impressions. Much appreciated! Cheers. Roger

[@judgetoogood1033]

What are good speakers and headphones. I have a Udo Capo 75 amp, is it any good. Thank you……. ❤❤❤

[@yelgerramirez]

For me the difference is very small, but there is one

[@BrickhouseGuitarsKitchener]

Cheers. Roger

[@howabouthetruth2157]

Hi Roger. Greetings from Melbourne Florida. QUESTION: what woods are used for the sides & backs of these 2 guitars? This was a great demonstration. Thank you!

[@angelg8445]

rosewood

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@angelg8445 Gee......ya think? I meant what KIND of rosewood. There's Indian, Madagascar, and Honduran rosewood........and the two latter species is usually better than Indian rosewood.......and much more costly too.

[@angelg8445]

@@howabouthetruth2157 wow, you asked the question wierdo. I own a Boucher, they almost always use Indian rosewood unless its a very special model. I own one they are wonderful. Also calm down

[@howabouthetruth2157]

@@angelg8445 The only weirdo here IS YOU. I was asking Roger a question.........NOT YOU. Furthermore: I already know that their normal models use either Indian rosewood or mahogany, but these are the master grades, and you can't "guess" at WHAT SPECIES of rosewood may have been used. It's also a proven fact that both Madagascar and Honduran rosewood ( providing they are of good quality ) are superior to Indian rosewood. And ONLY a weirdo would answer a question NOT intended for you whatsoever.......and then you get the wild idea that "you can order people around" so YOU calm down. Better yet, mind your own business.

[@hecjohn]

what strings and gauge did you use?

[@mjd-m6h]

how much are they $

[@flash8051]

Typically between $5-6k maybe a bit less if used/mint cond. or a "sale".