The Truth About The Bourgeois & Eastman Guitars Partnership | Touchstone Series

[@jed1166]

I lived in China for 13 years, and visited the Eastman factory in Beijing in 2019. I was very impressed! I spoke to craftsmen that had been working there for over 15 years, and they loved their jobs… They were very proud of the work they did. I returned to Chengdu thinking I would buy an E6D to bring home, but found that the street prices on Eastman’s are 10% higher in China than here in the USA!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing! Be sure to subscribe for more.

[@jed1166]

@@AcousticShoppe am subscribed!

[@ayoungethan]

They should be proud, judging by the dreadnought I bought for my dad several years ago. It was hands down the best instrument in its price range, and as good or better than many guitars a few price tiers above. I'd steal it for myself if it weren't too big for me.

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

Great video and big congratulations to Eastman & Bourgeois! Reinvesting the newly found profits back into your people is such an honourable move, thanks for being so open about the whole process. We can't wait to get our hands on these new models!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Couldn't have said it better ourselves. Thanks for watching and commenting. We'd love to collaborate on some future projects with y'all!

[@thefellowshipofacoustics]

@@AcousticShoppe Sounds like a plan, hit us up! :)

[@b.k.nicholsonanddesperado7359]

I played a Touchstone at IBMA this past year (Sept 2023); I was highly impressed and if I had the coin, I would have purchased one on the spot. I play my friend's Bourgeois frequently in the bluegrass band we play together in, and I can assure you that the Touchstone has got it!

[@tylerhartman604]

Awesome video. Thanks for this, folks. I own an Eastman E40OM and a Bourgeois DB SJ, and both are just perfect instruments. This partnership is going to force some of the "good ol' boys" to up their game.

[@texhaines9957]

Bought a Eastman E40 OM TC with Touch Tone neck joint. Sounds and plays great. Thanks John, Jeremy, Jason, Dana and all Acoustic Shoppe, Eastman and Bourgeois.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Enjoy! Thanks for watching and continuing to support the channel!

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

Really appreciated this video. I would love to own a Touchstone and hope to try one out at a shop in Sydney Australia. Maybe Guitar Factory Gladesville please!

[@daveowens]

Thanks for putting this together. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we could be more respectful of people as people and not tie them to their governments’ views? I’ve heard nothing but positive feedback about the people at Eastman and most importantly, heard they’re respected, paid well, and are true craftsmen. I haven’t owned an Eastman in a long time, but am reconsidering that.

[@carole8312]

Thank you. This is an informative presentation. I believe in the Bourgeois brand (I love my Generation OM), and believe in this new venture.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching!

[@michaelwebster8389]

Great stuff, and really looking forward to purchasing a Touchstone when they become more available. Such a fantastic innovation to get this kind of quality priced for still high end prices, but significantly more affordable for the average player.

[@TellurideMusicCo]

Excellent work! The Touchstone Series is an excited new chapter for Bourgeois Guitars. Thanks for putting this informative video together.

[@ayoungethan]

IMHO, this is the way to do it. So thoughtful in structuring the partnership and also with wonderful transparency. Sounds like a Win-Win-Win (Bourgeois - Eastman - Customers and employees) all around!

[@andyt5559]

I own an Eastman lp junior, it cost £1250, yes not a budget guitar, but it punches way above its cost! Flawlessly built and finished, and plays like a dream, but also sounds fantastic! it's big brother an SB59V I have been waiting for, for 6 month, but I will wait patiently! Am sure it will be AMAZING!

[@robzagar4275]

They do sound so good! Eastman is doing a good job with these

[@f5mando]

Great video, guys. Congratulations to Eastman and Bourgeois on this new partnership. It already looks like a winner. The new mandolin looks and sounds good, too. Looking forward to their rendition of the F5 mandolin. Bravo!

[@AcousticShoppe]

Fingers crossed! Thanks for watching!

[@michaelmalik5049]

Glad to hear things are going so well. I love Bourgeois guitars. There was a roasted maple slope D I got a chance to play a few years ago that was great but I didn’t have an extra $7,000 & I’m not a good enough player to justify spending that money even if I would have had it. I actually just bought an Eastman E1SS-SB that I am loving.

[@williambutler8624]

I own Bourgeois and Eastman guitars 🎸, they are both built excellent, expert craftsmanship, beautiful sounding guitars, Eastman guitars are more affordable for guitar players.

[@AcousticShoppe]

That's fair! Thanks for watching. Be sure to subscribe for more.

[@Dantoob1]

Great video TAS Team! Thanks for creating it.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Our pleasure! We're glad you enjoyed it. Thank you so much for watching!

[@dougkessler3692]

Exciting venture!

[@fishersrow]

What guitar is being played in the background soundtrack?

[@victoresarey4036]

Is the neck bolt on or glued in?

[@marc8vino]

Won't this devalue the custom Bourgeois guitars? I hope the focus of the upper end guitars don't suffer.

[@marc8vino]

I ask this because I really like the 3 I have. I'm trying to figure on what guitars to keep. Due to some health issues, I will need to sell most of my guitars. I have 3 Bourgeois including an om-42 with Guatemalan back and sides. 3 Santa Cruzes, 2 Collings, 4 Martins, 5 Gibsons and more. A total of 30 acoustics. They are all great. Some have sentimental connections, and some cover a sound that I might always want like my J-45. So, it's not just a matter of best but which ones cover some areas. If that makes sense. Now, I also have to think about which ones will hold value. The Bourgeois om-45 Is the most expensive costing new around 17K. So sadly, that one is up for sale but might be one of the best if I could only keep one. Since I will keep around 10-12...some while others aren't as good overall, but they might be better and one thing like the J-45. I hope the value of the custom Bourgeois's don't get devalued. If so, then that might tip the scale on letting them go.

[@TheJoshSchneider]

Pay no attention to the naysayers their talking out their ass. Eastman builds really high quality great sounding guitars at an incredible price point. I have a E1D and I love it. China has had quality control issues over the years with different products like cat food, Sheetrock and so on. American builders do make great guitars as well, but so do other countries. I have some guitars made in Chile that are incredible. My friend has an Eastman E10 D and I’ve played that one as well as his 722ce and ga1ce And they are all fantastic guitars. Dana made the right move.

[@johnwashburn3793]

Thank you for this. I am mostly concerned about the bolt-on neck. I am old school and want a proper dovetail. I am "almost persuaded. " I am not concerned about county or origin, but why buy a $7000.00 guitar when it looks like a Touchstone?

[@AcousticShoppe]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching.

[@johnwashburn3793]

@@AcousticShoppe did you even read my comment? I do not think that I would pay $7K for a guitar that looks exactly like a 3k guitar. Hello Thompson.

[@turrafirmaguitarchannel]

@@johnwashburn3793 looks are one thing. Sound is another. It remains to be heard if the Touchstones sound inferior to the American made. Maybe the Eastmans will sound as good! I doubt they won’t copy those braced tops they are getting from Dana to a T. My prediction is there are lots of good ol boys in the US who will not abide a foreign made geetar. And then there are the rich folk who want Bourgeois on the headstock. Those top tier guitars will keep selling imho.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Yes we did read your comment. If you don't think you'd pay $7k for a guitar that looks like a $3k guitar, that's completely your prerogative. However, a guitar in the $7k price range will typically allow for more customization options (tonewoods, finishes, appointments, etc.). Hope this helps!

[@natemink572]

@@johnwashburn3793 There no way in hell you could differentiate a bolt from a dove, and if you just want a pretty guitar then just go get one.

[@jasper_north]

Love the Isbell tune… anyway- at least HumanRights are respected in China, right?

[@jasongavel2787]

I wish they would build an affordable version of Tony Rice’s guitar the bone 😁👍🤞

[@AcousticShoppe]

Fingers crossed!

[@tothepoint7258]

Business is business. Margins very seldom make up for quantity. You can sell a few for more or you can sell many for much less. Domestic production often ultimately ends up "pricing" themselves out of business. No matter what people say, that is exact what is at issue here. Somewhere in this "equation", Bourgeois just might be able to lower their pricing for domestically produced products. I've worked with Chinese business for years. Most are very hard working and conservative in their approach to business.

[@AcousticShoppe]

Thanks for watching and commenting. Be sure to subscribe for more!

[@pmscalisi]

I just find the fact they are beholden to the CCP is personally an issue for me.

[@rogerd9150]

Help me to understand this……..So a guitar with the name “Touchstone” on it is made partly by Eastman and partly by Bourgeois? And a guitar with the name “Bourgeois” on it is made entirely in the US by Bourgeois?

[@AcousticShoppe]

Bourgeois Touchstone guitars are hand-voiced & set up in Lewiston, Maine and assembled in Beijing, China. Every other Bourgeois guitar is made entirely in Lewiston, Maine.

[@DannyBrooks1]

As long as they keep building their high end custom guitars then that’s all I care about.

[@ahall3823]

Great guitars, but such a pity that nitro is no longer offered…

[@petehowlett3966]

Haven't you been here before?

[@colorado_al]

I played the Eastman/Bourgeois M5A mandolin and it was nice, but not $1000 nicer than the Eastman MD805. I get that it has torrefied wood and a James tailpiece, which certainly add value (Eastman tailpieces have always been junk), but no way is it worth $1000 more than Eastman's previous top of the line A model. And pull my leg again with the "designed by Bourgeois" BS. Bourgeois has never built mandolins. This is an Eastman designed instrument branded as a Bourgeois, which they can now do as owners of the brand. And the Golden Age tuners are a bad move. They look nice but are poor performers. I'd take the MD805 tuners over those any day. Those mandolins should have a street price of $1800 tops. If you're going to spend that kind of money on an Eastman mandolin, go with the MD815v. The varnish finish is way better sounding than the nitrocellulose finish on the M5A and the MD805. Then spend the $200 to upgrade to a James tailpiece.

[@twelthstring]

The Chinese will buy anything they want. It is very disappointing that Bourgeois has sold itself to them. Partnership? Bourgeois is now (mostly)Chinese and has a boutique department in the US. Let's just hope that Martin, Larrivee, Collings, Boucher, Lowden etc. don't come up with the same idea.

[@ericksoncerqueira]

You know that Eastman’s owner is not Chinese right? The guitars are built there because it’s Wayne cheaper specially the labor.

[@paulliversidge1083]

Need to get past guitar brand snobbery..Eastman guitars are amazing.

[@leslee9406]

They are good and friendly in price and superb in values. i don't see any issue, i am getting one soon.

[@jasonandrew412]

I just bought an e6d-tc and I play it more than my Taylor 414ce custom. It sounds so good for any price.

[@jameswynn1310]

You think Martin is above producing cheap guitars?? You are crazy if you think eastman isn't quality. I would put my eastman up against most any guitar. And I love Martin have 2. You like their cheap guitars? Plastic garbage. Eastman wouldn't stoop to that level guaranteed. Play one and tell Me I'm wrong

[@BulldoggerJK]

So if Eastman is a majority owner and is using Bourgeois building techniques, why would you spend the extra to get a Bourgeois? They are building the same guitar cheaper. Just watched a video today that Eastman is building a bourgeois cutaway copy. There’s no point in spending the extra money. These guys are admitting Eastman builds it better. It’s more hand built than theirs. People that buy Bourgeois are the losers in the deal. At least financially. You’re paying for a name.

[@AbbieHoffmansGhost]

My 10 year old Bourgeois guitar looks exactly as it did right from the day that I bought it. The reason is that it doesn't even have 10 hours of playing time on it. The reason for that is because it was a very difficult guitar to play. It was extremely 'stiff'. As a result it was not as responsive as it should have been. I took it out of it's case the other day and lo and behold after all these years of neglect it opened itself up and now the sound is bright and ringing and the playability is much better as well. Would I guy another? Only if playing it first unlike ordering it like the last one. As far as the neck joint goes, I've been a Martin man for 50 years and continue to be one and that is what I played while my Bourgeois aged in it's case. My favorite guitar which is a Martin and the one that I played for all these past years cost 1/7th of that Bourgeios. Live and learn.

[@natemink572]

In a blind test, you couldn't tell the difference between a dovetail vs bolt neck if your life depended on it

[@dadgadfolkmusic200]

I will never pay this much for a cheap Chinese guitar that is disguised as an American guitar.

[@robzagar4275]

They are quality instruments. Not cheap or junk. Mostly hand made Quailty

[@Skwid-Lives]

My Eastman is far from cheap. It’s way btr than my Taylor. I like the Taylor cuz it plays so easy but it lacks what the Eastman has

[@freepublic]

Two cooks ? No thank you. It will end up either too salty or no salt at all:)

[@badhabit8824]

If all of this is true then why does a Blueridge absolutey outclass an Eastman in both quality and sound??

[@christopherburrell9630]

You clearly haven't played any new Eastman's in a long time to make such a ridiculous comment like that.

[@alementary4065]

I can say this: My Eastman LS00QS is the best sounding/playing guitar I ever picked up. Better than my Taylor by far.

[@tuneyouup]

No Chinese 🤯