Bourgeois 50th Anniversary Parlor Soloist - Bearclaw Italian Spruce & Macassar Ebony #1 of 3

The Bourgeois 50th Anniversary Parlor Soloist stands as a rare and radiant celebration of half a century of lutherie, crafted with a sense of gratitude, reverence, and artistic certainty that only fifty years of hard earned wisdom can yield. From the first glance, it is clear that this instrument is more than a commemorative piece. It is a living expression of the spirit Dana Bourgeois has cultivated since the early days of the shop, when his meticulous tap tuning and deep respect for tonewood set a new standard for the modern acoustic world. This guitar, marked as number one of only three, carries that legacy in every shimmering surface and in every breath of air that will someday move inside it.

The voice begins with a top of Bearclaw Italian Spruce, a soundboard that glows with subtle ripples of figure and offers a rare mixture of clarity, sweetness, and lyrical bloom. Beneath it lies Aged Tone torrefied Adirondack bracing, shaped and voiced to release the kind of immediacy and responsiveness that has long defined Bourgeois instruments. The back and sides are fashioned from dramatic Macassar Ebony, shown in striking contrast between dark mineral ribbons and warm amber streaks. This wood not only creates a visual expression of contour and depth but also lends a focused, bell like sustain that suits the intimate nature of the parlor body.

Graceful details flow across the instrument like quiet poetry. Ebony body binding defines its silhouette, while Soloist style top purfling circles the Bearclaw top with quiet refinement. The wood rings rosette echoes the organic patterning of the back, and the DB Signature backstrip lends a touch of lineage. Macassar Ebony appears again in the endpiece inlay, the fingerboard, and the pyramid bridge, creating a unified palette of deep earth and shimmering grain. An inlaid ebony heel cap completes the body with a finishing note of elegance.

The Honduran Mahogany neck carries a satin finish that invites the hand, while the short 25 inch scale and 1 3/4 inch nut width create a sense of immediacy and comfort that suits both fingerstyle and lyrical flatpicking. Along the fingerboard, 14k gold squares and diamonds gleam softly, never overpowering the design but offering a whisper of celebration appropriate for a fiftieth anniversary instrument. The slotted headstock rises with a diamond volute, crowned by a Macassar Ebony veneer and adorned with a Mother of Pearl Bourgeois logo. Three on a plate Waverly tuning machines with ebony buttons complete the look with timeless simplicity.

Throughout, the finish work brings a sense of depth and quiet grandeur. The high gloss Aged Tone body finish lets light move across the wood like water, while the satin lacquer neck feels warm and alive. The high gloss headstock reflects the care given to every curve and line. Even the smallest elements, from the bone with black dot bridge and end pins to the signature label hidden just inside the soundhole, serve as reminders that this guitar was crafted to honor a long journey of curiosity, craftsmanship, and devotion to tone. At only 3 pounds 10 ounces, it feels featherlight in the hands, as if carrying a voice waiting patiently to awaken.

The Bourgeois 50th Anniversary Parlor Soloist is not simply a rare collector’s piece. It is a quiet masterpiece shaped by time, tradition, and an unwavering commitment to excellence. Its presence speaks gently yet unmistakably of the fifty years of music, discovery, and human dedication that inspired its creation.

Other specifications include:

• Bearclaw Italian Spruce Top
• Macassar Ebony Back & Sides
• Aged Tone Torrefied Adirondack Spruce Bracing
• Ebony Body Binding
• Soloist Style Top Purfling
• Wood Rings Rosette
• DB Signature Backstrip
• Macassar Ebony Endpiece Inlay
• Inlaid Ebony Heel Cap
• Macassar Ebony Fingerboard & Pyramid Bridge
• Honduran Mahogany Neck
• 14k Gold Squares & Diamonds Fingerboard Inlay
• Slotted Headstock with Diamond Volute
• Macassar Ebony Headstock Veneer
• Mother of Pearl Bourgeois Headstock Inlay
• Signature Label
• 3 on a Plate Waverly Tuning Machines with Ebony Buttons
• Bone with Black Dots Bridge & End Pins
• High Gloss Aged Tone Body Finish
• Satin Lacquer Neck Finish
• High Gloss Headstock Finish
• Short Scale - 25"
• 1 3/4" Nut Width
• 2 5/16" Bridge Spacing
• 3 lb 10 oz
• #10861

For more information about the Bourgeois Parlor, please contact us.

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Behind the Scenes at the Bourgeois Guitars Factory with Master Luthier Dana Bourgeois