Bourgeois Custom NAMM 2025 Figured Koa LDBO-12 - Natural

Crafted specifically as a showpiece for the 2025 NAMM show, this exceptional Bourgeois LDBO-12 immediately captivated John upon sight. As expected from a builder of Bourgeois's calibre, a showcase guitar like this is absolutely stunning, with remarkably scarce figured Koa wood on its top and back, a beauty truly surpassing most of the competition out there by a mile.

Despite its smaller body size, this LDBO-12 possesses an astonishingly powerful and punchy sound. Though slightly larger than a 00 but a touch smaller than a 000/OM, and equipped with a comfortable 25-inch scale neck, the L-DBO delivers unexpected power and presence. This impressive sound stems from two key features: a surprisingly large soundhole for its dimensions and delicate, 1/4" top bracing. Visually, its relatively narrow upper bout gives it a distinctive wedge-like profile, setting it apart from the common 0/00/000 family.

The bass register is surprisingly robust and well-defined, avoiding any sense of being weak or lacking. The guitar's overall volume output is also remarkable; it responds effortlessly to even a light fingerstyle touch, producing notes that bloom with clarity and distinct character. The instrument exhibits a vibrant quality, rich with overtones and sympathetic resonance. When a note is played and then muted, the remaining strings continue to vibrate with related harmonics, creating a natural reverb-like effect that is particularly suited to sustained notes.

This gorgeous LDBO-12 demonstrates impressive versatility across playing styles. It excels in solo bluegrass flatpicking with a clear and articulate voice and is equally adept at classical fingerstyle, producing a beautifully nuanced tone. Even for jazz, played closer to the neck, it yields a warm and mellow sound. The tonal characteristics shift dramatically with picking position. Near the bridge (ponticello), the sound is powerful with clarity and a pronounced attack, almost reminiscent of an electric guitar with a compression pedal. Conversely, playing closer to the neck (tasto) results in a gorgeously mellow and rounded tone with a scooped midrange.

Further enhancing this instrument are features like a 25" short scale, an extra vintage signature wood rosette, and a slotted headstock design featuring a diamond inlay and a Madagascar Rosewood veneer adorned with a Mother of Pearl Bourgeois logo. The Ebony fretboard and bridge feature abalone slotted squares and diamonds as fretboard inlays. The nut width is 1 23/32", and the bridge spacing is 2.2". It sports a pyramid-style bridge with bone pins featuring black dots. The internal label bears the signature of Dana Bourgeois himself. Constructed with animal protein glue, the guitar features a satin finish on the neck and headstock, contrasting with a high-gloss body. Notably, it includes aged tone torrefied bracing as a special option.

Please skip the embedded YouTube video to 22:25 to see some footage of the guitar taken at the NAMM show.