Inspired by prewar small-body designs, the Bourgeois L-DBO 12-Fret packs the distinctive sound that old-time and country blues players love. With its 12-fret neck, "Aged Tone" torrefied Adirondack Spruce top, and stunning Curly Maple back and sides, this L-DBO combines vintage small-body character and bark with the note articulation and response of a hand-voiced, custom-built guitar.
This Bourgeois L-DBO 12-Fret is a versatile instrument with tons of personality—perfect for fingerstyle blues or old-time accompaniment, but it would be comfortable and approachable for any player, especially around the living room. Thanks to its torrefied Adriondack Top, it balances shimmering trebles with Maple richness, mid-range punch, and more depth than you might expect from a small body. It cuts and bites when you need it to, but it's also sweet and subtle when you play softly. Animal Protein glue construction throughout helps this brand new guitar breathe like a seasoned vintage treasure. It has a wide dynamic range and plenty of sustain, and its tone follows your right-hand technique
We ordered this L-DBO 12 in natural finish to show off the stunning Maple flame. The celluloid Firestripe pickguard is the perfect accent, and the Ivoroid top binding with black/white/black purfling are elegant, but understated. The Ziricote fingerboard and bridge both show intricate character and grain.
- Model: LDBO-12 "The Artist"
- Top: Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce
- Back & Sides: Curly Maple
- Scale Length: 25" Short Scale
- Rosette: Single Ring Rosette Ivoroid on end
- Endpiece Inlay: Body Wood, No Purfling
- Body Binding: Ivoroid
- Purfling: Black, Ivoroid on end, Black w/ B&S Purfling
- Head Shape: Contour Headstock
- Head Veneer: Ebony
- Head Inlay: Mother of Pearl Bourgeois Logo
- F.B./Bridge Wood: Ziricote Fretboard and Bridge
- Fretboard Inlay: Mother of Pearl Dots
- Fretboard Binding: Matching with Fingerboard, No Purfling
- Nut/Bridge Width: Nut- 1-3/4" Bridge- 2-5/16"
- Heel Cap: Ivoroid
- Tuners: Waverly Nickel/Oval/Ivoroid
- Bridge: Rectangular Bridge
- Pins: Ivoroid
- Pickguard: Celluloid Firestripe
- Label: Dana Bourgeois Signature Label
- Glue: Animal Protein
- Neck Finish: Satin
- Headstock Finish: High Gloss
- Body Finish: High Gloss
- Top Color: Natural
- Special Options: Aged Tone Torrefied Bracing
This L-DBO 12-Fret is a joy to play. It's a comfortable, manageable size that produces tone like no other. Notes ring out and resonate, and the top feels responsive with touch-sensitive dynamics. There's plenty of bass, and while some small-body guitars sound small and boxy, this one sounds big and wide open.