The Bourgeois Slope D Custom aims to deliver the sound and feel of pre-WW2 round-shoulder dreadnoughts, a near ideal instrument for flat-picking styles.

Dating to October 2005 and built in Lewiston, Maine, this Bourgeois Slope D Custom dreadnought is in very good condition with negligible wear. It features an Adirondack Spruce top, Mahogany for the sides, back, body blocks and neck, Ebony for the bridge, bound head plate and bound fingerboard, and Indian Rosewood for the heel cap. The body top and back, fingerboard and headstock are all ivoroid-bound and the tuners are Waverly models with creme plastic buttons. The Bourgeois headstock logo and small position marker dots are Mother of Pearl.

An under-saddle pickup is installed to an end-pin jack – there is no pre-amp and consequently no batteries. The sunburst finish gives a real vintage vibe to an already great guitar.

This guitar plays well and sounds great, with a slightly developed yet unmistakable sparkling voice and plenty of projection. As this Bourgeois Slope D Custom has had such light use, it is still not fully developed and will continue to improve with playing. The choice of Adirondack indicates that this guitar was made to be played hard – Adirondack stands up a bit better than Sitka when played heavily.

Sold with the original double arched hard shell case.

Here’s the builder on the Bourgeois Custom Slope D:

“Slope Shouldered and “square shouldered” Dreadnoughts co-evolved from divergent lines of guitar DNA. Curvier and ever so slightly wider and deeper than its counterpart, the Slope D’s most important structural distinction lies in its short, 25” scale length.

Long favored by country musicians – and additionally popular with a variety of American roots stylists – the Slope D is widely regarded as a superb choice for vocal accompaniment. And while also a fine flatpicking guitar, the Slope Shouldered species is usually considered a fingerpickers’ Dreadnought-of-choice.”

Bourgeois Slope D Custom Specifications: