Boucher Heritage Goose 12 Fret Acoustic Guitar Review ★ Acoustic Tuesday #113

I far prefer the natural sound of the guitar. Even w/ electric guitars, I prefer a ‘pure’ unadulterated tone. But I agree with Tony that effects are OK as a novelty… in (extreme) moderation.

The Ken Burns “Country Music Documentary” was extremely enlightening about the history of Country Music. It was FANTASTIC!!

IMHO I don’t like effected guitar. It seems like a gimmick to me and I really don’t see the point. Billy Strings should stick to what he does best rather than something like gimmick effects.

Hi Tony,

I very much enjoy your weekly Acoustic Life episodes.

I was especially excited to see you speak about 12-fret parlors this week.

Sometimes I feel as if I am the only one on the planet who remains interested in the wonder of 12-frets parlors, as they are nearly impossible to find in today’s marketplace. Even Martin killed off their glorious (but expensive) O-28VS (https://www.elderly.com/collections/flat-top-acoustic-guitars/products/martin-0-28vs-guitar-case), due to lack of demand.

Sure you can find a few parlors at the low end, but sonically they leave one desiring more.

Gretsch’s Jim Dandy is a perfect example of one such instrument. I absolutely adore my Gretsch Jim Dandy — its killer vintage Rex retro look, perfect size, its neck profile, but to offer it at such a low price, it clearly cannot be made with the best of tonewoods. In fact, I keep mine in open G or open D exclusively and it satisfies a sorta vulgar delta-era blues sound. Still, I so wish Gretsch would take everything about the Jim Dandy and offer a finer rendition of it, but not at the boutique builder prices (more on that in a bit).

And you can find instruments billed as parlors but really aren’t (huge bouts, 14-frets, etc., c’mon).

In my non-scientific research I have found that most of the parlors these days are offered by the high-end boutique builders such as Collings, Waterloo and Boucher.

Speaking of Boucher…while I sincerely appreciate your bringing awareness of the magic of 12-frets to your viewers, please allow me to voice a concern regarding a trend I see consistently on the program.

I really dig your skillful guitar reviews (and the Vegas Heartbreaker segments), but you seem to always review guitars that perhaps 1/2 of 1% of your viewers could ever dream of, let alone afford.

I am truly in awe of the physics, craftsmanship and love required to build these beautiful instruments and the perfect tonality they deliver. But seriously, how many of us are ever gonna see, play or own one?

So in that spirit, how about considering the player (including pro gigging musicians who don’t have endorsement deals), who would like to access some of the features that comprise a fine guitar, but at a price point that is closer to reality?

What the hell is this guy talking about? Glad you asked.

In my quest to find a decent 12-fret parlor, I studied the Boucher Heritage series and just about every 12-fret parlor within earshot of a duckduckgo search. The Heritage Goose Series price point — and that of many of its boutique brethren — could choke a gaggle of geese.

After recovering from the sticker shock, I resigned myself to having to wait for a non-existent rich uncle to will me some non-existent disposable income.

Until I met Rudy Pensa — founder/owner of NYC’s infamous Rudy’s Music store — at a recent Mark Knopfler show in NYC.

Rudy asked me what guitars I owned and what I am interested in owning. I shared my frustrations about a). finding a good-sounding 12-fret parlor, and b). affording said good-sounding 12-fret parlor. I mentioned I was looking at Collings and Waterloo, and he stopped me and asked if I had considered an Eastman E20P. I had not, because I was unaware they were building parlors.

In short, I discovered that the E20P has terrific specs, is constructed from quality solid tonewoods, at a fraction of a boutique builders’ prices.

Is the E20P a Santa Cruz, Waterloo, Boucher, Thompson, etc.? Hell no, but it is very impressive and falls within the realm of most folks’ reality — way better than the Recording Kings, Faridas, Yamaha CSFs, Jim Dandy (though I will always love that little pistolero), but not anywhere near the Boucher-like stratosphere.

How about reviewing an E20P for your viewers? (https://www.eastmanguitars.com/e20p)

And how about mixing up the reviews:

* Continue showing us the high-end, museum-quality pieces so we can all drool, er, I mean learn about and appreciate the craft (and so your Wall St. viewers can snag for their glass-enclosed collections)
* But sprinkle in some affordable, yet decent instruments that the rest of us can realistically own

Ok, blathering spew complete.

Thanks, Tony!

Just saw #113.great as always.i love how tony explains everything in his show,I love to hear everything.i like it.because I am learning a beautiful hobby.i love the artist of the week Dave grier.beautiful artist.thanks tony and noah.i have been very busy.see ya at #114.thanks alot.😀👍💡🎉☕️

Holy Smoke, Tony!
Not only did you share the clip of David Grier last week, but it was performrd at the Station Inn in Nashville! If you’ve never been there, you need to add it to your bucket list. It’s one of my favorite places in Nashville. There’s live music every night, and late in the evening after the show at The Opry is finished, many of the musicians come there to hang out, have a beer, and jam! You never know who might show up! Thanks for sharing and thanks for another great Acoustic Tuesday.
Guy Pharis