The Boucher GR-HG-164T is a 12-fret parlor guitar built with both a torrefied AAAA Adirondack spruce top and torrefied figured maple back and sides – a combination that sets it apart from most maple-body acoustics. Torrefaction accelerates the aging process in the wood, and on the maple body specifically, it tempers the brightness that maple can sometimes carry, pulling more warmth and low-mid depth into the voice while retaining the note separation and clarity maple is known for. The 12-fret neck joint positions the bridge further into the lower bout, which Boucher designs to enhance resonance and warmth relative to a 14-fret parlor setup. Hand-scalloped, forward-shifted Adirondack bracing supports a top that’s been made lighter and more responsive through torrefaction, so the guitar projects well despite the compact body. This is a fingerstyle-oriented instrument: the 24.5″ scale and parlor format keep tension comfortable, and the voice stays focused and articulate across the fretboard – including with a capo. A solid ebony fingerboard and bridge add density and sustain to the feel and response, while the bone nut keeps open strings clear and even. At just over three pounds, the guitar is easy to play for extended sessions. This guitar suits a fingerstyle or fingerpicking player who wants a parlor instrument capable of real depth and projection, particularly one drawn to maple’s clarity but wary of its tendency toward excessive brightness. The TKL Tweed Deluxe Hardshell case, complimentary PLEK setup, and limited lifetime warranty are included with purchase.
