Breedlove Acoustic

[Passion66]

Every Breedlove that I have played had excellent fit and finish.

 

[Stratoskater]

So . . . you feel that the overall tone of your Breedlove suffers as a result of the pinless bridge?

Can’t say that for sure. I’ve played 4-5 Breedlove Andy they were good but none were great so I didn’t really focus on them. I can say none of them compared at all close to my Bedell, Taylor or Larrivee.

 

[8284216Guitarman]

I played a Breedlove Acoustic in GuitarSchlenter a few months ago and really liked it. The GC salesman told me that they can hardly keep them in stock.

Since then, I have been keeping an eye on Craigslist, but have not seen any Breedlove guitars for sale.

I am assuming that folks love them so much that they don't want to part with them.

Any love for Breedloves here?

Are you kidding! Breedlove, founded by Larry Breedlove and Steve Henderson, and soon to be followed by Kim Breedlove, left Taylor Guitars to form Breedlove Guitars under the LLC name of Two Old Hippies, LLC in 1990. They chose Bend, Oregon, final destination, due to its ideal climate and constant humidity levels between 45-55%, ideal for acoustic guitar making, much like Alvarez Yairi's and the late Kazuo Yairi in Japan. The Breedlove Masterclass Series is one of the best acoustic guitars ever made. The master luthiers, Larry and Steve above, set out to make an iconic, revolutionary shaped guitar that presents with some of the best tones ever heard on any acoustic. Check out a '90s or early 2000's Breedlove and legend guitarist, Ed Gerhard Model, for one, on Reverb $$$$ easily and worth every penny. The distinct "cut-off" upper right bout and exotic tone woods, with bindings made of Bloodwood and other exotic woods, elaborate abalone fret inlays to die for and limited editions that rival and exceed anything any acoustic maker has ever produced.

I own a Masterclass and a nominal $1299/999 street price, 2008 Atlas AD25/SR Plus acoustic with solid rosewood back, laminated, not just any laminate, sides and solid Sitka spruce top. Ornate abalone fret inlays and manufacturing and setup to die for. The standard Acoutic/Electric has the L R Baggs preamp/tuner installed and is a high quality addition located on the usual left side(right hand players), facing you as you play. That guitar is my oldest owned, not by year, and has aged so well. I have taken very good care of it, as I do all my guitars. I collect Alvarez Yairi's, Martin Custom Shop, Takamine Custom/LTD's, Guild D-55's, and the two Breedloves, not to mention 30 other assorted electrics. Now, for the money, NO ONE makes a guitar like the Late Kazuo Yairi, and his legacy lives on in the hills of Japan. Go play one! But, you won't see any thing worth buying on Craig's List. Save yourself some grief, and possible loss of money, and check out Reverb, or Google Breedlove acoustics or check their website for a reputable dealer in your area. Music Go Round's "Main Page, not the independent franchise locations, always have some Breedloves and they are always in very good to Mint condition. Guitar Center Used is a great site to. But, their pictures are "crap" and limited. You have to call the specific store to get detailed info. I do it all the time. Quite frankly, most guitarist usually take care of good guitars, no matter what the make! Some think worn(mostly electrics, Murphy Lab, Gibson $$$$$$$$) is the Bomb! I don't, but that's my preference.

Now, there exotic models I mentioned above have been replaced by a new era of sustainable woods and Breedlove is making "news" by using Myrtlewood, Mahogany, Maple and still using the ever "thunder cannon" sound of Rosewood. Breedloves history in included in the link below. It is worth reading if you are genuinely interested. Educate your self by the listings on Reverb, eBay is useless anymore when it comes to sellers giving you anything but the model number and information you already know or less of it. Most Reverb sellers will list a description/narrative that is informative. Sort by High-Low$ and look at some of the models, shapes, designs and woods of early 1990-2005 and later models, in your price range. Hope this helps. The second link is a current model I just googled off Reverb. Read the full listing and at the price listed, an absolute "STEAL". I do know my guitars.
Mike T.

The History of Breedlove Acoustic Instruments

Read about the history of Breedlove guitars and how the company has evolved to make the best acoustic instruments in the insustry.

breedlovemusic.com

Breedlove AD20/SR Plus Natural | Reverb

The Breedlove AD20/SR Plus was part of the Atlas Series, introduced in 2004 and featuring guitars made overseas but inspected in Oregon. It featured a solid Spruce top with solid Rosewood back and sides. The Plus model featured ivoroid binding and abalone accents.Years of Production: 2004 - 2007

reverb.com

 

[8284216Guitarman]

I never said it was not solid. I feel that the strings should be in contact with a bridge plate to better transfer vibrations to the top. Also I very much dislike the look of the pinless bridge. I can change strings on my acoustics in less than 5 minutes so I don’t need any time savings on that either.

Are you kidding! Breedlove, founded by Larry Breedlove and Steve Henderson, and soon to be followed by Kim Breedlove, left Taylor Guitars to form Breedlove Guitars under the LLC name of Two Old Hippies, LLC in 1990. They chose Bend, Oregon, final destination, due to its ideal climate and constant humidity levels between 45-55%, ideal for acoustic guitar making, much like Alvarez Yairi's and the late Kazuo Yairi in Japan. The Breedlove Masterclass Series is one of the best acoustic guitars ever made. The master luthiers, Larry and Steve above, set out to make an iconic, revolutionary shaped guitar that presents with some of the best tones ever heard on any acoustic. Check out a '90s or early 2000's Breedlove and legend guitarist, Ed Gerhard Model, for one, on Reverb $$$$ easily and worth every penny. The distinct "cut-off" upper right bout and exotic tone woods, with bindings made of Bloodwood and other exotic woods, elaborate abalone fret inlays to die for and limited editions that rival and exceed anything any acoustic maker has ever produced.

I own a Masterclass and a nominal $1299/999 street price, 2008 Atlas AD25/SR Plus acoustic with solid rosewood back, laminated, not just any laminate, sides and solid Sitka spruce top. Ornate abalone fret inlays and manufacturing and setup to die for. The standard Acoutic/Electric has the L R Baggs preamp/tuner installed and is a high quality addition located on the usual left side(right hand players), facing you as you play. That guitar is my oldest owned, not by year, and has aged so well. I have taken very good care of it, as I do all my guitars. I collect Alvarez Yairi's, Martin Custom Shop, Takamine Custom/LTD's, Guild D-55's, and the two Breedloves, not to mention 30 other assorted electrics. Now, for the money, NO ONE makes a guitar like the Late Kazuo Yairi, and his legacy lives on in the hills of Japan. Go play one! But, you won't see any thing worth buying on Craig's List. Save yourself some grief, and possible loss of money, and check out Reverb, or Google Breedlove acoustics or check their website for a reputable dealer in your area. Music Go Round's "Main Page, not the independent franchise locations, always have some Breedloves and they are always in very good to Mint condition. Guitar Center Used is a great site to. But, their pictures are "crap" and limited. You have to call the specific store to get detailed info. I do it all the time. Quite frankly, most guitarist usually take care of good guitars, no matter what the make! Some think worn(mostly electrics, Murphy Lab, Gibson $$$$$$$$) is the Bomb! I don't, but that's my preference.

Now, there exotic models I mentioned above have been replaced by a new era of sustainable woods and Breedlove is making "news" by using Myrtlewood, Mahogany, Maple and still using the ever "thunder cannon" sound of Rosewood. Breedloves history in included in the link below. It is worth reading if you are genuinely interested. Educate your self by the listings on Reverb, eBay is useless anymore when it comes to sellers giving you anything but the model number and information you already know or less of it. Most Reverb sellers will list a description/narrative that is informative. Sort by High-Low$ and look at some of the models, shapes, designs and woods of early 1990-2005 and later models, in your price range. Hope this helps. The second link is a current model I just googled off Reverb. Read the full listing and at the price listed, an absolute "STEAL". I do know my guitars.
Mike T.

The History of Breedlove Acoustic Instruments

Read about the history of Breedlove guitars and how the company has evolved to make the best acoustic instruments in the insustry.

breedlovemusic.com

Breedlove AD20/SR Plus Natural | Reverb

The Breedlove AD20/SR Plus was part of the Atlas Series, introduced in 2004 and featuring guitars made overseas but inspected in Oregon. It featured a solid Spruce top with solid Rosewood back and sides. The Plus model featured ivoroid binding and abalone accents.Years of Production: 2004 - 2007

reverb.com

Forgot my Breedlove! The Masterclass is resting in another room.

 

[8284216Guitarman]

I had a Breedlove a few years back. Atlas series if I remember correctly. It was an AMAZING acoustic.

I went into guitar center with a price limit of around $900 to buy an acoustic. I played Martins, Taylors, etc, but I kept coming back to the Breedlove. It was an incredible instrument. Wish I still had it.

I have it!

 

[8284216Guitarman]

I have a USA Breedlove...Rosewood dread. It's my main acoustic. I have played it against Martins and Taylors of similar build...the Breedlove came out on top. I have had it now for 7 years. The ebony pickguard is a custom made from Nichols Inlay.
View attachment 551732

Glad I hit this thread. That PG, and the guitar, made me stop! I have two acoustics that this would look bling on! Thanks for posting. Masterclass and AD/25 SR+

 

[8284216Guitarman]

I never said it was not solid. I feel that the strings should be in contact with a bridge plate to better transfer vibrations to the top. Also I very much dislike the look of the pinless bridge. I can change strings on my acoustics in less than 5 minutes so I don’t need any time savings on that either.

I'm no engineer or luthier, but my luthier put a bone nut and saddle on my AD/25 SR+ and he was well aware of the Breedlove Bridge. After he finished, he said this guitar projects as good as any $2-3000 guitar he works on with like tone woods. To your point, here is Breedloves description why the pinless bridge is there. And my position is subjective, not based on any research/technical studies. But, Breedlove guitars are the work of two engineers who left Taylor when Taylor started mass producing guitars with screwed in necks, thinner cut tone woods that produced the ever present top and back cracks that plague Taylor to this day.

Now, I read an article in Premier Guitar that said, and I quote, "changing the nut and saddle out from Micarta or even plastic to bone will not give you a detectible difference in a broader spectrum of sound, mostly in the bass register." Do I agree, not in relation to the change out above, but, I'm not mechanically trained nor do I have the testing equipment to make a before/after comparison. Once again, subjective from this end. However, I have four Alvarez Yairi DY 84's, East Indian Rosewood, Brazilian Rosewood, Koa and Mahogany. I have a Guild D-55 2003 model with solid EIR that when strummed or picked, projects like a cannon. I have three Yairi DY 90's. Two made in 1989 and one, Super Abalone 1978 Brazilian.

The '84 Brazilian and the '78 BR sound very different but project like the D-55. So, there are so many aspects of the same exact model that will produce a totally different sound. Just like an engineered pin or pinless bridge. It's what under the hood that really makes the sound.

This is not a one up attempt. It is to answer your subjective position on their bridges, from a technical objective point:

6. The Pinless Bridge. The sixth distinctive Breedlove feature is the pinless bridge. This pinless bridge helps maintain the integrity of the top by eliminating the need for six drilled string holes. The fewer holes in your soundboard, the more evenly the sound wave can move across the interior, without any loss of energy. Not only does the Breedlove Pinless Bridge provide a gentler string-break angle from the bridge to the top of the saddle, reducing saddle strain, but it also makes string change a breeze, especially on 12 strung models. Not to mention a player will never have to worry about lost, worn-out, or broken bridge pins.

Now the less effort to change strings is not the issue for me either. I have countless acoustics with bridge pins, but, over time the constant pushing in of the pins will eventually require new pins. Its friction vs. friction. This from my luthier!

 

[joebloggs]

I'm no engineer or luthier, but my luthier put a bone nut and saddle on my AD/25 SR+ and he was well aware of the Breedlove Bridge. After he finished, he said this guitar projects as good as any $2-3000 guitar he works on with like tone woods. To your point, here is Breedloves description why the pinless bridge is there. And my position is subjective, not based on any research/technical studies. But, Breedlove guitars are the work of two engineers who left Taylor when Taylor started mass producing guitars with screwed in necks, thinner cut tone woods that produced the ever present top and back cracks that plague Taylor to this day.

Now, I read an article in Premier Guitar that said, and I quote, "changing the nut and saddle out from Micarta or even plastic to bone will not give you a detectible difference in a broader spectrum of sound, mostly in the bass register." Do I agree, not in relation to the change out above, but, I'm not mechanically trained nor do I have the testing equipment to make a before/after comparison. Once again, subjective from this end. However, I have four Alvarez Yairi DY 84's, East Indian Rosewood, Brazilian Rosewood, Koa and Mahogany. I have a Guild D-55 2003 model with solid EIR that when strummed or picked, projects like a cannon. I have three Yairi DY 90's. Two made in 1989 and one, Super Abalone 1978 Brazilian.

The '84 Brazilian and the '78 BR sound very different but project like the D-55. So, there are so many aspects of the same exact model that will produce a totally different sound. Just like an engineered pin or pinless bridge. It's what under the hood that really makes the sound.

This is not a one up attempt. It is to answer your subjective position on their bridges, from a technical objective point:

6. The Pinless Bridge. The sixth distinctive Breedlove feature is the pinless bridge. This pinless bridge helps maintain the integrity of the top by eliminating the need for six drilled string holes. The fewer holes in your soundboard, the more evenly the sound wave can move across the interior, without any loss of energy. Not only does the Breedlove Pinless Bridge provide a gentler string-break angle from the bridge to the top of the saddle, reducing saddle strain, but it also makes string change a breeze, especially on 12 strung models. Not to mention a player will never have to worry about lost, worn-out, or broken bridge pins.

Now the less effort to change strings is not the issue for me either. I have countless acoustics with bridge pins, but, over time the constant pushing in of the pins will eventually require new pins. Its friction vs. friction. This from my luthier!
View attachment 552235View attachment 552236View attachment 552237View attachment 552238View attachment 552239

Wow, that is a beautiful collection!

 

[Fakeguitarbuyer21]

I played a C22 maple and it was outstanding; guitar store said it was from a local dentist unloading some of his collection...would have bought it on the spot if not for having bought a new Taylor a week earlier...