I used to sell Breedloves as well as most other brands. I had the opertunity to meet the Breedlove folks and found them to be amazing folks. The story of Kim leaving Taylor to start his own business and how Bob Taylor helped him get going is fascinating! Let's face it, we are quickly running out of natural old growth wood for guitars, I highly value folks like Kim Breedlove and Bob Taylor who are doing everything they can to use sustainable renewable woods and to limit waste. Although it is not my first choice for all things I have a breedlove that I play for open mics and coffee houses that works extremely well! If I were looking for an entry level acoustic, this would likely be my choice.
I've had my breedlove D25 since 2008. It's to this day, been the best guitar I've played. It's survived and went through a lot of playing. No issues whatsoever.
I never ask, "why would you cut open a brand new guitar." I'm here for the carnage!!! Rock on Chis and Matt. (Also, what about that big bolt and nut under the bridge??)
I have had this guitar for the past 3-4 years and it is phenomenal! A few times I’ve tried to upgrade to a bigger bodied guitar in a higher “tier”, and have been too underwhelmed to make the move.
I have a Breedlove ECO Pursuit 12 String Exotic. The best 12 string acoustic out of 5 I have owned. Including Martin(x12), Guild 512($4500), Martin contemporary cutaway. This guitar has a great size sound and look. Beautiful.Fantastic Pickup. I will keep it.
Yes, @ 11:30 it has that signature Breedlove honking resonance like mine. If playing through a PA, have to use a parametric to get it out. But I've come to love my Breedlove.
Great review. I love my Breedlove. I got the concert size, American Spruce top, myrtlewood back n sides. Beautiful looking! The body size works well for finger style. Not as much full low end as a D-style, but the mid clarity is really sweet. Love it!
I am an absolute fan of Breedlove guitars. I tried a lot of guitars before I bought my Breedlove. I fell in love with it's tone and quality for the price. They are made of quality wood from fallen trees and managed forest. They are designed and constructed like much more expensive guitars. I own a concertina and I absolutely love the fingerboard. Can't wait to buy a 12 string Breedlove.
I have 2 Breedlove, an american-made Oregon Concert and a chinese-made Pursuit and I love both. Even the small Pursuit have an incredible sound and resonance.
I recently picked up two breedlove’s (a concert and a companion) and was so excited to see this video! I think they are definitely tonally focused towards a fingerpicking heavy style in my opinion. You won’t do much flatpicking but if you like using your digital, it’s wonderful for that. I got the organic series which have turned out to be a mess for them but the good ones are all solid and fantastic. Thanks for making this video!
I was hoping to see your scoring system , but have to say there is nobody that does a deep dive review like you do thanks for going to all the trouble of sawing a guitars open to really get the big picture of what's going on inside of a guitar!👍👍😁😁
After hearing you say they'd need a setup, I think I'd go with a Yamaha at $300-500 instead. They have some models that come right to you perfectly setup and have incredible sound. Not just at the price point, but just sound incredible.
I have a Breedlove Passport CE from when they were made in Korea and not China. It's hands down my favorite guitar to pick up. Super comfy neck and low action. Sounds amazing.
I've got a Korean Passport as well. When I bought it, it was the absolute bottom of their range and it's still a fantastic guitar. Mine is ten years old now and has only had home use, but sometimes that home has been a tent or a motorhome. It's stood up to all that brilliantly so I'm totally unsurprised that this one passed all the stress tests.
About 8 to 10 years ago I bought a Breedlove concert guitar as my primary acoustic guitar. One of the reasons why I chose the Breedlove, was the quality build. The guitar I bought was not an entry level guitar as in this video. But it makes me even more impressed to see that they put a lot of quality build into their entry level instruments as well.
I have a 10 year old discovery concert CE and it sounds amazing. I a/b' it against a room full of taylors and martins and seagulls and found that i would need to spend thousands to get somthing significantly better sounding. It really does sound nice. Oh and yes it lacks a little bottom but its nice and loud and rings awesome.
How about doing a breakdown review on the Yamaha FG5 or FGX5 Red Label??? Would really like to see your opinion and review on this amazingly assembly line crafted guitar.
Excellent review and breakdown! Thank You so much for doing this excellent and informative presentation! I've owned Breedlove before and was very happy with the instrument! You just convinced me that this is a serious contestant for a second "gigging" instrument! Liked and Subbed!
The breedlove definitely has its own sound even on the larger body shapes. But depending on the wood choices, and if you get an ALL solid wood model (even in an import model) you can really get a good sounding guitar. I kind of look at breedlove like the PRS of acoustic guitars.
Oh as far as being tough goes. My Breedlove got knocked over and fell with the headstock slamming of my dresser directly on my low E tuning peg. It took a chunk of the dresser out and I figured the neck probably got cracked where it meets the body. I picked it up and it didn't even go out of tune and there is just a little mark on the head stock. Thank God it's fine.
So the under 1000.00 acoustic run down that He n Mac did got me to buy the Yamaha Red Label acoustic that I bought Myself for Xmas and it's an absolute Cannon So cudos for this channel I hope Yamaha see's this comment... thanks Guys !!! the un-selfishness of a MASTER BUILDER ! is rare in this business ... NICE WORK !
Enjoyed hearing you break into Fire and Rain at around 11:00. One of the first full songs I learned on acoustic long ago in the '80s. Played a beautiful, great-sounding mahogany top Takamine dread back then, what we thought of as a poor man's Martin. My sister bought it and gave it to me as a birthday present. I let it go eventually because after several years of play and carrying it around in different climates (NC, CO, TX) it finally needed a reset and fretboard/fret job that would've cost more than what the guitar was 'worth' technically. Looking back, for sentimental reasons I wish I'd kept it and gotten it fixed but I was just a poor musician on a tight budget. Now I could do those repairs myself. Kind of like a Breedlove, it was a nice guitar but maybe not quite valuable enough to spend a ton of extra money on when it needed surgery.
Thank you for your videos. I do appreciate the way you do them although I shutter when you do your drop and destructive testing. But those tests reveal a great deal of information. I had an early model Discovery and everything you describe is spot on. I moved up to their Pursuit model, then organic series and presently own a limited edition Oregon model and Legacy model. All wonderful guitars in various price ranges. For the money I think their Oregon series are some of the best guitars around ( and I’m Martin fan). I’ve never had any build quality issues with any of them. Thank you for your videos
I’m a blind guitar player, so the sound of the guitar is key. This one sounds pretty good to me. I’m currently saving up for a higher end breedlove concert with a spruce top and murtlewood back and sides . I’ve played the guitar I want, it sounds amazing. Another very good entry level guitar that I highly recommend is the Yamaha fg830 CAN:. I have that guitar and it is quite good. If I can get the breedlove concert I want, that would be so cool.
Breedlove makes very solid lower priced guitars and their higher end USA Oregon guitars are really nice as well! I had an ECO Discovery S Concert Acoustic-Electric and from a playability standpoint was really outstanding, nice Fishman pickup, and it was a beautiful guitar as well! I did sell it when I had to make a sudden move for health reasons and downsized from 7 to 3 guitars and my Walden guitars simply sounded better than the Breedlove. The Breedlove was a bit boxy sounding where the Walden’s are much more open sounding. I also have a Furch Yellow Master’s Choice Gc-CR which is my dream guitar so of course I kept that. Please promise me you won’t ever saw a Furch in half, that would be simply too much (put some type of camera with a scope in instead!!) Still I think the Breedlove’s are great guitars for the money as they are very comfortable to play (mine was perfectly set up out of the box).
I've owned one for slightly more than a year... just as a bang-around player in my office to pick-up when I get the itch. Love the guitar, but-for... isn't there always a but-for... the frets are pure junk. Very soft, and it's hard to justify a re-fret on a guitar at this price point, unless you can DIY. This seems like a simple and fairly inexpensive upgrade they could get done, yet keep it affordable. Thanks for the reviews... great info. You guys rock!!
Played one yesterday at guitar center and have been looking it up. Dude when I tell you this guitar sounds great for 400$, it sounds good for its tag dude. I picked it up and was fully surprised by volume, tone, and feel. Im a big and large dude so it didn’t feel the most comfortable IMO for my preference, but I was looking for a guitar for my nephew who is much smaller.
I had no idea this much quality was available at this price point. I've seen Beautiful Washburn guitars at twice the price that have unfortunate and inexcusable quality control issues! One video shows a comfort series with sloppily installed tuning machines among other issues. I'd happily take this guitar over that one even without the cutaway, electronics and fancy styling! This video is an eyeopener!
The Korean guitars I’ve played have been incredible instruments. I currently own a Korean built Parkwood Jumbo I bought when I was in school 15 years ago. Still a fantastic guitar. It’s a shame that a lot of companies have moved from there to China. Having said that there some amazing Chinese luthiers that build incredible guitars.
I love this series, because no one does anything similar and you have the knowledge to really judge a guitar build quality!!! I live in Italy and we have a really cool brand that makes good midrange guitars, looking through the sound hole of my MIA IV 018 EQ it seems pretty good considering it was under 400 euros, do you know them? I Know they are sold in the us as well! Thank you so much for your sharing of knowledge.
Great review. Just one thought though, some of the guitars sold in high volumes are guitars around the $200 price. Guitars like Fender cd60 v3, Yamaha F-310, Epiphone DR-100, etc. Even then it's rather hard to find review of these. With the quality I've seen here, it will be amazing if you could look into that side of things as well. Maybe if not go for individual ones, you could grab 3-4, and compare/contrast them together in one video.
Frankly, it sounds pretty good for the money, certainly better than the rubbish I had to play when I started learning (a long time ago). The ethical aspect is big plus.
Love these reviews. I would be interested in a full review of a Zager Guitar. This would go a long way to clearing up some of the mystery around this brand.
Keep in mind that not having a lot of low end in a acoustic isn't always a bad thing, Especially if its not a solo instrument, as they are a lot easier to fit in the mix with less EQing involved.
Nice review on the Breedlove. I was wondering if they did away with the JLD system, it looks like they did, at least on these lower tier models. It's been awhile since I've researched them. I do have a 2003 SJ25-MY (myrtlewood) signed by Kim way back when I bought it new from our then local guitar shop. The sound from my Jumbo is what I'll call "Performance-Grade", just a lovely open sound none of my other acoustics have. If you need to perform in a non-amplification atmosphere (living room level area), this is the one to use. Thanks for the professional-level look at this bad boy, I'm impressed Breedlove seems to still be kicking along and has a good name in the acoustic Market.
The tone of mahogany is practical. When it's just me and the guitar, it's not really the type of tone I love. But in the mix the lack of woodyness in the bottom end really helps.
Sounds great for its price point and intended purpose. I own the all Hog version of this. Not only is it stunning to look at, but it sounds great for the $450.00 I paid. Does it sound like my Gibson acoustic? No, but it's also considerably less money. Breedlove makes fantastic guitars, and it shows in the product, from entry models to custome models.
Surely a crafter review at some stage. I’ve had a few and can’t find anything as good for the price. Dn6 was my first guitar & is exception for under $500
There was a young gent at breed love that fixed my Guild D50 neck break, that was in 94 it's still going strong. I've owned 4 or 5 of their guitars, never could find one with the sound I wanted. Feel was always exceptional.
I have/have had breedlove guitars i still have a nylon string discovery. My only complaint is that it drops tune when i go in/out of sunlight. That is not true of my higher end breedloves though the discovery is the one i kept
Love the videos! You guys should do a Merida guitar. I’ve seen them advertised and have been wondering how well they are built considering the price and how pretty they are.
Huh - that thing has a really balanced sound to my ears. I’m a Yamaha fan when it comes to entry level guitars, but my instructor recommends Breedlove for starter guitars.
Overall I like the style, testing methods and explanations in this content. I am new to this and have watched a couple of y'all's "Breakdown" series. What happened to the scoring system? I personally liked it as it seemed to establish a point of reference between the different models of guitars. This now seems almost like other channels methodology of just saying "If you like this one it may be right for you.... and if you don't perhaps another one fit your needs better." I get that not "everything" is not right or "everyone." That being said I liked the distinction of a more definitive "this one overall is better than that one" with, of course, the understanding that we must use our own logic to determine which characteristics we should prioritize based on our individual wants or needs. Can you please explain why you stopped the numerical ratings?
What do you do with the guitar after cutting off the back? I'd be very interested in hearing what the guitar sounds like with the braces shaved down, and the back glued on so it would be a "thin-body" acoustic guitar. Thanks
Have you guys considered reviewing a Hozen/Maestro guitar from Singapore? It's a relatively small company and the owner studied under Ervin Somogy if I'm not wrong. They offer pretty good specs and is extremely reasonably priced for a handmade guitar with boutique ornaments like bevelled arm rest, sound port, etc... I've been following them for awhile and would love to see how they fair in comparison to all these factory made guitars!
The action was great from the start. I bought it from GC for $239. brand new. Anyone know the truss rod size tho? I love my own adjustments and can't find a tool that fits. But it actually plays amazing right now
In the mid to late 90's I attended a Breedlove "Presentation" evening at a music shop in north west England. There were several stunning looking guitars available to try out (all with solid tops and solid backs&sides)..They were all priced between about £2500 and £5000. A lot of money back then! The ones I played all sounded really good, as you would expect from such expensive guitars, however I was surprised to see that on quite a few of them the bridge was lifting away from the body (one had almost a 3mm gap on the back edge of the bridge).. Needless to say that put me off ever buying a Breedlove.. a bit of a shame really, as I said, they were truly stunning looking woods (something at that time not available from any of the other mainstream brands).
Looks good to me… I’d love to see the FG series cheap Yamaha if you haven’t done one, they are the best sounding most consistent cheap guitars by far… I’ve recommended them to a bunch of beginners in the $250 range… I’d love to know why those have so much projection and clarity.. in my opinion they keep up with anything under $2,000…
Have the higher end Chinese made solid mertlewood sides and back, European spruce top artista model. Evo frets, ebony fret board and bridge. Bought it because it sounded beautiful and it was the most affordable price point for a solid wood mertlewood acoustic. That being said. Fortunately, I am a proficient home Luther. It was missing a dot which breedlove customer service kindly sent me another. The initial action was high. Had to do a fret level Job because the higher frets near the sound hole were kicked up. Not high enough to necessitate pulling the frets and sanding the fret board. But I had to knock down a considerable amount of fret material to flatten it out. Recrown, dress, and polish. Rolled the finger board as well. The bridge saddle was way too high. Sanded the bottom until it was near the saddle block and the string heights were proper. The bone nut left a little bit to be desired so I made a new nut. Lastly I wicked in some thin super glue in the frets. To stabilize em and improve sound quality. Can tell they weren't glued in when I oiled the finger board and it puddled up near the frets. Now it plays sounds closer to a high end Martin Taylor guitar. The neck is a little chunkier but it is quarter sawn maple which I really like. Over all construction is solid in my opinion. The bracing isn't like scalloped or anything like that but it is solid. It is just a well made mass produced Chinese made acoustic guitar. Doesn't have the fine finish of a high end acoustic. Got it on sale for $650. What can I say? Lists for $1,300. Sounds plays beautiful after the fret job and set up. I'm very happy with it! And I can afford a $4,000 Martin or Taylor. But I love mertlewood. Love this guitar. Somewhere between mahogany and rosewood. Has the bright definition of mahogany but it also has some of the complex overtones of rosewood.
Not sure what you do with the carcasses. I would be interested in the pieces to try/learn some luthier skills to bring it back to life. I think it would be a fun project(s).
My first real decent acoustic was a Breedlove. Back then the imported guitars were made in Korea, and mine had a solid top and back, while only the sides were laminate. It was a good guitar but sold it. I felt it suffered some with the JLD Truss Dr. that was inside of it, and it was also covered in thick gloss, something that I've moved away from on every guitar since then (with the exception of one that was also eventually sold). I know some really like it, but I don't like gloss acoustics anymore.
i find it crazy that martin invented the x-brace and now does the sloppiest xbrace intersection in the business. This "entry level" guitar can do it right! pretty impressive results on the breedlove.
for a guy like me this guitar for what it cost & how it sounds is pretty decent for what it's worth.. it might start to sound better after 10 years of settling
Hi Chris, you commented, as your personal choice, you don't like mahogany back and sides, so which woods are your number one choices for an acoustic guitar and which size. Cheers.
I love these breakdown videos. I would love to see one on a Harley Benton CLP-15ME Solid Wood or GS Travel. Both very cheap guitars and I'm wondering if they are any good.
I would love to see a Carvin Cobalt done, they're not in production anymore but they're everywhere on the used market for good money and would be curious to see the perspective.!
Where is the JLD Bridge Truss System? I was under the impression that all Breedloves came with that installed. Aren't they the company that introduced that JLD system?
Probably the best sounding guitar in its price-range. Most guitars in this price range are "replicas" of guitars, built with little or no attention to sound quality, just appearance. It'll be interesting to see--or hear, to be exact--how the sound improves as the wood matures. I bet this model sounds great in DADGAD or open G.
whats ur take on the yamaha LL6ARE DT would love to see u cut it open was looking at that or possible the epiphone j45 or possible a taylor have about $1200 canadian
With braces that beefy why does this guitar move more under tension than some of the other's you've tested? Since you said it's mostly around the 12th fret, does that indicate the neck joint or block is less stable?
I used to sell Breedloves as well as most other brands. I had the opertunity to meet the Breedlove folks and found them to be amazing folks. The story of Kim leaving Taylor to start his own business and how Bob Taylor helped him get going is fascinating! Let's face it, we are quickly running out of natural old growth wood for guitars, I highly value folks like Kim Breedlove and Bob Taylor who are doing everything they can to use sustainable renewable woods and to limit waste. Although it is not my first choice for all things I have a breedlove that I play for open mics and coffee houses that works extremely well! If I were looking for an entry level acoustic, this would likely be my choice.
I've had my breedlove D25 since 2008. It's to this day, been the best guitar I've played. It's survived and went through a lot of playing. No issues whatsoever.
I never ask, "why would you cut open a brand new guitar." I'm here for the carnage!!! Rock on Chis and Matt. (Also, what about that big bolt and nut under the bridge??)
I have had this guitar for the past 3-4 years and it is phenomenal! A few times I’ve tried to upgrade to a bigger bodied guitar in a higher “tier”, and have been too underwhelmed to make the move.
I have a Breedlove ECO Pursuit 12 String Exotic. The best 12 string acoustic out of 5 I have owned. Including Martin(x12), Guild 512($4500), Martin contemporary cutaway. This guitar has a great size sound and look. Beautiful.Fantastic Pickup. I will keep it.
Man that’s a lot of guitar for 450 bucks. Great video. Love this series!
Yes, @ 11:30 it has that signature Breedlove honking resonance like mine. If playing through a PA, have to use a parametric to get it out. But I've come to love my Breedlove.
Great review. I love my Breedlove. I got the concert size, American Spruce top, myrtlewood back n sides. Beautiful looking! The body size works well for finger style. Not as much full low end as a D-style, but the mid clarity is really sweet. Love it!
Love these reviews and often wondered about Breedlove guitars, thank you for clarifying the issues. Merry Christmas everyone.
The sound from the slow motion fall was AWESOME!!!! Great vid guys!!
I am an absolute fan of Breedlove guitars. I tried a lot of guitars before I bought my Breedlove. I fell in love with it's tone and quality for the price. They are made of quality wood from fallen trees and managed forest. They are designed and constructed like much more expensive guitars. I own a concertina and I absolutely love the fingerboard. Can't wait to buy a 12 string Breedlove.
I have 2 Breedlove, an american-made Oregon Concert and a chinese-made Pursuit and I love both. Even the small Pursuit have an incredible sound and resonance.
I recently picked up two breedlove’s (a concert and a companion) and was so excited to see this video! I think they are definitely tonally focused towards a fingerpicking heavy style in my opinion. You won’t do much flatpicking but if you like using your digital, it’s wonderful for that. I got the organic series which have turned out to be a mess for them but the good ones are all solid and fantastic. Thanks for making this video!
I was hoping to see your scoring system , but have to say there is nobody that does a deep dive review like you do thanks for going to all the trouble of sawing a guitars open to really get the big picture of what's going on inside of a guitar!👍👍😁😁
After hearing you say they'd need a setup, I think I'd go with a Yamaha at $300-500 instead. They have some models that come right to you perfectly setup and have incredible sound. Not just at the price point, but just sound incredible.
100%
Breedlove for the win. They make an awesome guitar.
I have a Breedlove Passport CE from when they were made in Korea and not China. It's hands down my favorite guitar to pick up. Super comfy neck and low action. Sounds amazing.
I've got a Korean Passport as well. When I bought it, it was the absolute bottom of their range and it's still a fantastic guitar. Mine is ten years old now and has only had home use, but sometimes that home has been a tent or a motorhome. It's stood up to all that brilliantly so I'm totally unsurprised that this one passed all the stress tests.
About 8 to 10 years ago I bought a Breedlove concert guitar as my primary acoustic guitar. One of the reasons why I chose the Breedlove, was the quality build. The guitar I bought was not an entry level guitar as in this video. But it makes me even more impressed to see that they put a lot of quality build into their entry level instruments as well.
I have a 10 year old discovery concert CE and it sounds amazing. I a/b' it against a room full of taylors and martins and seagulls and found that i would need to spend thousands to get somthing significantly better sounding. It really does sound nice. Oh and yes it lacks a little bottom but its nice and loud and rings awesome.
How about doing a breakdown review on the Yamaha FG5 or FGX5 Red Label??? Would really like to see your opinion and review on this amazingly assembly line crafted guitar.
Excellent review and breakdown! Thank You so much for doing this excellent and informative presentation! I've owned Breedlove before and was very happy with the instrument! You just convinced me that this is a serious contestant for a second "gigging" instrument! Liked and Subbed!
The breedlove definitely has its own sound even on the larger body shapes. But depending on the wood choices, and if you get an ALL solid wood model (even in an import model) you can really get a good sounding guitar. I kind of look at breedlove like the PRS of acoustic guitars.
I like that analogy. Good call
Oh as far as being tough goes. My Breedlove got knocked over and fell with the headstock slamming of my dresser directly on my low E tuning peg. It took a chunk of the dresser out and I figured the neck probably got cracked where it meets the body. I picked it up and it didn't even go out of tune and there is just a little mark on the head stock. Thank God it's fine.
So the under 1000.00 acoustic run down that He n Mac did got me to buy the Yamaha Red Label acoustic that I bought Myself for Xmas and it's an absolute Cannon So cudos for this channel I hope Yamaha see's this comment... thanks Guys !!! the un-selfishness of a MASTER BUILDER ! is rare in this business ... NICE WORK !
Enjoyed hearing you break into Fire and Rain at around 11:00. One of the first full songs I learned on acoustic long ago in the '80s. Played a beautiful, great-sounding mahogany top Takamine dread back then, what we thought of as a poor man's Martin. My sister bought it and gave it to me as a birthday present. I let it go eventually because after several years of play and carrying it around in different climates (NC, CO, TX) it finally needed a reset and fretboard/fret job that would've cost more than what the guitar was 'worth' technically. Looking back, for sentimental reasons I wish I'd kept it and gotten it fixed but I was just a poor musician on a tight budget. Now I could do those repairs myself. Kind of like a Breedlove, it was a nice guitar but maybe not quite valuable enough to spend a ton of extra money on when it needed surgery.
Thank you for your videos. I do appreciate the way you do them although I shutter when you do your drop and destructive testing. But those tests reveal a great deal of information. I had an early model Discovery and everything you describe is spot on. I moved up to their Pursuit model, then organic series and presently own a limited edition Oregon model and Legacy model. All wonderful guitars in various price ranges. For the money I think their Oregon series are some of the best guitars around ( and I’m Martin fan). I’ve never had any build quality issues with any of them.
Thank you for your videos
I have a Breedlove Wildwood Organic collection Whiskey Burst and love it!!
The best review I have ever watched.
Would love to see you do this with a Larrivee. Great guitars in my opinion
I’m a blind guitar player, so the sound of the guitar is key. This one sounds pretty good to me. I’m currently saving up for a higher end breedlove concert with a spruce top and murtlewood back and sides . I’ve played the guitar I want, it sounds amazing. Another very good entry level guitar that I highly recommend is the Yamaha fg830 CAN:. I have that guitar and it is quite good. If I can get the breedlove concert I want, that would be so cool.
Im impressed, thank you for the hard work
Breedlove makes very solid lower priced guitars and their higher end USA Oregon guitars are really nice as well!
I had an ECO Discovery S Concert Acoustic-Electric and from a playability standpoint was really outstanding, nice Fishman pickup, and it was a beautiful guitar as well!
I did sell it when I had to make a sudden move for health reasons and downsized from 7 to 3 guitars and my Walden guitars simply sounded better than the Breedlove. The Breedlove was a bit boxy sounding where the Walden’s are much more open sounding.
I also have a Furch Yellow Master’s Choice Gc-CR which is my dream guitar so of course I kept that.
Please promise me you won’t ever saw a Furch in half, that would be simply too much (put some type of camera with a scope in instead!!)
Still I think the Breedlove’s are great guitars for the money as they are very comfortable to play (mine was perfectly set up out of the box).
I ended up getting one of the imported Breedlove Organic Signature Concerto E guitars that's all solid wood for like $500 and it's an insane value.
I've owned one for slightly more than a year... just as a bang-around player in my office to pick-up when I get the itch. Love the guitar, but-for... isn't there always a but-for... the frets are pure junk. Very soft, and it's hard to justify a re-fret on a guitar at this price point, unless you can DIY. This seems like a simple and fairly inexpensive upgrade they could get done, yet keep it affordable. Thanks for the reviews... great info. You guys rock!!
you should do a Teton acoustic, I love them, I’d love to see your thoughts on the insides!
Played one yesterday at guitar center and have been looking it up. Dude when I tell you this guitar sounds great for 400$, it sounds good for its tag dude. I picked it up and was fully surprised by volume, tone, and feel. Im a big and large dude so it didn’t feel the most comfortable IMO for my preference, but I was looking for a guitar for my nephew who is much smaller.
I had no idea this much quality was available at this price point. I've seen Beautiful Washburn guitars at twice the price that have unfortunate and inexcusable quality control issues! One video shows a comfort series with sloppily installed tuning machines among other issues. I'd happily take this guitar over that one even without the cutaway, electronics and fancy styling! This video is an eyeopener!
Great breakdown and review. As always!
Can you do a review of the Yamaha fs3 red label? It sounds really good to me but I’d love to hear your opinion as well as see the inside.
I have a Korean made Breedlove Stage Dreadnaught with their more traditional headstock. It is one of the best guitars I've ever played
The Korean guitars I’ve played have been incredible instruments. I currently own a Korean built Parkwood Jumbo I bought when I was in school 15 years ago. Still a fantastic guitar. It’s a shame that a lot of companies have moved from there to China. Having said that there some amazing Chinese luthiers that build incredible guitars.
I love this series, because no one does anything similar and you have the knowledge to really judge a guitar build quality!!! I live in Italy and we have a really cool brand that makes good midrange guitars, looking through the sound hole of my MIA IV 018 EQ it seems pretty good considering it was under 400 euros, do you know them? I Know they are sold in the us as well!
Thank you so much for your sharing of knowledge.
Excellent video, thank you. I like your creative and almost scientific approach.
Great review.
Just one thought though, some of the guitars sold in high volumes are guitars around the $200 price. Guitars like Fender cd60 v3, Yamaha F-310, Epiphone DR-100, etc.
Even then it's rather hard to find review of these. With the quality I've seen here, it will be amazing if you could look into that side of things as well.
Maybe if not go for individual ones, you could grab 3-4, and compare/contrast them together in one video.
Frankly, it sounds pretty good for the money, certainly better than the rubbish I had to play when I started learning (a long time ago). The ethical aspect is big plus.
Love these reviews. I would be interested in a full review of a Zager Guitar. This would go a long way to clearing up some of the mystery around this brand.
I really like this full review series ~~~~~❤
Keep in mind that not having a lot of low end in a acoustic isn't always a bad thing, Especially if its not a solo instrument, as they are a lot easier to fit in the mix with less EQing involved.
Nice review on the Breedlove. I was wondering if they did away with the JLD system, it looks like they did, at least on these lower tier models. It's been awhile since I've researched them. I do have a 2003 SJ25-MY (myrtlewood) signed by Kim way back when I bought it new from our then local guitar shop. The sound from my Jumbo is what I'll call "Performance-Grade", just a lovely open sound none of my other acoustics have. If you need to perform in a non-amplification atmosphere (living room level area), this is the one to use. Thanks for the professional-level look at this bad boy, I'm impressed Breedlove seems to still be kicking along and has a good name in the acoustic Market.
The tone of mahogany is practical. When it's just me and the guitar, it's not really the type of tone I love. But in the mix the lack of woodyness in the bottom end really helps.
Sounds great for its price point and intended purpose. I own the all Hog version of this. Not only is it stunning to look at, but it sounds great for the $450.00 I paid. Does it sound like my Gibson acoustic? No, but it's also considerably less money. Breedlove makes fantastic guitars, and it shows in the product, from entry models to custome models.
Love these breakdowns. Do a Larrivee!
Do an LV-03!
Surely a crafter review at some stage. I’ve had a few and can’t find anything as good for the price.
Dn6 was my first guitar & is exception for under $500
For the money, this guitar is great value for the money. It does have a good sound and rich in tone
Really really love this content
Thanks for another great review. One question, what is the nut and bolt for on the bridge plate?
There was a young gent at breed love that fixed my Guild D50 neck break, that was in 94 it's still going strong. I've owned 4 or 5 of their guitars, never could find one with the sound I wanted. Feel was always exceptional.
Master level analysis! James
I have/have had breedlove guitars i still have a nylon string discovery. My only complaint is that it drops tune when i go in/out of sunlight. That is not true of my higher end breedloves though the discovery is the one i kept
Love the videos! You guys should do a Merida guitar. I’ve seen them advertised and have been wondering how well they are built considering the price and how pretty they are.
Huh - that thing has a really balanced sound to my ears. I’m a Yamaha fan when it comes to entry level guitars, but my instructor recommends Breedlove for starter guitars.
Overall I like the style, testing methods and explanations in this content. I am new to this and have watched a couple of y'all's "Breakdown" series. What happened to the scoring system? I personally liked it as it seemed to establish a point of reference between the different models of guitars. This now seems almost like other channels methodology of just saying "If you like this one it may be right for you.... and if you don't perhaps another one fit your needs better." I get that not "everything" is not right or "everyone." That being said I liked the distinction of a more definitive "this one overall is better than that one" with, of course, the understanding that we must use our own logic to determine which characteristics we should prioritize based on our individual wants or needs. Can you please explain why you stopped the numerical ratings?
What do you do with the guitar after cutting off the back? I'd be very interested in hearing what the guitar sounds like with the braces shaved down, and the back glued on so it would be a "thin-body" acoustic guitar. Thanks
Love to see some of these rebuilt
Have you guys considered reviewing a Hozen/Maestro guitar from Singapore? It's a relatively small company and the owner studied under Ervin Somogy if I'm not wrong. They offer pretty good specs and is extremely reasonably priced for a handmade guitar with boutique ornaments like bevelled arm rest, sound port, etc...
I've been following them for awhile and would love to see how they fair in comparison to all these factory made guitars!
21:35 it seems that the bridge plate is beech
Can you update the yamaha ll16d review and give it points and a breakdown.
The action was great from the start. I bought it from GC for $239. brand new. Anyone know the truss rod size tho? I love my own adjustments and can't find a tool that fits. But it actually plays amazing right now
In the mid to late 90's I attended a Breedlove "Presentation" evening at a music shop in north west England. There were several stunning looking guitars available to try out (all with solid tops and solid backs&sides)..They were all priced between about £2500 and £5000. A lot of money back then!
The ones I played all sounded really good, as you would expect from such expensive guitars, however I was surprised to see that on quite a few of them the bridge was lifting away from the body (one had almost a 3mm gap on the back edge of the bridge)..
Needless to say that put me off ever buying a Breedlove.. a bit of a shame really, as I said, they were truly stunning looking woods (something at that time not available from any of the other mainstream brands).
Looks good to me… I’d love to see the FG series cheap Yamaha if you haven’t done one, they are the best sounding most consistent cheap guitars by far… I’ve recommended them to a bunch of beginners in the $250 range… I’d love to know why those have so much projection and clarity.. in my opinion they keep up with anything under $2,000…
Have the higher end Chinese made solid mertlewood sides and back, European spruce top artista model. Evo frets, ebony fret board and bridge. Bought it because it sounded beautiful and it was the most affordable price point for a solid wood mertlewood acoustic. That being said. Fortunately, I am a proficient home Luther. It was missing a dot which breedlove customer service kindly sent me another. The initial action was high. Had to do a fret level Job because the higher frets near the sound hole were kicked up. Not high enough to necessitate pulling the frets and sanding the fret board. But I had to knock down a considerable amount of fret material to flatten it out. Recrown, dress, and polish. Rolled the finger board as well. The bridge saddle was way too high. Sanded the bottom until it was near the saddle block and the string heights were proper. The bone nut left a little bit to be desired so I made a new nut. Lastly I wicked in some thin super glue in the frets. To stabilize em and improve sound quality. Can tell they weren't glued in when I oiled the finger board and it puddled up near the frets. Now it plays sounds closer to a high end Martin Taylor guitar. The neck is a little chunkier but it is quarter sawn maple which I really like. Over all construction is solid in my opinion. The bracing isn't like scalloped or anything like that but it is solid. It is just a well made mass produced Chinese made acoustic guitar. Doesn't have the fine finish of a high end acoustic. Got it on sale for $650. What can I say? Lists for $1,300. Sounds plays beautiful after the fret job and set up. I'm very happy with it! And I can afford a $4,000 Martin or Taylor. But I love mertlewood. Love this guitar. Somewhere between mahogany and rosewood. Has the bright definition of mahogany but it also has some of the complex overtones of rosewood.
Love the slow motion of the guitar crashing to the floor. 😄
My Breedlove is easily the most stable guitar I have ever owned. Also I feel everyone that I have ever played has hit well above its weight class.
Not sure what you do with the carcasses. I would be interested in the pieces to try/learn some luthier skills to bring it back to life. I think it would be a fun project(s).
Love the review 🙂
I would love to see/hear your thoughts on a guitar from Riversong Guitars out of British Columbia, Canada!
Nice warm sound from that guitar.
My first real decent acoustic was a Breedlove. Back then the imported guitars were made in Korea, and mine had a solid top and back, while only the sides were laminate. It was a good guitar but sold it. I felt it suffered some with the JLD Truss Dr. that was inside of it, and it was also covered in thick gloss, something that I've moved away from on every guitar since then (with the exception of one that was also eventually sold). I know some really like it, but I don't like gloss acoustics anymore.
I have a concertina (smaller) version of this and it get more play time than guitars that cost way more.
i find it crazy that martin invented the x-brace and now does the sloppiest xbrace intersection in the business. This "entry level" guitar can do it right! pretty impressive results on the breedlove.
Martin guitars are totally operated and have a redicilous price tag
for a guy like me this guitar for what it cost & how it sounds is pretty decent for what it's worth.. it might start to sound better after 10 years of settling
The mop top is gone LOL. I really enjoy these videos.
Hi Chris, you commented, as your personal choice, you don't like mahogany back and sides, so which woods are your number one choices for an acoustic guitar and which size. Cheers.
Great video!!!! Thanks guys!
What’s with the bolt and nut through the bridge plate? Is the bridge bolted on?
I love these breakdown videos. I would love to see one on a Harley Benton CLP-15ME Solid Wood or GS Travel. Both very cheap guitars and I'm wondering if they are any good.
I would love to see a Carvin Cobalt done, they're not in production anymore but they're everywhere on the used market for good money and would be curious to see the perspective.!
Where is the JLD Bridge Truss System? I was under the impression that all Breedloves came with that installed. Aren't they the company that introduced that JLD system?
Probably the best sounding guitar in its price-range. Most guitars in this price range are "replicas" of guitars, built with little or no attention to sound quality, just appearance. It'll be interesting to see--or hear, to be exact--how the sound improves as the wood matures. I bet this model sounds great in DADGAD or open G.
Any chance you could do a Furch?
There is a saw featured in an Adam Savage video just posted to his channel today that an inlay artist might be interested in knowing about.
At what price range do companies generally start to glue their frets in? My last breedlove was wonderful besides that pesky 9th fret lifting out.
"...using sustainable harvested woods and I think that's a really commendable thing..." Now watch me saw this thing in half! 🤣
Can you do a teardown review for Cort Gold-Edge
whats ur take on the yamaha LL6ARE DT would love to see u cut it open was looking at that or possible the epiphone j45 or possible a taylor have about $1200 canadian
Would you do a breakdown/review on the Zager ZAD80?
I own a similar guitar, and its the real deal. The USA one is the one you want.
Where was your rating you have done for the other guitars in this series?
Can you cut a martin 814 ce and a martin 314ce if it's worth the cost.. thank you.
With braces that beefy why does this guitar move more under tension than some of the other's you've tested? Since you said it's mostly around the 12th fret, does that indicate the neck joint or block is less stable?
Have you ever done an episode on the ZAGER 800. Series?
Ovation body backs were made out of dallor tree plastic kitchen tubs. A really good wood.