Professional Luthier Reacts: Breedlove Guitar Factory Tour
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- Опубликовано: 27 окт 2021
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Chris and Matt sit down and watch a tour of Breedlove Guitars' Bend Oregon factory.
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Link to the original video here:
• BREEDLOVE GUITARS 2021...
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Thanks for the video guys! I think they said in the very top of the video that this was their custom shop.
Edit: It's mentioned at 1:55 of the video that this is their Bend, OR custom shop.
They only have one shop in Oregon. There is no separate “custom” shop. This is the shop
I think you guys come over as knowledgeable, curious and always as honest as possible.
I had to stop with 6 minutes left in the video. I couldn’t wait to make my comments. I am not a luthier but love your channel. It has given me insight into how guitars can be built or repaired. I’m an old dude who started playing in the 1960’s, when American made Guilds, Epiphones and Gretsch where more common than Martins and Gibsons to the common player.
I’ve owned around 100 guitars over 60 years and came upon Breedlove in 2015, have owned 8 different models and presently own a Oregon limited series all Myrtlewood Concert body and a Legacy Concertina model of price and cocobolo.Both USA built, both in the $3200 range. Absolutely amazing guitars. The concert body is from 2016 and the all myrtlewood sounds better than you would think. I sold my 00018 Martin after owning the myrtlewood for a while. I was in a shop to have both my Gibson L00 (bridge) and 0015 (side crack) repaired when I spotted the Legacy Concertina model. I had to have it. After taking it home and playing nothing but the concertina and my three 00 style guitars for two weeks, I sold the Gibson and an Eastman 00 rosewood body.
I still own two Martins but prefer the sound and feel of the Breedloves.
Breedlove does have a line of China imports. You can pick up a really decent all solid wood guitar in the $500-700 range. I’ve also owned several models of them, but the American handcrafted are amazing. Everything is in the eye ( or ear) of the player, but I prefer my Breedloves over similar priced Martin. Great built quality, feel and sound.
Thanks for a great video
You can see few breedlove elements in this cor-tek video for the Chinese part. ruclips.net/video/LjiIXd0MYcA/видео.htmlsi=zs1n6ZT8IchAdc_H
Originally, all Breedlove guitars were built like this, but not anymore. The bulk of their guitars, and the lower end guitars are built in China. This is the Bend factory and they only build a few dozen a year there.
I have been a Breedlove Artist for over 20 years, all mine were built before the majority of the production moved offshore.
I will say, the ones built in China are surprisingly good.
I have several Breedlove guitars and they are exceptional. My engineer said my myrtlewood/Port Orford cedar is the best sounding guitar he ever recorded. It’s the acoustic on my 3rd album, Born Lucky.
They build far more than a few dozen in Bend per year. They had well over a dozen in various states in this video from a single day in the shop.
@@MrResomaker Perhaps I should clarify what they told me directly when I was at the factory having my guitars worked on… of (what used to be) the Master Class guitars, which I play, they only make a few dozen per year - as of the last time I was there which was 2019. These are their high end, hand-built guitars. Could that have changed over the last year and a half? Maybe.
@@lynntunes That may be true regarding Masterclass guitars. But they also build hundreds of other models in that shop. The following series are all built in Bend: Masterclass, Signature, Legacy, Premiere, and Oregon.
Sorry dude...only the Discovery Series are built overseas! They built 2000+ guitars in Bend!
Just now responding after watching this video again but is this the custom shop because all I see is working on one guitar?
Every American made Breedlove I’ve played has blew me away (OREGAN, Legacy and Premier) the overseas made Breedloves (Pursuit, Discovery, Stage and Organic) is-fine, but nowhere near their American made builds *chefs kiss
I would have to sit down and play a Chinese-built Breedlove guitar and THEN make my decision if I wanted to buy it. Chinese guitars CAN be pretty good, but they can also be horrible. I have zero doubt that the American-built Breedlove is a great guitar, however.
I have a couple of custom shop Breedlove's that I have owned for 20 years and the other about 10. The 20 year old is a myrtlewood back amd sides and the other is rosewood back amd sides with a cedar top. I love them both. The only thing I have noticed over the years is thAt because of their unique bracing on the sound boards they can be a bit bass-ey when strumming. I really enjoyed your walk through and reactions of the tour. I visited their custom shop showroom a few years ago while visiting Bend/Tumalo Oregon. They weren't open to the public the day we stopped by but they let me tour and touch any guitar I wanted. They treated me like royalty and I will never forget that. My wife has a Breedlove as well as my daughter.
Great video as always. I used to sell breedlove guitars and have had a couple. As you discovered they do "offshore" their less expensive models, but those are made very well. The USA shop turns out awesome guitars! A piece of the history that you got a little bit wrong, but close, was Bob Taylor's involvement. The Breedloves worked for Bob, Larry wanted to move to Oregon, from what I understand it was for romantic reasons. Bob first helped him get set up as a service facility, and then helped him to open his production shop. From what I understand they are very close friends to this day. Larry left the business but his brother Kim is in charge now. The "vibe" at Breedlove is very much like Taylor in the early days.
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I have a Breedlove, made in Oregon and it's one of the best guitars I've ever played. I have never been more impressed with a customer service department, ever!
I have a breedlove oregon myrtlewood guitar and it is the best guitar I have ever played. Walked into a store saw it picked it up and when I looked at my phone 2 hours went by and I had no clue it had been that long! Went home grabbed some guitars, went back to the store, and traded them in for it! By far my favorite guitar! Had it for about 5 years now
Very nice video guys. I know this has been up a while but I’m just now getting to it and learned so much about Breedlove guitars. Plus you make your videos so much fun. I love how you interact with each other. Good job
I have to say: I needed to buy a relatively inexpensive guitar with a pickup last year, and the Breedloves were *much* better than anything else at the ~$500 range that I could lay hands on in 3 shops in town. Really, really good for what they are. I’m now an owner and a fan.
Similar experience a few years ago for my Kid’s first acoustic. Played everything in the store and even guitars several times more. No competition against the $600 Breedlove. Couldn’t even justify doubling the money for a Taylor or Martin.
I bought a 2019 custom shop, all Myrtle as a retirement present for myself. I spent 3 hours comparing it to the other guitars in the shop. It is fantastic. Especially good with a flat pick, quick and clean sound.
A few years ago I got back into playing after a long hiatus. I wanted to reenter with a new guitar and had always wanted a Brazilian rosewood guitar. Breedlove had scored a large cache of Brazilian that had been chilling out somewhere near Madrid for the past 50 years. They made a few limited series styles of guitars that were selling for "realistic" prices of around $4,000. Every other maker's Brazilians started at $10k. I did play several Brazilians from the usual makers; Martin, Collings, Taylor, and even a Martin from the 1960's. I was looking for a guitar that sounded good to me while I was playing it. I played a couple of Breedlove's custom shop guitars, and if I had $10,000 to spend I would have purchased one of those. The other one that really tempted me was a Breedlove King Koa, a slightly larger body with Koa back, top and sides. But this was my one chance for a Brazilian so I bought a Journey Concert Brazilian. Number 16 out of 50, salvaged ancient Sitka spruce top, dark, tight grained, rosewood back and sides, mahogany neck. There was a twin to this guitar at the store, this one sounded better. It's not fancy; herringbone purfling and rosette, tiny little off-center fret markers, but what a lovely sound. If you are wondering, as I was, if the mystique surrounding Brazilian rosewood is warranted--absolutely! And incidentally, I had never heard of Breedlove before I started shopping for this guitar.
If you after 3 to 5 minutes release the vacuum you can clean the glue (the squeeze out it will have a nice consistency ) then turn the vacuum again. Works great.
I love seeing a notification from you guys! I really enjoy watching your videos . I would love to one day be able to afford one of your guitars.
Thank you for this video as I have been really curious about the Breedlove brand and your video answered a lot of questions I had and thanks again!!!
I bought a Breedlove Discovery Companion, built over seas, recently as my “camping” guitar. I wanted a smaller, more easily packed, cheaper guitar than my Martin for strumming around the campfire. I’m quite happy with it for my intended use. I’d like to see you guys do one of your breakdown videos of a Breedlove. Love what you’re doing on the channel.
The best sounding acoustic guitar I’ve ever heard in my entire life. was a Breedlove with Myrtlewood back and sides. But I can say that it seems that, at the time, their highest end Guitars all had a very unique sound. I am meaning inconsistency, but in a good way. They did not all sound the same. There was a very wide range of unique and different flavors of sounds. At that time, I would not assume that the same model of a guitar I was playing would sound the same. The Guitar was so phenomenal sounding, I decided to come back on a different days just in case it had to do with my mood that day. But no, the thing blew me away. So, just to play a few Breedlove guitars is nowhere enough.
This is a beautiful song...the video and lyrics are quite thoughtful.
I've owned 3 Breedloves. 2 were made in China, and they are good for what they are. My US-made Premier Concerto was outstanding. Very light, including the finish. I don't love the pinless bridge. The Concerto is a jumbo and the bass felt a boomy to me. Was it the bridge or the size or just me? Don't know. I live in Oregon so I had to try and I'm glad I did. I had the chance to meet Tom Bedell as well and he is quite a character. In my experience, Breedlove makes amazing guitars that are reasonably priced, have some unique design characteristics and are committed to their employees and the planet. All positive.
Quick point about what you say at 6:41 - My dad was an adjuster at Olin corporation (Winchester ammunition) for 30+ years, he ended up running the plastic extrusion for shotgun shells part way through that where he stayed for years. How does someone move from adjusting hundreds of different machines, which encompassed brass hand-load and literally every military round which used no plastics AND the dozens of machines involved in shotgun shells, to running the 40' long 4 computerized stations Italian EMU machines that no one else could? He tried to train several people before his retirement over several years and none of them could even bring the machine up, let alone keep it running 24/7/365. Why? Because no matter how many $Billions you have to throw at automation there are details, information about the raw materials being used, that you can NOT anticipate without having a long working relationship with them and their quirky reactions to humidity, air pressure, chemical make up from batch to batch, etc. When he left, at his retirement party, guys came up to me and said ''We are so screwed now. No one can do what he does'' and they were legit worried for their livelihoods because they knew production would halt. That same week they advertised for anyone who could translate Italian because they had to pay the guys who designed the thing, in Italy - back in the 1970s, to come out of retirement and attempt to train his replacements. This was 2001, LOL.
Right now, you look at that and think that they are being low bar / hobbyist but consider the potential problems of a batch of wood coming in that just doesn't want to bend according to everything on the chalkboard inside of the geek's head who said ''Steam for 30 minutes, bend within 2 minutes and you should be good''. What my dad had acquired over decades working on every machine and with every material at Olin was an uncanny awareness of how the raw materials would react to a thousand variables and how to compensate for that. NO ONE, not even the designers of the machines or the engineers who fabricated them, truly understood the materials or how to work them. The guy who adjusted those machines, many times for 65+hours a week, did come to understand them. When asked if it were possible to, with what he knew, build or rebuild or design new machines to make it easier - ie negate the need for so much hands on knowledge of the materials to run them - he said ''No. There are way too many variables. A machine will never be able to account for all that I know about how these things interact with each other''. Cauls and preforms are neat, and can do in thin-walled work, but if you're serious you will side step that dick pull and go old school on it. Burn the time it requires to do it in a way that you can easily react to and thereby avoid the down-times that WILL lead to you becoming reactionary in a hard way.
"There's a better hill to die on..." Great phrase. I'll grab that.
Excellent reaction upload, as good and honest as the one made for the Casino tour of a Taylor factory.
The "QUAD" technique. "Quick and dirty". "Rough work should be quick work." "It's going to be sanded another hundred times. What's the worry?" From the teachings of an old luthier and Irish Harp maker Bob Allen, of Ontario Ca. I took a building course with him in '94.
Everybody in that shop needs a raise!
I have a 2012 Breedlove Focus SE model, Redwood/Rosewood, that is master class grade and it sounds amazing. I bought it in early 2013. I went to the music shop to just look around and see what they had and found this gem. I had no intention of buying a guitar that day but I couldn't walk away from it. Turns out they were having a huge sale and so I took it home. I later bought a used, 2007 D25 Pro series Dreadnaught and that too sounds fantastic. Sounds just as good as other $5,000 and $6,000 guitars I've played. I was a huge fan of Breedlove after those purchases. But as of late, I haven't been all that impressed with some of the changes they've been making. They have certainly stopped doing some of the things that originally made them very unique and what initially interested me in the brand. Will definitely branch out into other brands moving forward. But I cannot see myself getting rid of the 2 I already have.
I really enjoyed watching this and I appreciate you taking the time to do it!
I own a Breedlove from Asia that is frankly my favorite guitar. It is the Signature Concert, and has the solid mahogany back and sides along with the European Spruce top, and what made me want to get it was: Tom Bedell is really trying to be conscience of our resources, and I have a Martin D-18 (mahogany back and sides with the Sitka Spruce top) on order from my local guitar shop (Rawson Music) here in Oklahoma City. It seems like it is taking FOREVER for Martin to ship their guitars out. But maybe not, as I saw the Driftwood wait list is 3 years! I only ordered my D-18 in January...
All of my other acoustic guitars are Yamaha, and they all have the Rosewood back and sides, which has a completely different sound than mahogany. I really like the way the Breedlove has a mid-range that those rosewood Yamaha's seem to lose.
Keep up the good work!
A dear friend of mine has a one-off custom made Breedlove (from an employee stretching his skills on a custom build), which was fashioned after the Roots Series. It's a right handed guitar, but I 'm a left handed player. Even upside down, it was the nicest guitar I've ever played. I've offered to buy it from him a number of times, but he's concerned he'll never find something so unique and so wonderful to play. If playing a guitar upside down and it being one of the best I've ever played doesn't say something, I don't know what does. 😏 For what it's worth, being left handed is a real downer when it comes to playing custom guitars. I currently play a lefty 1999 Taylor 414ce! It's a brilliant sounding guitar and a pleasure to play. But that Breedlove was otherworldly! 😎👍
Pretty cool. I've never played one of these, but it's interesting to see a lot of hands on in making these guitars. I'm sure probably not as much in their china factory. It was also great to see your reaction to all the hands on work.
I'm glad you kept your aprons on for this.....
I've never played one but, to me, this process demonstrates where the "love" in their name comes from.
Let me start off by saying that I buy and sell guitars as a hobby and it's fun to play different guitars that I normally wouldn't get to otherwise. Have had several Breedlove guitars that retail in the $5-600 range made overseas that I have not been impressed with. I have owned several high end Martin and Taylors so that is the sound I am comparing to. I had someone ask me about buying a Breedlove AD25/SR with an unusual wood blend of spruce top and solid rosewood back, but layered rosewood sides. Made in Korea in 2006. He was selling me a Martin D28 and an all Koa Mexican made Taylor 224CE-K DLX also. He said that the Breedlove was the best sounding of them all. I was thinking, yeah right he's just trying to get me to buy it. I paid $450 for it with an incredibly nice custom hardshell case. It went for over $1000 new with tax. Well he was right. It blew me away and like I said, I wasn't much of a Breedlove fan at that point. It made me sell a $3000 Taylor that was my main acoustic and after almost 2 years I can't find anything to top it. I recently bought and sold a Martin HD28 and it might have been slightly better sounding but I sold it since it didn't have electronics. Look at the customer reviews of this guitar on Reverb. Over and over you find someone saying that that they went into the guitar store looking to spend $2-3000 on a Taylor or Martin and walked out with this one. And now if you can find one, they are only $4-500. There is a Mahogany one also but haven't tried it. I know the American made ones are supposed to be great, but for the money this has been like winning the guitar lottery for me!
This was cool to see. I have a Breedlove OM prototype that I picked up in Louisville, says PROTO on the label. Kind of a mid level guitar, but being a prototype it was probably built in this shop. I love it, it's become my go to guitar. I figured that it might have had a higher level of attention paid to it as they worked through how they were going to make this series, and this gives me insight into that.
I bought a new Breedlove and after a month the bridge popped off. The store gave me full credit and I bought another Breedlove and I love it.
I'm running the router at 2:15 in the drop it like a squat shirt cutting a binding channel. Used to work on the masterclass and custom shop guitars also ran the raw woods warehouse aka Woodstock
This IS the custom shop. You didn't mention that Bedell handmade guitars are built along side Breedlove in the same shop. Also, the lack of people in the shop might be due to COVID protocols at the time they were shooting.
Cool to hear your take on the their neck joints. I love my American series D/Sre, which is a traditional D-28 style dred (rosewood back and sides) that Breedlove made back in 2012-2013. Can't imagine it would sound any better with a dovetail joint.
WELL THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!
Because of your vid, I've pulled my Breedlove Discovery Concertina that I haven't played in ~ a year, out of her case, and fell in love again!
Although it is their entry level series and not the greatest guitar I've played, I believe what they're offering at that price point is a fantastic value!
It is my understanding that their lower level products are made in China under Breedloves' specs. Then shipped to Bend Oregon for final q/c.
The Concertina is a concert size, 12 frets to the neck, 25" scale, solid spruce top with mahogany lami back & sides. Mid-range voicing & responds well to plectrum or fingerstyle.
I bought it for couch noodling and learning fingerstyle.
I have been very happy with this instrument and would highly encourage anyone to spend an hour with Breedloves offerings when looking for another/new guitar.
In closing, I'd like to say that I'll be retiring in 3 yrs and would love to come and work in your shop, for free just to learn!
Blessings to you and your family.
I own two Breedloves that are hand crafted in Bend, OR. I love both of these instruments and have 58 years of guitar playing under my belt. I've owned many fine instruments over the years and have to say that my Oregon Concert Sitka/Myrtlewood and Premier Sitka/East Indian Redwood compare favorably to the Taylors, Martins and Gibsons I've owned. Over the years, I've had fellow players let me play their Breedlove guitars and I developed a curiosity about them. Eventually, I purchased two Breedloves. These two guitars are my go to instruments. Acoustic or plugged in they sound fantastic. Thanks for the factory tour running commentary. It definitely helps me understand why I am so impressed with my Breedlove guiitars.
I really like Breedlove Guitars. I was an early adopter of the instruments back in the late ‘90s when the Breedlove brothers were building and the company was producing what was then wild looking guitars. They had astonishingly beautiful fretboard inlays and other out of the box components like tone bars integrated into the bracing architecture,pinless bridges with a crazy cool bridge shape, extended headstocks for straight string to peg without bend or kink. The tone-woods were not exclusive to the NorthWest but they used a lot of Myrtle. They had radical shaped cutaways that evidently they gave up on. The company reminded me of a kind of Oregon craftsman collective. Larry Breedlove does indeed work with Taylor and has for years. I haven’t played a contemporary Breedlove but if they were able to maintain or improve upon the instrument from 25 years ago I would bet money they play and sound fantastic. Obviously I’m speaking of the higher end Breedlove guitars here. The others more affordable ones are clearly mass-produced factory made. Yeah, I like this video a lot and admire the product as well.
I am a very small scale maker having built only one tenor ukulele. I used vacuum clamping to glue bracing on the flat top and radiused back. I used an inexpensive vacuum pump (12V DC from eBay, ~$12) for the vacuum pump as it was quiet and pumped things down in about 20 seconds. I used some extra wide clear wrap for the membrane, sealing around the edges with some cured silicone. The wrap is attracted to the silicone (like the kind you use to seal around the tub) and makes a good seal. The vacuum clamp rig did a great job of holding the arch in the back while the glue dried. The tooling stores flat. A good thing for a hobby builder.
I have a Breedlove Oregon Series concert. Made in Bend, all myrtlewood. It cost me $1600 new in 2016 and it is far and away my favorite instrument.
I had no idea about Breedlove, will definitely need to play one. I really like the idea of a sustainable guitar and the craftsmanship seems pretty good from this video.
Thanks for the video. Played a couple of breedlove guitars at the guitar store and always thought that they felt different. Guess I know why now. Thanks for the great content.
Breedlove was purchased by Tom Bedell a few years back. Bedell & Breedlove high end guitars are made in Oregon. Their budget guitars are made in Asia. That is the Custom Shop, not general production in Oregon.
Great video, I appreciate both of your thoughts on this and the other videos you've made along these lines, excellent content!
I recently purchased a a Breedlove ECO Discovery S Concert Edgeburst CE Red Cedar-African Mahogany and it's a great guitar especially for the price. In fact it's simply a really nice guitar regardless of price in terms of playability, sound, and it's beautiful as well.
I am so impressed with the more affordable model that now I'm looking to get one of their Premier Series in the next year or so which would be one of the Bend Oregon made models. Likely Redwood top East Indian Rosewood back and sides.
I have owned two Steve Henderson models, a 1998 CM/MH-12 string and a 1999 CM/MH six string (mahogany/Spruce) Both exceptional guitars. I did re-fret the 6 string with jumbo SS frets, and installed Baggs Anthems in both. Quality of workmanship second to none. These models didn't have any bling(how I prefer it) other than around the sound hole. The bass on the 6 string was insane. The nut on the 12 was as good 1-7/8, a bit large for my hands. The six string was 1-3/4. I asked Shaun Hopper to test out the new fret work on the six. He couldn't get over the bass in the guitar. Loved it. Personally I was shopping for a cutaway model and sold both guitars to acquire one. Unfortunately, then the deal fell through. I super regret selling the six string. I purchased the new 12 string Masterclass, all Myrtle wood. Pricey, yet just not the sound I was looking for. Ended up trading it for a Furch Yellow series cedar over rosewood. Still preferred the Spruce over Mahogany Steve Henderson. The voicing was perfect on that guitar. Live and learn. Going to do it right next time...Saving up for a Driftwood. Hopefully I'll get there before I get too old.
I live in the northeast. Around here , the music stores now only carry the foreign made Breedloves. I bought a new custom shop Deluxe Revival OM 11 years ago from a now closed local shop. Great guitar. No flaws in or out . It does not have quite the note purity and clarity of a Bourgeois or Collings , but darn close. I had the frets dressed in July and the repair person said the neck angle was still perfect and the relief was right on. A guy named Bedell bought the Bend operation and supposedly sells the high end stuff under Breedlove and Bedell nameplates but they are not available except by special order around here. The sound optimization process video is well worth watching.
I own a couple of Breedlove's. My Oregon series 12 string is all myrtle and sounds fantastic ($2k new). I did have to do a neck reset once on it but it was super easy to do myself due to the bolt on, butt jointed neck. Not all Breedloves use the bridge doctor. My Moonlight 6 string (also made in Bend) does not. It is a super light build with spruce and mahogany. Breedloves have an amazing midrange presence but still nicely balanced. Most of my friends are not familiar with Breedlove but after they play mine, they have a whole new level of interest.
love the Breedlove own three of them
Hey guys. Seems like you would like to have a vacuum table. They are very easy to build. Powered by a shop vac. I'm sure,with your experience, you could easily build one.
I have built one in the past, and would happily assist or even build one for you!
We often use a shop vac to pull down (debulk) the vacuum bags in making composite parts with the RTM process. Resin Transfer Molding is amazing compared to the wet layup method, as the resin is pulled through the plies of material that have been laid up dry so all the vapors are contained within the vacuum bag. After it cures in the bag, the shop vac is used to push air into the bag, inflating it and easing the process of pulling the part out of the mold. CameronAircraft.com Learning Center videos...
I bought a used Breedlove 12 string 8 years ago. Amazing instrument . Five months after I bought it I opened the case and the bridge had pulled off. I called Breedlove and then sent it back to them. Five weeks later I had a brand new American made made 12 string . It is amazing, great company
Ive been playing guitar since I was a grade schooler in the 70s. I had never played a Breedlove before this last July. Minutes into playing an Oregon Concert Myretlewood Earthsong, I decided to buy it. I wasn't in the market for a new guitar, either. Best sounding guitar I've played.
I think I saw this video about a year ago, I have since bought 1, my local shop had 1 in the window it had been sold but had 1 in stock that although was a used guitar, there wasn't a mark on it! but there it was hanging on the wall, and it was a thing of beauty koa topped and possibly back and sides and maybe even the fretboard! the top has awesome figuring similar to flamed maple ad is all bound with black binding and abalone inlay! a satin neck topped off with gold tuners, plays and sounds amazing!
Love these videos
Love the look of that myrtlewood grain, really pretty.
Breedlove first caught my eye because of some of the unique things they were doing that I thought were just on the edge of being almost too weird. But all of them grew on me. They were the first guitar company I ever saw with a side monitor sound-hole. Their sharp edges on cutaways that kind of sloped downhill away from the neck, not curving in toward the neck like a typical florentine cutaway. Gotta say this, they weren't afraid to try new things. Using Myrtlewood, the bridge truss they install from the factory (although I know a lot of luthiers think connecting the top to the tail block like that is heresy), the body shapes, all of it. Gotta give 'em credit for trying new stuff.
Unfortunately some of those things that made them unique didn't catch on and must not have been profitable because they have been phased out. One notable thing I thought was cool that they've discontinued are their crossover mandolins, which sucks 'cause I know Kim Breedlove is really passionate about mandolin. But if you want to see something really off the wall for a relatively mainstream guitar company, check out their old CM body shape. It looked kind of like a Kay Kraft body. It was a shape that took a while to grow on me but I really with I'd gotten one of the CM Voice guitars when they were available.
Tom Bedell is carrying on with mandolins, so that's likely the reason the business is known as Breedlove Music, too.
Hey guys, from what I understand all of the bend Oregon guitars go through this process. I would love to see your reaction to the sound optimization videos. I purchased a myrtle wood and spruce concerto model about a year and a half ago for $1500.00, and it does sound amazing. Almost piano like on the low end, super clear and articulate.
I have played a few that knocked my socks off. The music store may have gotten lucky but I was impressed.
I ABSOLUTELY love my Breedlove. Now, it is a high end limited edition “Journey Concert Limited Brazilian,” and it didn’t come with a belly reducer bridge thingy. It has a stunning salvaged Sitka top that’s got the compound thickness for high and low end. This guitar feels, sounds, plays so effortlessly. AND… I snagged it, in mint condition, for less than $3K out the door. It’s works soooo well for fingerstyle and I couldn’t be happier with it. Thanks for giving Breedlove some attention!
Do you feel brw is worth the upcharge? Can you hear a difference between east Indian rw and brw? What is your top wood? Thanks.
@@rodhier2516 I actually paid less for that guitar than I would have if I’d bought a new D-28. Somehow I got it for under $2,900 (tax and everything). Whether or not it’s worth the up-charge is completely subjective, but in my experience… Brazilian does produce a unique and beautiful sound.
This one’s got a salvaged Sitka top. I also have a Martin J-40, but the Breedlove is my everyday guitar.
I would love to see that! Congrats
The redwood/rosewood, Made in Bend, Legacy Concert CE retails for $3,300 where I live (east coast US)
Wonderful to see and hear your professional observations and comments in this video. Possibly if you'd have access to the CFM custom shop or Santa Cruz guitars that would be an interesting to hear your take on those manufacturers as well. Love your channel.
The Breedlove that I have was made in Oregon and has the JLD Bridge system in it. I don't know if they still do that but it sure made for a very lightweight guitar. I believe that the ones made overseas are much less costly and called the ATLAS line. Feel free to come by if you'd like to check out the one I have. Another good video. Best to you, as always...
I'm looking forward to my next drive to Bend, Oregon, which is definitely a destination since it's located in the central Cascades, as my first drive from Coeur d'Alene was to deliver a Breedlove Organic Concert to my SIL in Richland, WA (3 hour leg) on the way to deliver another gift to my other SIL in Bend (5 hour leg) with ice fog in the canyons. This summer (gas prices and availability permitting), I'll be spending more time including at Breedlove Music and Deschutes Brewing (the exporters to Idaho) and others. I've purchased three lower-priced Breedlove Concert body guitars, and have been impressed with all three. (Pursuit Exotic Concert E-Sitka/Koa w/layered back & sides $500, the gifted B-stock Organic Concert Torrefied European Spruce/African Mahogany B&S $350, and a B-stock Jeff Bridges Signature Concert $423) The cheapest one has an open pore finish with amazing warm and open, inviting tones from their solid African Mahogany backs and sides. Breedlove ships the tonewood parts to China, the completed guitars are shipped back and set up at Breedlove in Bend, then shipped to dealers including brick and mortar stores selling on Reverb, and Sweetwater. "Designed in Bend, Crafted in China, Setup in Bend." I spent nearly thirty years in the north temperate rainforest of Alaska (Sitka spruce, coastal hemlock and groves of 4-foot diameter alder (straight and clear 200' tall), and as field biologists, we felt it was a great waste to log Sitka spruce for the pulp mills that had 50-year contracts for National Forest timber when musical instruments, boats, aircraft, and other applications need this old growth wood. 180 inches of annual precipitation produces trees like that!
Re: Heel/Neck Construction: I'm quite engaged with the sound and feel of the Spanish heel construction in the Cole Clark Angel 2EC-RDBL, my first all-solid wood guitar of Australian grown giant sequoia (Redwood) and blackwood. The heel is built into the body of the guitar, bonded to the top and back, and the sides into a mortise in the neck. The tones resonate the length of the neck so I really enjoy the feel in my fretting left hand. The electronic amplification design engineered by Cole Clark Guitars of Melbourne is unique! Thank you, Matt and Chris!
I have 3 Breedlove guitars. I just got the 3rd, a 2017 Custom Concerto E with Brazilian back&sides and an Adirondack top. I struggle to stop playing and/or staring at it. On side note-the included CITES paperwork included a copy of the exit paperwork from Madrid, when Bedell bought a haul from a Spanish ornament maker that had gone out of business. That doc lists the entire Two Hippies purchase, which was pretty cool to see and included Brazilian Rosewood, African Ebony, and Honduran Mahogany.
I own a 2015 Oregon Series Breedlove, Myrtle wood back and sides with Sitka Spruce top. I love the looks and how it plays and sounds. One of the main reasons I was drawn to it was I wanted something different than the standard Martin or Taylor. I am not knocking those guitars, I actually own one of them too. I was just looking for something that was unique. Their American/Oregon made guitars start around $1500 and can go way up if you go custom, with most of them being it the $2000 - $3000 range. Mine was $2500 retail, I bought it for $2200. All their guitars that are $1200 or lower are made in Asia.
I have a 2015 Oregon Concert that I bought in 2018. Great sounding, great playing guitar, one of my favorites. Also have a 2018 Premier Concertina, which is a gorgeous looking and sounding guitar. Like Chris, though, the Asian-made Breedloves never knocked me out.
Nothing sounds better than the high end Oregon models made by Breedlove, I was blown away. I was in the market to buy a D28, so I A/B tested what was my dream guitar (D28) to the Breedlove Oregon Concerto CE - and it sounded so much better. i'm now a new owner of a Concerto CE :)
I had a Breedlove Ukulele, tenor, and it sounded SO GOOD! It had a Sitka Spruce top and Africa Mahogany!
I bought a Breedlove Oregon Series from a gentleman who was strapped for cash. Having never owned a higher end guitar before I was blown away the first time I strummed an open E chord in his living room. OMG I thought! This is like nothing I had ever played before. Again, I'm a glorified campfire strummer but I've played and owned every sub $1000 guitar made. This Oregon Series stole my heart! Sitka top with Myrtle Wood ribs and back. From the Bend Oregon shop. Sustain, balanced tone, rich bottom end. I will never part with my Breedlove!
Great videos guys,
A few years ago I was looking to upgrade my acoustic and was going through the usual suspects when the manager suggested l try a new line they were introducing - Breedlove. It was a Premier Rosewood Concert ( Oregon made ) and l stopped looking at other manufacturers immediately. Did some research and the guys were able to arrange an A/B with the Premier Rosewood Auditorium which they ordered in . It had a slightly bigger voice than the concert which suited my needs. Build quality is off the charts so to see this attention to detail on the manufacturing side is an added bonus to an excellent purchase.
Cannot recommend Breedlove ( certainly those made in Oregon ) highly enough
I‘m glad ownwer of an American Series OM with the Martin style headstock and the old logo and love it.
I bought a used Breedlove OM/R Revival Vintage with an Adirondack top made in Bend probably 10-12 years ago. I had been looking for a Martin OM-28 but just couldn't find one I liked enough to justify spending the $$. The Breedlove was around $800 less than a comparable used Martin at the time. It plays and sounds great. The low E and A strings have that piano-like sound quality a couple folks have already mentioned.
I just discovered your videos and have been watching them all day. They're great
Hey guys! Thanks for all the excellent content. New guitar builder here . Love your factory tours videos and was just watching the bourgeois factory tour video here on you tube which is great and was hoping you could do a reaction on that. They are putting carbon fiber/spring steel inserts in their necks which I thought was interesting and would love to hear what you all think about that and the video in general
For locating your braces once inside the vacuum clamp, wouldn't you just create a new acrylic template with slightly more margin to account for the thickness of the vacuum bladder? That way, you could fit the template over the top of the bladder once the vacuum starts to make sure all the braces are in the right place. If not, you could quickly release the clamp and re-set. Just a thought! Love what you guys do! Keep up the great work!
I have a 1998 CM/K that is an absolutely amazing guitar. Both in the craftsmanship and tonal quality. I have always admired Breedlove's approach to his design and execution. The CM is a master craftsman instrument and many be a cut above the in comparison to their production models.
Your Grand Session does look a lot like a Breedlove, that's actually one of the reasons I love the design of it. I always liked the Breedlove shape.
Excellent man! Speaking of dropping stuff, I knocked off a 1 pound brass weight from a shelf over my friends guitar I had just repaired the top braces. It broke through the whole top! Horrible day.
Got to suck man very sorry
Hey Guys, really enjoy your content. Just FYI, I had to keep turning the volume up and down when you talked or the video ran. Keep up the good work.
Breedlove uses or used Crafter in Korea for imports. They still provided the electronics if the model called for that.
I found that the Legacy Breedlove Sinker Redwood and Indian Rosewood for $3300 before taxes.
They said this was the Custom Shop, not the mass production in China. Anyway, I’ve owned two, loved both, still have one.
made me play my Breedlove guitars with more appreciation.
I built a stewac Martin D-28 in 2004 and it had a bolt on option. Still good , no problems and sounds really good. Trouble is the customer owns it. So I agree with your comments about neck joints.
Hello from Oregon. Nice factory tour, but watch the Yairi factory tour in Japan. Real old school.
I picked up a 2016 legacy jumbo used a little over a year ago (sitka spruce top maple back/sides) with a LR Baggs anthem pickup system. Wasn't looking to buy at the time of purchase. Was in a local shop getting work done on a different guitar when I saw my now legacy jumbo. Played it and bought it the next next day for $1800. Its not gonna blow the heavens open with insane over tones but its not lacking in that department ether. It has a very balanced EQ that allows the player to emphasize the low, mids, and highs as they choose. Great guitar for a singer song writer.
Man. Now i want a Breedlove!
I've liked some their guitars and Larivee's out of North American production made guitar. Nice to see how their are made.
I love all my Breedlove guitars
Owned a Breedlove and played quite a bit, I feel the same a Chris. Never played one that awed me in sound but build quality is really good. Dude...I was freaking with the router, that bit had to be something incredible to cut right thru that redwood uphill! ...Andy. 😂
He is using a downshear spiral bit to trim the guitar with. No danger of blowout no matter the direction of the grain or figure of the wood. I use them for inlay work in flooring.
I love my Breedlove so much that in order to get the same warm tone when plugged in I yanked out their electronics and installed LR Baggs blend syst. Best acoustic/elect ever. Now, the one next to it on the wall was tinny.....so, its not the name, its not the wood.......its magic. You cant get good soup everyday. Some days you get a Fender.
I like a dovetail because it is a traditional wood working joint that goes back a long way. And I think you are adding weight with the metal parts of a bolt on neck; that might be considered a positive as it sits at the neck/body joint, and might affect the balance of the instrument in a positive way.
I will build with a dovetail until I die, purely for love of the joint; but if anyone thinks they can put a blindfold on and play three guitars with different neck joints and consistently pick the dovetail from the rest I have some swamp land in Antarctica for sale
When he’s doing the flush trim of the top and back he’s using a climb cut. That’s why he’s not worrying about changing directions
Beautiful myrtle wood
Bend, oregon is one of the most beautiful places. You guys should come and visit.
I’d love to! OR always holds a special place in my heart
I just bought a 2020 breedlove Discovery concert CE sunburst off craigslist. My main guitar is a Taylor 114ce...and I like the breedlove! It's got very good tone, however it really likes your fingers right near the frets or it will buzz, not bad though. The setup seems right so I'm not sure what's going on. I got lucky though, this is the only one I can find that has a faux ebony fretboard and bridge. Looking at the side of the fretboard, it's brown, so they definitely stained it black, but it's even and looks perfect. The bridge is either true ebony or they dunked it in black stain because it's black inside the holes. As a 2nd guitar, for bringing around, I wasn't looking for anything expensive, and I got this for $250. The original owner took extremely good care of it, there literally isn't one scratch on it, not even pick scratches. I like the looks especially, so many acoustic guitars are SO BORING!! Thumbs up for breedlove!
What did I learn? 17:30 shows what I want in my StewMac Tape Deck- a retention arm of some type. I liked the fret caul thingy, too. It was cool. And because you brought it up, scarf joints are only stronger in a certain range of configurations. To just say one is stronger than another without a bunch of qualifiers will never be a very accurate statement. Not to mention 2 different possible ways to align the scarf joint. My Taylor Big Baby is finger jointed, lol.
I picked up my 2nd Breedlove used for a very reasonable price. They seem like a moderate sleeper brand that punches above their respective price points. What's your take on the bridge truss rod adjustment system they frequently use to stabilize their bridges from pulling up?
Various myrtlewood models made in bend are avg $2399. The lower priced $599s are made in China
When the guy was trimming the top and back he was climb cutting with the router. It’s actually better to reduce the grain blowouts.
I have a Breedlove acoustic bass and it was really cool. Concerning the acoustic guitars, I like their looks, but I have not found one I had to have.