Breedlove AD25/SM

This has a solid sitka top, solid mahogany back and lam/mahogany sides. Beautiful tortes binding and abalone rosette.
I have used many other acoustics as a worship leader, several that were well over 2k$ and often had to have them 'dressed' by a local Luth. Ive been playing for 29 years now and have been making an o.k. living at it for 10 years or so.
Ive studied classical here at the local college and I teach group lessons to keep myself fresh.

I was desiring to buy another acoustic so I got my $ up and spent about 3 months looking and playing just about everything in the 2K$ range, wasn't even considering anything other than something American made. I have martins,Herks,ovations,dano's and a Takamine or two, I went to a small shop in Ojai Ca. and ask the owner to show me something different. He handed me a Breedlove and I hadn't played one of these before, to me they just seemed like some 'off' brand. I played it simply to be polite and was instantly floored by the tone and playability, I actually asked him if he set up all his guitars this way. He said nope, thats right out of the box! and get this, I just bought this thing a couple months ago and the serial # reveals, as does Breedlove themselves, that this guitar was hanging in his shop for 5 years before it sold! And it plays so much better than ALL the other guitars I own. when I go to write or just jam I always look around at what I have and I always seem to grab the Breedlove. I cant believe its 'Korean', they got a good thing going with this series.I paid $650.00 Including the gig bag, and no, it was not a used instrument, he knows me pretty well and Ive dealt with him for over 15 years, He was stoked that I liked it and he wanted to move it.

Everything.
The only thing I am thinking about doing is replacing the fishman classic 4 electronics with the newer L.R. Baggs. Mine is 5 years old and they came with the Fishman.

I have only had it for a couple of months, I cant seem to find any downfalls on this beauty.

I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb and haven't found any blems, can't find a single trace of glue or tool markings inside. I did take some fine sandpaper to 'de fuzz' some of the bracing but that's o.c.d.

I really love this guitar, it plays as well, if not better, than guitars that cost nearly double or more.
I would love to play one of Kims private reserves someday! I cant imagine the tones!

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com

I bought this at Blue Note Music, Berekeley CA. Cost: $599

First off, it's gorgeous. Secondly, it sounds great. Thirdly: I could afford it!
Breedlove is known for their high-end boutique guitars made in Tumalo, Oregeon. The Atlas series is made in Korea, from their designs, under supervision from the USA company. They also set up and ispect every guitar arriving from overseas. So it's quality is assured.
It has the innovative JLD Bridge Truss System, ensuring more bass and pure tone and non-warpage. Solid Spruce top and beaurtifully finished mahogany sides and back, inlaid abalone logo and fret dots complete the look. A Fishman Classic 4 undersaddle does a fine job for amplifying this guitar.
I gigged with it all weekend, so I can say the neck is abreeze to play and the sound was rich and really able to cut through. The cutaway really allows higher note access, too. A great guitar. Easily beats any import I have played, and some American models!

No strap button on the heel of the neck. I had to add one. www.folkofthewood.com has a diagram how to do this. Careful! It's tricky. A blender option for adding a mic would be nice, as would anotch filter on the preamp.

Soundly, accurately made. Not a speck of misplaced glue. Neck flat as can be. Frets smooth and perfect. The finish is specatular. No backup ax required! The neck feels like ironwood. The balance and heft is awesome.

Buy one before the dollar gets weaker and the price goes up!!! The AC25/SM's are nice, too. Samller, quieter until amplified. The rosewood option gets more flash, with bigger abalone fret markers, but the sound is not really better, so save the additional $200. Finding these in stores is hard, but try one if you can. Breedlove's site has a dealer locater. www.music123.com has the best prices so far, and some B stock available.

This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com