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LGOberean
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Breedlove Atlas Series AD25/SM Acoustic-Electric Guitar
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| Last Review Posted |
Breedlove Atlas Series AD25/SM Acoustic-Electric Guitar
Up for review is my Breedlove Atlas series AD25/SM. Here are the basic specs:
Top: Solid Sitka Spruce
Back: Solid Mahogany
Sides: Laminated Mahogany
Fretboard: Rosewood
Bridge: Rosewood, pinless string-through construction
Electronics: Fishman Classic 4 system
Price: $850
Almost two years ago now, I was looking for a new acoustic/electric to gig with. I was taking my time with the process, and enjoying it, actually. I played quite a few guitars during my quest, which of course is always fun.
On a Saturday in August, I first got my hands on the Breedlove AD25/SM, a beautiful and great sounding guitar. I really enjoyed the neck. However, a Guitar Center on a Saturday is as busy and as noisy as DFW International Airport, even in the acoustic guitar room. So I decided to come back.
And I did. I came back on Monday, and got to play that guitar in a much more relaxed and quieter environment. I still decided to go home and check it out and sleep on it. That was a good decision.
Looking it up on the Internet, I discovered that the model was going to be discontinued, and while at one time it listed for $800, it was on sale for $550. So on Tuesday, August 26, 2008, I went in and showed the GC guys the web page advertising it for $550, and they matched the price. Of course, I bought it for that, and registered my Breedlove online that same day.
I emailed Breedlove to ask some questions about the guitar, including the meaning behind the model # AD25/SM. The A is for Atlas series, the D for Dreadnaught, 2 indicates deep body, 5 refers to the soft cutaway, S is for Spruce (the solid Sitka Spruce top) and M for Mahogany (solid Mahogany back, laminate Mahogany sides).
At the time, this model came equipped with the Fishman Classic 4 system, which utilizes the Fishman Sonicore coaxial under-saddle pickup. The onboard EQ enables you to tweak your sound through the frequency bands and with a feature called 'Brilliance.'
I responded to the quick review by saying that I would recommend this guitar, but the field for this question allowed for only a yes or no answer. So I answered 'Yes,' but now I want to qualify that answer by adding '...but with reservations.'
I have had a couple of problems with this guitar. The problem most readily noticeable was that playing that neck blackened my fingertips. It's like the Rosewood fretboard was blackened by some kind of coloration that wears/bleeds off when played. There are quite a few spots on the fretboard now that are noticeably discolored. This problem doesn't affect either the sound or the playability of the guitar, but it is an annoyance nonetheless.
More problematic was the action of this guitar. It seemed fine at first, and the neck was so great that I guess it wasn't noticeable when playing it in the store. But after I changed strings, it felt like the action changed too. So I tried lighter strings, going from my usual 12s (.012 - .053) to 11s (.011 - .052), but I got some fret buzz on the high E. I talked with Breedlove tech support about adjusting the neck, and they said it wouldn't void the warranty if I let them talk me through it, so we did that. A little better, but not great. Still some buzz. So I went back to 12s, and it's okay, but the action is still not what it first felt like. I've adjusted to it, but I tend to play my 27 year old Japanese vintage Hohner G940 around the house and save the Breedlove for gigging.
It's interesting that I'm not the only one to have these two problems with this model. In March of 2008 (a good five months before I bought mine) a reviewer calling himself 'Beware' mentioned these very same problems: changing action and 'fading' fretboard (as he put it). So I recommend this guitar, but I also recommend keeping an eye on the action and staying with the same strings the guitar comes with, D'Addario's EXP Lights (.012 - .053).
Another interesting aspect to this guitar is that it seems to have been reinstated to the Atlas series lineup. It now lists for $850, and the only change I can see is the electronics. Breedlove now equips this model with an L. R. Baggs system instead of the Fishman.
And another word of warning about this guitar; I've played the 2010 model in my local GC. There is a ridge you can feel at the neck joint. That guitar seems to play okay for now, but flaw concerns me. Maybe it's just the one that got past quality control, but still...check this model over very carefully if you are going to consider buying it. |
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