Breedlove club!!!

[bsman]

Here's one you're probably not going to see very often. It's a prototype of (I believe) a Mark II electric import. It is loaded with Rio Grande BBQ pickups and has a push/pull pot that currently does nothing (I will likely take this as a project to split the coils). Plays like a dream, is extremely light and is rapidly becoming a favorite.

 

[LGOberean]

COOL! I was just thinking about those a week or so ago. It's not high up on my priority list of guitar purchases to make, but I thought it would be cool to have not only Breedlove acoustics but an electric as well.

 

[LGOberean]

Posting this after the fact, from a couple of weeks ago. I was going to do both acoustic/electric (Breedlove) and electric (Logan Custom BSB tele), but I had a problem with the amp for the tele, so I did the whole show with my Breedlove Concert, Passport Plus C250SBe and my Fishman Loudbox Mini.

Well, shoot! Just tried to upload this with a video from my Facebook page, but an error message said "Unavailable. This video can't be embedded."

 

[joebloggs13]

Getting a custom ebony pickguard for my Premier rosewood dreadnought.

 

[LGOberean]

Do you have the custom pickguard yet? Post some pics when you put it on your Breedlove dread.

Oh, BTW, tonight (or last night, I guess, if you want to get technical about it) I gigged with my Breedlove Passport Plus C250/SBe. I did two sets, acoustic with the Breedlove Concert (for an hour and a half), and then an electric set (2 hours, as it turned out) with my Logan Custom BSB.

 

[joebloggs13]

Do you have the custom pickguard yet? Post some pics when you put it on your Breedlove dread.

Oh, BTW, tonight (or last night, I guess, if you want to get technical about it) I gigged with my Breedlove Passport Plus C250/SBe. I did two sets, acoustic with the Breedlove Concert (for an hour and a half), and then an electric set (2 hours, as it turned out) with my Logan Custom BSB.

Hi LGOBerean, pickguard arrived about 10 days ago, and was installed. Haven't gotten around to posting pics yet. Here it is in all its glory....looks fantastic! Am very happy with the results. This guy is great. Highly recommended.
Before....

After.....

Closeup....

 

[LGOberean]

It's been a while since I or anyone else has posted to this club thread. But I've been playing both of my Breedloves, and I've recently been looking at the archived pages of older models of guitars on the Breedlove website.

So I came to the Guitar Owners Clubs section, and I found a 2 year old thread posted by a member named Telebrian. The title he gave to his thread was "Breedlove," so it was probably easily mistaken for this "Breedlove Club." In his thread, he was asking a question about a Breedlove model he was considering buying. So, because his thread was easily mistaken for this club thread, and was really misplaced in the Owners Clubs section, I think because of all that, probably few saw it, and no one replied.

Anyway, even though a reply now is way late, I'm still going to post one, albeit here, just in case the information by some remote chance may still benefit Telebrian, or others. I'll start by quoting his inquiry.

I have the chance to pick up a Breedlove ac200/sm with Hardcastle case for $175. I haven't been able to find much on Pre-owned prices. Only on their other models. Is this a deal and what do they usually go for?

Fjestad's (Zachary R. Fjestad & S.P. Fjestad, Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, 11th edition, 2007, pg. 103) lists this model. According to Breedlove model # conventions of the day, the AC200/SM model # breaks down as follows: A=Atlas Series; C- Concert body style; 2=standard body depth; 0=non-cutaway; 0=laminate B&S; S=Sitka spruce solid top; M=Mahogany. Here is the full description in Fjestad's...

AC200/SM - full body concert style, laminate mahogany back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge, and peghead overlay, chrome tuners, Natural finish, mfg. 2004-present.

As for "pre-owned prices," the MSRP was $669. Fjestad's proposes a grading system for "condition factors" of a guitar: "100%" refers to an instrument in new condition, as in "not previously sold at retail." An AC200/SM in this NOS condition they list for $500. An "Excellent" rating by Fjestad corresponds to a condition of 90-95%, and an AC200/SM in this range is valued at $300-$350. "Average" is a range from high to low average condition (89%-70%), and is valued at $150-$200 for the AC200/SM.

Okay, so that answers Telebrian's question (and then some), if he's still a member and interested. (I tried to tag him using the @ symbol + unsername TDPRI convention, but that name didn't come up as an option, so I don't know if he's still a member here).

But in the interest of sharing information that will also apply to questions concerning other Breedlove models in the Atlas Series, I'll answer some questions he didn't ask. My resources for the following are both the aforementioned Fjestad's Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars, and personal experience, since I've owned an Atlas Series dreadnought for eleven years now. About the series as a whole, quoting from Fjestad's...

The Atlas series was introduced in 2004 as a line of instruments that are produced overseas but use Breedlove's traditional way of designing and building guitars. All guitars are inspected in Bend, Oregon before they are shipped to dealers.

Fjestad's didn't identify where "overseas" these guitars were produced, but from information on the Internet back in the day, as well as on the hang tag in GC at the time, and especially on the label inside the soundhole, we know that the Atlas Series guitars were "Crafted in Korea."

So were the Passport Series guitars, BTW, as evidenced by the label in the soundhole of my Passport Plus C250/SBe.

The Breedlove Atlas Series had a production run from 2004 to around 2008. The production run info given in Fjestad's for the AC200/SM reads "2004-present." But since the "present" meant the year of publication, that piece of information doesn't tell the full production run.

However, my Breedlove dreadnought from the Atlas Series that I bought in 2008 (eleven years ago this month, in fact), was dropped in price because it was being discontinued. MSRP was $1,069, sell/street price was something like $799. I played it in the local GC, then went home and researched it, and found that the MF website had it priced at $550. I went back in to the GC and told them about it, they checked it out and then agreed to price match, so I bought mine for $550.

So I know my model in the Atlas Series AD25/SM (or Atlas Series Dreadnought, standard body depth, soft cutaway, Sitka spruce solid top, Mahogany solid back) was discontinued in 2008. So I know that the production run on the AD25/SM model was 2004-2008, and I suspect that the same is true of several other models in the Atlas line. According to Fjestad's, nine models in the Atlas line were introduced at its inception in 2004, but there were several more models introduced in 2005, and some in 2007.

And just because, I'll include a pic I've posted before of my two Breedloves. I gave you a peek inside the soundhole of each, now I'll "zoom out"...

 

[LGOberean]

Just got back yesterday from a camping trip in our RV trailer. I took two guitars on the trip with me: a cigar box guitar made by the nephew of a friend; and, more to the purposes of this club thread, my Breedlove Passport PLUS C250/SBe. I mentioned it and share pictures of it in my last post, but here's the photographic evidence of the fact that I did indeed take this one camping.

Breedlove's Concert sized guitar makes for a pretty convenient camping guitar.

 

[LGOberean]

Well, it's been a long while since anyone's posted here (besides me ), but this is a video I did this morning, and since I played it on my 2008 Breedlove AD25/SM dreadnought, it belongs here.

(Disclaimer: I (re)wrote this late last night, and so at times during the song I hesitated, trying to remember my own lyrics. And this preoccupation with the lyrics made me self-conscious, and made me flub the instrumental intro. But it is what it is. Hopefully, you'll get a chuckle out of it.)

The China Virus Blues
(Sweet Lord of Mine)
Lyrics adapted by Larry G. Overton, March 25, 2020
(with apologies to Neil Diamond)


Where it began was in Wuhan, China
And from there it’s growing strong
And now it’s the Spring, will it spread to summer?
Who’d have believed it would come along?
Hands…washing hands…
Don’t reach out, don’t touch me,
I won’t touch you

(Chorus)
Sweet Lord of mine!
Lead us to good times again
I’m inclined to believe this thing will end
But now I’m…

Sheltering in place, living like a hermit
But that’s okay, I look like one, too
The days drag on, spent in isolation
When, oh, when will this thing be through?
(But now it’s) Hands…washing hands…
Don’t reach out, don’t touch me,
I won’t touch you
(Chorus)

Sweet Lord of Mine!

 

[LGOberean]

Not sure how many will see this, since it's been almost two years to the day since anyone besides me has posted any comments here.

I've spent a good part of yesterday afternoon researching Breedlove's company history, particularly in conjunction with the Korean connection to the present regime under that old hippy, as he likes to call himself. I'm still processing that research data, and still trying to nail some things down.

This period relates directly to my Breedlove experience, since both of my Breedloves are from the MiK Atlas Series: my 2008 dreadnought AD25/SM (which in size & shape I consider to be more the love child of a jumbo and a dreadnought, jread ); and my Concert, my Passport Plus C250/SBe.

AD25/SM
My dread AD25/SM (A=Atlas series; D=dreadnought; 2=standard body depth; 5=soft cutaway; S=solid Sitka spruce top; M=solid mahogany back, laminate mahogany sides) is fairly easy to nail down. I bought it new at the local Guitar Center in August of 2008. I first noticed it earlier in that month, and picked it up each time I went into their acoustic guitar room. I had an acoustic/electric that I gigged with at the time, but it was a small, shallow fiberglass bowl-backed guitar (Crafter FX-570EQ, also MiK, coincidentally). It got the job done at gigs, but unplugged it didn't project very well.

And the AD25/SM was being discontinued. In the GC store, it was priced at $799, but on MF at the time it was listed as being discontinued and priced at $550. The local GC matched the $550 price, and I pulled the trigger on my first Breedlove. It came with that really nice Breedlove gig bag, which was fine for a while, although I later replaced that with a hardshell case.

Passport Plus C250/SBe
But what really started my research was trying to nail down the year of manufacture of my Concert. I didn't buy that one new, as I did the dreadnought. I wasn't trying to replace the AD25/SM, but at the time I was playing a 3+ hour restaurant gig at least twice a week. I had shoulder/rotator cuff issues, and reaching around the honkin' huge body of that jread for several hours each night took its toll.

So in the spring of 2016, I went to the local GC with the intent on trying out whatever Breedlove Concert models they had in stock. Much to my delight, they had just gotten in this MiK Atlas series Passport Plus C250/SBe (C=Concert body style; 2=standard body depth; 5=soft cutaway;0=laminate back & sides; S=solid Sitka spruce top; B=Bubinga back/sides; e=Breedlove's VTC)). It even came with a "Tour Grade" brand hardshell case, and was priced just $350. I played it to be sure in was a good sounding serviceable instrument, and verifying that, bought it that same day.

But since I bought it used, I never knew exactly what year it was made. From what I've read, Breedlove doesn't have specific info on dating the guitars made in Korea, so going by the serial number isn't much help. I just knew I bought it in March of 2016, and that it has the stylized script "B" logo instead of the name spelled out on the headstock, which meant it was pre-2014.

Some internet searches turned up some articles, price lists and pdf catalogs that helped zero in on the time frame in which my Concert was buillt. The MiK Atlas Series was introduced in 2003. A 2008 price list did not have the Passport Plus C250/SBe model. Breedlove's 2012-13 catalogs didn't have the model, but the 2011 did. As yet I haven't found catalogs or price guides for Breedlove guitars before the year 2011 (except for that 2008 price guide previously mentioned.)

So at present that narrows down the "born on date" of my Breedlove Passport Plus to 2009-2011. I wish I could get a look at a catalog or price guide for 2009 & 2010, to see if this model was offered in those years as well. If anyone has those, I'd be grateful for pics in this forum or even just the information.

Other specs: chrome tuners; 3-piece Nato Mahogany neck; rosewood fretboard w/ a dovetail neck joint; 25.5” scale; 20 frets; 1-11/16” nut width; Tusq nut (& saddle); Concert body, cream binding top & back; natural gloss finish; pin-less rosewood bridge; small teardrop tortoiseshell pickguard; strap button on neck heel; endpin jack; Breedlove’s VTC pickup/preamp system, w/ a built-in chromatic tuner.

 

[LGOberean]

I have a confession to make. I’m going to sell my Breedloves.!

I feel like 170 bs of homemade sin on popsicle stick for saying that, especially in this thread, but there it is. I’m going to sell my 2008 AD25/SM and my C250/SBe Concert Passport Plus.

It’s not because I’m desperate for cash. Having some extra cash in my pocket never hurts, but that’s not what this is about.

It’s not because I don’t think they’re good guitars. Both of them are in good condition, play well and sound good.

It’s not because they have issues. They’ve got a few minor blemishes and evidence of wear, but nothing you wouldn’t expect on guitars that are a decade or more old.

The plain fact is, I just don’t play them anymore. That's because in January of 2018 I got this acoustic/electric tele from Bob Logan…

It is so light, so compact, it is the ideal guitar to load into the truck with the gear for gigs. And it has a tele neck on it, set up for 11s. It is far and away the best player of my acoustic/electrics. It’s Fishman electronics sound great through my Fishman Loudbox amps.

So for the last three years, I haven’t gigged my Breedloves. And it’s gotten to the point that I don’t play the Breedloves even at home. Well, looking back over this page of this thread, I realized I have played them in that last 3 years a little more than I thought, but still, they go for months at a time without being touched.

So I just thought I should share this information here, even though I’m also a little scared of the push back I could get here from this decision. So, I’m now donning my flame-retardant suit and bracing myself for what comes my way…

 

[Jobarton]

@LGOberean I also have a Passport series PLUS C250/SBe and I have been trying to figure out if this was a TUSQ nut. THANK YOU!
I absolutely love this guitar, the only issue I have is with the output jack. Often times I get a "pop" when moving around on stage and I have always thought it was my chord, but it does it consistently and I've checked my chords. I took it off to see if I could make any adjustments, but I don't see how. I'd like to put an LR Baggs in it but if I'm going to spend $150.00 on new equipment I'd rather put it in my partscaster or somewhere else lol.

 

[perttime]

I just discovered that there's a Breedlove club.
On Saturday (tomorrow) I'm going to see a 2008 Breedlove Revival OMR Custom. I checked with Breedlove and they seem confident that it is what the seller says.

The guitar is clearly well kept, and from what I've read and heard, sound quality should be great. Can't wait to see, hear and feel it myself.

 

[LGOberean]

@LGOberean I also have a Passport series PLUS C250/SBe and I have been trying to figure out if this was a TUSQ nut. THANK YOU!
I absolutely love this guitar, the only issue I have is with the output jack. Often times I get a "pop" when moving around on stage and I have always thought it was my chord, but it does it consistently and I've checked my chords. I took it off to see if I could make any adjustments, but I don't see how. I'd like to put an LR Baggs in it but if I'm going to spend $150.00 on new equipment I'd rather put it in my partscaster or somewhere else lol.

I'm always glad to hear when something I've posted is of benefit to others. As for the output jack issue, I hope you get that sorted out. Haven't experienced that with mine, and when I bought it used in 2016, I gigged it a bunch. After about two weeks of gigging, my tip money alone paid for the guitar ($350).

I just discovered that there's a Breedlove club.
On Saturday (tomorrow) I'm going to see a 2008 Breedlove Revival OMR Custom. I checked with Breedlove and they seem confident that it is what the seller says.

The guitar is clearly well kept, and from what I've read and heard, sound quality should be great. Can't wait to see, hear and feel it myself.

Best of luck in your Breedlove pursuit. Wait...that could be confusing. I didn't mean Breedlove Pursuit, as in the cheap Chinese import line Breedlove offers.

2008. My first Breedlove, the dreadnought they don't make anymore, was a 2008. I've always preferred the stylized, script "B" logo on the headstock as opposed to the name spelled out after that old hippie (as he calls himself) took over.

Let us know if today turns out to be a NUBGD (New/Used Breedlove Guitar Day) for you.

 

[perttime]

...
Let us know if today turns out to be a NUBGD (New/Used Breedlove Guitar Day) for you.

We do indeed have a NUBGD

New to me 2008 Breedlove Revival OMR Deluxe

I drove the 2 hours to see the guitar, in sunshine, rain, sleet and snow. Not much snow on the way back.
The seller's photos make it look a little pale or dull, compared with reality. It is pretty in a slightly quirky way.
It has highs, lows, richness, and a surprising amount of depth for a guitar that isn't all that large. And that is with "11s" for strings.
Neck dimensions (mainly nut width) and the overall feel are different from what I've mainly played for years, so it will take a while before I can play it properly. Also, I need to learn how it really responds to picking dynamics. Some might consider the neck a little thin but that doesn't seem to bother me.
It didn't exactly come cheap, with a price agreed at over €2000.

The seller's photos are better than mine. Here's an edited version with front and back stuck together. Never mind the shadows in the top pic. And what looks like a bit of bearclaw in the Adirondack is bearclaw:

 

[LGOberean]

Back in March, I commented in this thread (see #191 above) that I had decided that I need to sell my two Breedlove acoustic/electrics. But here we are six months later, and I've yet to put them up on the auction block. My head tells me I need to, but my heart is conflicted.

So I started a thread over in the Bad Dog Café asking "How do you thin the herd?" I wanted a wider audience for that thread to get more input, but of course it relates to interests here. So here's the link to that thread, if anybody's interested.