Breedlove

[Tailspin]

Any opinions out there about breedlove? I listened to the ones demoed on the folkofthewood website and thought they sounded kind of cool. What do you guys think. Should I get one?

[otterly2k]

Hi Tailspin-- I encourage you to use the search function and look for other discussions of Breedloves in addition to asking your question here.

I have a Quartz OO for sale in the Classifieds, and I have sent you a PM about it. Full disclosure.

I'll also say for the record that I think that the Quartzes are one of the really good buys in an intermediate mando, along with Rigel's A natural (which they don't make any more)... especially if you're interested in an oval hole mando. There aren't as many options for ovals in this range.

Breedlove features a slightly wide neck and thicker frets than average, which makes for a distinct feel. I like it, but it's a matter of preference, really. I find the Quartzes to be solid, well-made, and having a clear, plain, versatile tone. They have a modern styling that some of us love and others don't. Again... preference.

I haven't played any of the other Breedlove models, so I'll let others chime in with their impressions.

As always, when exploring instruments, the best thing you can do is find a way to go and play some in person and see what speaks to you.

KE

[Kevin Briggs]

I owned a Breedlove Spirit, which was very good for the money. The prices have since gone up, but it had top-notch craftsmanship, easy playability, and a pretty good tone. I used it at jams and with an alt. rock group. It had a pickup installed. I upgraded to a custom Weber Bitteroot which is a great bluegrass mandolin and chop monster. However, I think highly of Breedloves.

Now, I played an Alpine at acoustic music works (www.acousticmusicworks.com) a few months ago, and I wanted it. It was versatile, but had the chop I need. The tone was richer than the Spirit, and it was the second best mandolin in the store. It came in second to an Elliot Stelling, which was out of this world, and beat out another Stelling by a different maker, a Collings MT, and all of the Eastmans in the store, along with the other pac rim models.

Anyway, the Alpine is a Premier class model. It was stunning. The lower end Breedloves are nice too, just not stunning, in my opinion.

[RichM]

Lots of good information here! I'll add my .02. I've gone through a few mandos over the years, but my Breedlove KF remains a constant. Things I really like about it:

-It isn't fancy, so most of the effort went into the build quality instead of the decoration
-The slightly wider fingerboard really suits me-- it remains one of most comfortable mandolins I've ever played
-I find the tone very versatile. While it isn't a bluegrass machine, it has a nice loud, open, woody sound that I find very appealling. These days I play mostly jazz and baroque/classical, and it is well suited for those styles. While it is plenty loud, it probably doesn't have that "in your face" quality that a lot of bluegrasers want.
- The price is really easy to take-- these are really some of the most affordable handbuilt mandos available

[Eric F.]

I've owned a Quartz KF and was the previous owner of Otterly2k's OO, and I liked them both. I thought my KF was a little warmer sounding than the OO. I completely agree with her that the Quartz is a good value in an intermediate mando. It's not fancy, but it gets the job done.

[Lane Pryce]

I had a KF quartz and I always thought it waws good all aound mandolin. Tone was good and the playability was great. Fit and finiah were top shelf as well. Lp

[JGWoods]

Breedloves good, FOTW will hose you bad.

[Tailspin]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your time. Thanks JGWoods. I was looking at FOTW. Can you recomend a better source? Or anyone else?

[DryBones]

Breedlove Dealer search (http://www.breedloveguitars.com/dealers/index.php)

[Professor PT]

If I were starting out again, I'd buy one. The necks are very cozy for me. The tone on the cheaper models isn't spectacular but much better than the typical import F.

[JGWoods]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your time. Thanks JGWoods. I was looking at FOTW. Can you recomend a better source? Or anyone else?
Online- Elderly (http://www.elderly.com/brand/90N_breedlove.html)
is a big favorite.
Support your local store if you can.

[Greenmando]

Thanks everyone. I appreciate your time. Thanks JGWoods. I was looking at FOTW. Can you recomend a better source? Or anyone else?
I would recommend anyone else over FOTW. You might want to check out McCabe's (http://www.mccabes.com/) and Buffalo Bros. (http://www.buffalobrosguitars.com/).

[Nick Triesch]

Professor PT is right. The Breedlove necks are fantastic. Very easy to play. I remember playing my first Breedlove Cascade at a little shop in San Diego years ago and it was one of the best mandolins I have ever played. I have not played many of the less expensive models. ( It was Walt's at the New Expression). Nick

[Professor PT]

I've played that one, too. It sounds pretty nice. It still lacks a bit in the low end though.

[atetone]

I have had a couple of Quartz models. Good value.
Keep your eye on the classifieds here on the Cafe.
They show up fairly often at good prices.

[Steve L]

I've got a KF and play Irish trad on it. I really like it and get lots of compliments on the tone and workmanship. Most bluegrass players seem less than crazy about them, but they are a great value. If you get a used one, if you decide to move to another axe, you can probably get most of your money back on a sale.

If I were in a position to buy, I'd probably grab Otterly's 00.

[Willie]

The first and only one I ever played was yesterday, it was supposedly the top of their line...I liked every thing about it except it didn`t seem to be as loud as my Flatiron....This on had a deep woody bass and the highs were not too shrill...I think if they all sound this good they have a winner...The owner said they sell for about 4 grand, can`t say that I know that for sure but compared to what other 4 grand mandos sound like I would say this is a good deal....Willie

[stobias]

I just purchased a quartz kf from a fellow cafe person. It is a really nice instrument upgraded with an Allen tailpiece and schaller tuners. The action was on the low side for my taste and the bridge was adjusted at the upper end of its range. The neck relief looked fine and the neck to body joint looked fine. In other words, I could find nothing wrong with the neck angle. I noticed also that the bridge saddle was quite radiused front to back and I was thinking that this combination of factors choked the sound. I put on a Steve Smith bridge that I happened to have, and raised the action and WOW what a difference. At the same time I restrung with J74's which of course contributed, but it is now a monster! The sustain, especially in the A and E strings, is vastly improved and the loudness is amazing. I am very pleased with the instrument-It compares very nicely with my Givens Legacy F5 and blows away my old Eastman 615.