The Great Breedlove Ripoff

[Obsessive Monkey]

Is it only me or is Breedlove ripping themselves off by pricing their mandolins so low?

Yes I'm prejudiced - I own a Cascade. And love it!

I think they could easily price their instruments much higher.

[Dru Lee Parsec]

Well, I bought a used KO for about $1000 and I'm sure happy with it. What worries me (as a part time luthier) is that I just bought one of their Korean acoustic guitars and it kicks the stuff out of most Martins I've played with. Huge bass boom, great highs. And it was less than $1000 with a case. As a luthier that's kind of scary. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

[John Flynn]

I like Breedloves, but I actually don't like thier pricing. Thier Quartz series only comes with a gig bag and a stamped tailpiece. For about the same money, the Rigel A Natural gives a hardshell, a custom tailpiece and the finish. Also, IMHO the Rigel is a better mando. Plus the cost to upgrade the Breedlove to a sunburst finish is $200. It is standard on the Rigel.

At the next level up, the B'love Cascade with a sunburst is $450 more than the Rigel A+ Deluxe and again, I like the Rigel better.

This is absolutely not a put down to Breedloves!!! I would love to have one. I just don't think pricing is thier strong suit.

[Obsessive Monkey]

Mando Johnny,

I see your points. I'm an F fan, so for the Rigel price (G5F) I'd get a Gibson. Oh, I like the Breedlove K design (almost) as much as I like an #F...

Now, you could outplay me any day of the week I'm sure! So your Rigel A+ will likely sound better than anything I can put my hands on!

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[pdlstl]

What worries me (as a part time luthier) is that I just bought one of their Korean acoustic guitars and it kicks the stuff out of most Martins I've played with. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif

That's a pretty bold stroke.

Better sell my D-18V I guess...

[mcashion]

I bought a Breedlove Cascade here on the cafe two years ago. I absolutely love the way it plays...the radius is perfect. Everywhere I go someone wants to buy it from me. David Holt played it when he was here in Florida doing a benefit and he met me at the foot of the stage...I thought he was going to compliment my playing, but he just wanted to know what mando I was playing and where I got it. It just gets better and better. The only one I have seen that I like better is the Gibson f-9, and I don't like the feel of it as well, but I sure like that satin, plain, no frills look.

[Mando Medic]

As a dealer of Breedlove's and a person who trained two of Breedlove's employees, I too am concerned about their Korean production. I fear it will lower the desire to have one of the Oregon made products. At first I thought it wouldn't and that folks would buy the Korean line, play it for awhile then graduate to the upper line. Not happening! I have sold a lot of the Alpha line and no one is getting rid of them.

The Quartz mandolins are a bargain. They are to mandolins today what Gibson A's were in the early nineteen hundreds. Nothing made in Korea or China get close. Kenc

[Jingles]

I picked up a Breedlove Cascade as my "starter" mandolin, but soon decided to pick up a cheepo to back it up. You know, save some wear and tear on the Cascade. I feel like crying every time I "have to" play my Korean made Kentucky. It just doesn't compare. I think anyone who is quasi-serious about playing will soon realize what a huge difference there is between the mass produced imports and quality home grown models. Don't get me wrong, you get good bang for your buck with the Korean made instruments, it's just that eventually any dedicated musician will outgrow them. I may have to ditch the Kentucky and pick up an Quartz. Breedlove RULES!!!

[Jingles]

Check this out. Not two minutes after my last post exclaiming "Breedlove RULES", did I open up the case to my Cascade in horror to find the tailpiece had split in two!!! Where is this bad Karma coming from? I guess I had been neglecting my mandoin too much since playing at my sister-in-law's wedding last month. Now I really do feel like crying. Any suggestions for a replacement tailpiece?

[John Flynn]

Rigel makes a nice replacement tailpiece. It is the same basic design as the one they use on thier mandos, but it doesn't have thier logo on it and it is made to match the triangular "three small holes, with one big hole in the middle" arrangement on most other brands. Phoenix is using these now. You can buy them on the accessories section of rigelmandolin.com.

[Bruce Evans]

I replaced the "tin can" tailpiece on my Quartz OF with the tailpiece which is made by mandolinking here on the board. I haven't got that handle exactly correct, but you know who I mean. I love it. Not only does it look great, it does not have a cover to fall off and get lost, and the instrument is noticeably louder.

[Mando Medic]

If you contact Scott or Pete at Breedlove, they will replace that tailpiece that self destructed. kenc

[mandowilli]

Hey Jingles, I had that happen to a Breedlove Columbia that I owned twice! They were very good about fixing it, but the second time I insisted that they replace the tin can one with the newer type that they use, and they did.
Very shocking experience though!

willi

[Jingles]

Pete over at Breedlove has been very helpful and they are going to fix it for me with the newer tailpiece they use. How has the Columbia been with the new tailpiece?

[mandowilli]

The new tailpiece actually improved the sound a bit. The only beef that I had with the Columbia was the highs would just fall right off of the cliff. No sustain at all. This was improved with the replacement Tailpiece.

willi

[Dave Greenspoon]

Today I really sat down with a Quartz KO. I had serious thoughts of selling my beloved Rigel A Natural (with some upgrades) to finance the move. Reading this thread makes me consider it all over again.

[Bradley]

[QUOTE]What worries me (as a part time luthier) is that I just bought one of their Korean acoustic guitars and it kicks the stuff out of most Martins I've played with. Huge bass boom, great highs. And it was less than $1000 with a case.

I too just bought one of the Atlas Series guitars. I bought it primarily to play at church.I needed a Pickup, and couldnt bring myself do installing one in my Martin D-28V.
I will say that I was looking at the Martin D-16grte($1400) which is too a small bodied guitar with a Pickup.The Breedlove in all ways smoked the Martins offerings in the their "Under $2500 class".And it was only $700 with a nice Gig Bag. What their marketing goal is seems to be offering a decent piece at a decent price.I dont think they will ever attempt the High end mandolin market,but will stay in the common buyers market. But again focus on providing a nice piece for a decent price.