Blueridge Guitars

[Tim Saxton]

Mornin' All,

After selling a few items and saving some money, I have come up with extra cash. I can't decide between a project car or some new instruments http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Does any one own a Blueridge Guitar? I played a couple of years back and was quite impressed. I think it was a solid rosewood back and sides wit ha solid spruce top.

I am looking for a guitar to sing with and learn to pick on. I would really love a D28 but just cant get that much cash up.

Any input on them would be great.

Thanks so much
Tim http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

[Bobby Brite]

My brother has a BR-70 that I play whenever he will let me. It is a great guitar. Really booms. You can't go wrong with the BR-70.

[bluegrassjack2]

Friend of mine bought one and really liked it, it was beautiful guitar and sounded pretty good for the money. Then after a while it started coming apart, especially where the neck joins the body. He finally sold it, never to buy another.

[Skip Kelley]

I bought a BR-160 a few months ago. It is an excellent guitar for the money. I have played it along side of a couple of Martins and it held it's own. I received alot of compliments from the Martin pickers. I bought mine from online guitar. They sell off of e-bay.

[smilnJackB]

I have had 2 Blueridge guitars and they both had good tone and were nice Martin near copies. They are very nice guitars.
However, I would reccomend getting one of the X series Martins which sell for $450 to $600. They are made at least in part with high pressure laminates, but somehow give that great Martin sound. I have the concert sized Martin 000X1. The '1' denotes solid spruce top. It sounds a little better than the Blueridge to my ear and it is a GENUINE Martin. Best wishes. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif Jack

[TomServo]

There are several discussions about Blueridge guitars over at the Unofficial Martin Guitar Forum. Here's one:
http://p084.ezboard.com/ftheuno....6.topic (http://p084.ezboard.com/ftheunofficialmartinguitarforumfrm51.showMessage?t opicID=936.topic)

Harmony Central has user reviews (very helpful) here:
http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Blueridge/

My old mandolin/guitar instructor has been trying to sell me one for a while, just raving about the tone and value. Tried one out up at Wintergrass. No, it doesn't have the tone of a good high end or vintage Martin.

Bottom line, play one. If it speaks to you, buy it.

[doanepoole]

Gotta agree with Smilin Jack. Blueridges are nice guitars, but I think the plastic Martins sound alot more like "real" Martins than Blueridges do, and they actually cost less.

[jlb]

To answer this question better, and relate it to the mando, what type of ensemble are you playing with?

Or would this just be a duo or solo guitar?