Breedlove Question?

[G7MOF]

I'm looking into getting a Breedlove Left Handed F style, There is a Breedlove Premiere FF Gloss Finish Masterclass Appointments for $3999, or I can get a Breedlove Custom Left Handed FF Mandolin (FFB-L) new for $1799.
Is there $2200 of difference in the models?
This is a big spend for me, and I need to make the right choice.

[multidon]

If I were in your position I would contact Breedlove and try to get specifications on both.I will tell you that I believe, based on what I've read, that structurally and voicing-wise, they would be very similar. The differences are largely cosmetic, unless you think a heavy cast tailpiece makes a difference in sound. That is one of the "Masterclass appointments". The wood doesn't care whether the finish is shiny or dull. I believe that I would choose the less expensive. Just about the same sound for $2200 less? Heck, I'd buy two so I could play one while the other was in the shop! But then I never cared that much about shiny or bling.

[JEStanek]

The FF is a base model and the Premier has a lot more work and expensive materials in it. The Master Class has even more. Interestingly, the Premier line isn't listed on the Breedlove website. Will they sound different? I don't know. Like Don suggested, contact Breedlove and ask about differences in voicing. Any chance you can play both and let your experience decide?

Jamie

[multidon]

Jamie- I am interested in where you found out the Premier line has superior materials and workmanship. As you pointed out, you can't find this out on their Web site. Visually it just looks like they took the basic American model, did a glossy finish and put better tuners and tailpiece on it. I have heard the Master Class instruments are voiced by Kim Breedlove personally and I THINK they have Adirondack tops. Is it possible Mr. Breedlove voices the Premier line as well? I hope a Breedlove dealer is following this thread they can clear this up. Speaking for myself, if I am going to pay over 2000 dollars more for something that looks about the same, I would like to be told exactly where the extra dough is going.

[multidon]

I just finished checking on the Web site of Acoustic Music Works in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Although their site is very out of date (they still refer to the "Quartz" series instead of the "American" series), they say that the Premier series offers the following upgrades over the Quartz/American (which apparently, Breedlove has started refering to as the "Custom" if it is an FF style): 1. more highly figured woods 2. full gloss finish 3. Schaller tuners (instead of Gotoh) 4. Monteleone-style tailpiece 5. Loar- reproduction bridge. All of the other features are identical to the lower priced Breedloves. Although all of these materials are more expensive, there is nothing to suggest that they are made with any more care except, perhaps, quality control is more careful with higher priced instruments. The full gloss finish is of course much more labor intensive, and I predict that much of the price difference has to do with that labor. Labor is always more expensive than materials. None of that is guaranteed to make it play any easier or sound any better than the plain jane version. If I had that choice to make, here is a cost-saving scenario I would seriously consider: Buy the less expensive one. Hire a good luthier to swap out the tuners for the Schallers, install the Monteleone tailpiece and the Loar reproduction bridge, and give it a good set-up. Total cost of the luthier work should be around 225-250 dollars in parts and about the same in labor, give or take. Then you could have a mandolin just like the Premier without the shiny finish for around 500 dollars more, then take the remaining 1700 and have some fun with it! Take a cruise, or put it in your piggy bank, or (obviously the best option! )buy another mandolin! I am just not sure if stripier wood and a shiny finish is worth 1700 to me. But there are those out there that think it's worth every penny and then some, I'm sure!

[Folkmusician.com]

Tough call here, and I am afraid that I won't be a lot of help!

Is the Premier in question, the 2012 spring addition?

The Premier is a limited run model:

Combining the design aesthetic of Kim Breedlove and the desires of our devoted Mandolin players we are introducing (in a limited release) the Premier FF. This mandolin is composed of the highest grade Sitka Spruce top, Western Big Leaf Maple back and sides and Figured Maple neck. A Black binding on the body top, back and neck accentuate the curves of this FF style gem. Finished with a full aged toner glossy finish, it features a unique, retro inspired peg head and an abalone premier Torch inlay pattern. With a radiused fingerboard and oversize frets, Breedlove mandolins are extremely comfortable to play. It is equipped with the LR Baggs Radius system, which offers a stage ready package at an affordable price. Deep and throaty, the punchy sounds will carry your tunes across the room.

Spring “Premier FF” Specifications
Body TypeFFNeck WoodFigured MapleSolid Wood TopSitka SpruceSolid Wood Back/SidesWestern Big Leaf MapleFinish/ColorFull Gloss with Aged TonerFretboardEbonyNut Width1 3/16"Tuners HardwareNickel Gototh F-styleLower Bout Width10"Waist Width5 1/8"Upper Bout Widthn/aBody Length14"Body Depth1 13/16"PickupLR Baggs Radius

[multidon]

Thank you Robert for clearing that up. The site I saw said Schaller tuners, but your information says Gotoh, but whatever. The description you have from Breedlove just reinforces my perception that most of the upgrades are cosmetic. There is nothing that says that they play or sound any better. The site I looked at didn't mention the inlay or the LR Baggs pickup. These are certainly worth something. So is the Premier worth the difference in price? It's kind of like buying a car that has a bundle of options factory installed. If you wanted all of those features, good. If there are some of them you would have rather done without, then not worth it as much. Why pay for a moon roof if you don't really want one just because it's bundled with other features you do want? The thing is, people are willing to pay for pretty. It's really important to some, not so much others. I really like the playability and sound of my plain jane FF Quartz, but it's not pretty by any stretch. The OP will just have to decide if pretty is worth it to him.

[Vincent Capostagno]

When the Premier was the middle line between the quartz and the Master Class, they came with Schaller tuners but no inlay. There was no F model. They listed for about 3 thou vs 6 thou for a Master Class. I've played an Alpine OF against my Oregon OF and heard no difference, but then I am a relatively unskilled neophyte. I'm happy with what I have.

[greg_tsam]

I have heard the Master Class instruments are voiced by Kim Breedlove personally...

This plus fancier wood and materials. It's tempting but I wouldn't, and didn't, spring for the extras. My Quartz FF sounds just fine without all that. I did get two additions that made my BL a "custom". I paid extra for top and bottom binding and glossy finish.

[JEStanek]

I just assumed they had more/better stuff in them to jsutify the extra $$$. Like I said, their Website offered no help on the Premier line.

Jamie