View Full Version : breedlove
wannabethile
Nov-08-2008, 11:53pm
i played a breedlove tenor guitar the other day, and woah!!! it was the best/cleanest tenor that ive ever played. ive never been a fan of their mandolin line, but this was sweet. anyone else ever play one? what did you think? does anyone have any idea how much they go for?
JEStanek
Nov-09-2008, 10:39am
Elderly, for example (http://www.elderly.com/brand/80N_breedlove.html) has some flat top Breedlove tenors you can price.
Jamie
I have played the Breedlove Tenor (at the factory when visiting) last year. I was back this year and played a new model that had 4 courses (GDAE + Octave Strings--I believe) that Jason (Luthier) had built for the Sisters Festival. I don't know if they have/will go into production, but it was sweet.
acousticphd
Nov-10-2008, 1:32pm
As it happens, a few weeks ago I played a rosewood, full OM-bodied Breedlove tenor belonging to a musician here in Nashville. The scale was long, maybe ~24"; I don't know the exact length. He had it tuned GDAE, which suited it very well.
This was one of the best sounding guitars, tenor or otherwise, I have heard. Big, full base and big strong trebles. It sounded like a very good, high-end OM except with 4 strings. The fact that it was a tenor guitar made it really exceptional. But so is/was the price; I think he said the retail on them is ~$2500.
Charles E.
Nov-10-2008, 6:35pm
Maybe I am a purist but if it has a 24+ inch scale length and is tuned gdae it is not a tenor guitar . Rather it is an octave mandolin guitar thingie.....
I do not doubt that it is a great instrument however.
Payit Forward
Nov-10-2008, 7:16pm
Maybe I am a purist but if it has a 24+ inch scale length and is tuned gdae it is not a tenor guitar .
Pardon me, but I was always told that tenor guitars were originally built with ~23-24" scale, and tuned gdae to make it easy for mandolin and/or tenor banjo players to pick it up. What is it supposed to be?
Payit Forward
Nov-10-2008, 7:21pm
Sorry... They're usually tuned CGDA aren't they?
Charles E.
Nov-10-2008, 8:05pm
Pete, original scale was approx. 22-7/8 inches. Any longer and you start breaking A strings. The instrument was developed in the mid to late 20's as a cross over instrument for dixiland tenor banjo players as the guitar gained popularity in the rythem sections at the time.
Eddie Sheehy
Nov-10-2008, 9:45pm
A rose by any other name ...... a fifths-tuned instrument is a fifths-tuned instrument is a fifths-tuned instrument.... the fingering and chord shapes are the same, all that changes is the key... I pick up an instrument I make sure it is in tune to itself - say the middle bass strings - and away I go..... and there's always a capo if I need to back a singer... Mandolin, Mandola, Mandocello, Tenor Guitar... bring 'em on.
acousticphd
Nov-11-2008, 4:13pm
Yeah, his tuning it GDAE was his preference, and of course the string gauges were appropriate for that tuning. It was is probably equally designed to be a CGDA tenor using lighter strings. Elderly Instruments has a few of these for sale, if you want to have a look, and gives the scale length as 24-1/16". Given the size and scale of the guitar, maybe it is expected it would excel in the lower tuning with heavier strings.
Charles E.
Nov-11-2008, 6:25pm
I am inclined to believe they designed ( and intonated the bridge ) for heavier strings and octave tuning. I do not believe it would work tuned CGDA, the A string would have to be very light and the added neck length would be a pain. I actually think it would work as a short scale plectrum in addition to octave tuning. It would be interesting to hear the design thoughts from the folks at Breedlove that went into producing this instrument.
Here are the specs for the Breedlove Tenors:
Solid Select Honduran Mahogany Back and Sides
Solid Sitka Spruce Top and Braces
Advanced and Scalloped “Pre-War” X-Bracing
Tortoise Shell Body Binding
Multi-ply bwb Rosette
Soundhole Truss Rod Access
Ebony Pinned “Belly” Bridge
1/8” Tusq Saddle
24-1/16” Scale Length
19 Fret Honduran Mahogany Neck (13 Frets to Body)
Ebony Fingerboard
Pearl Dot Position Markers
Tortoise Heel Cap
1-7/16” Tusq Nut
# Of Frets: 19
Slotted Headstock
Rosewood Headstock Overlay
Grover 18:1 Sta-Tite Vintage Chrome Tuners
Vintage Toner Stain
Hand Rubbed Semi-Gloss Finish
I can't say if the tuning is standard for Tenors, but these are tuned out of the shop GDAE.
Scott Rucker
Nov-14-2008, 4:10pm
Breedlove teamed up with Joe Craven to produce their tenor He wanted one tuned GDAE so that violin students could accompany one another on guitar in a familiar tuning.
Charles E.
Nov-14-2008, 10:24pm
Scott, that is nice to hear, very cool!
Will Morgan
Dec-10-2008, 2:38pm
Would that Nashville musician be Tim May? He sent me a sound clip of that guitar, and it does indeed sound great. It is voiced for GDAE, unlike almost any other "tenor" guitars - thus, it has way more balls than tenors voiced for CGDA, and restrung GDAE.
I wonder about the 24 1/16" scale length though. Do you all think that is too long to do much serious melody playing? Or is this guitar really more intended for chording and accompaniment? I like the fact that it is GDAE, but not so sure about the long scale length.
acousticphd
Dec-16-2008, 4:35pm
Would that Nashville musician be Tim May? He sent me a sound clip of that guitar, and it does indeed sound great. It is voiced for GDAE, unlike almost any other "tenor" guitars - thus, it has way more balls than tenors voiced for CGDA, and restrung GDAE.
It was Tim May's Breedlove that I heard; based on the above (and how good the guitar sounded) it makes sense that it was intended to be played in GDAE.