specifics about Breedlove Columbia (premier line)

[DerTiefster]

I acquired a Breedlove KO sunburst (like the Columbia now on Sylvan Music in Santa Cruz, CA) a couple of days ago. Breedlove's site gives '96 as the changeover to a 4-digit (now 5-digot) serial number system. This mando has three digits. 143. Breedlove gives specs for standard Quartz KO as with Saga tuners. Mine has 16:1 and look like Schallers (as sped'd for Columbia). No "Columbia" on label. In fact, nothing but Breedlove, S.Henderson and K. Breedlove typeset names and long-hand initials, longhand "143" serial no., and Tunalo address. Sylvan's Columbia is recent with 5-digit serial no., "Columbia" model called out, and Bend, Oregon address. Came with a great, form-fitting hardshell case. Sounds great. Non-fattening. Seller believes it is a Columbia. I'm checking. I'll probably be able to talk to Breedlove Monday, but i'm now looking for additional info.

As you might tell, I'm looking for yes/no on "is this a Columbia?" I'd like to get the newer tailpiece fitted in place of the stamped one (my expense, of course) if it is an early Columbia. I just want the details to fall into place. Thanks for any help anyone can offer.

[MikeEdgerton]

Just a correction, in case it wasn't a typo, Tumalo (with an M) is a town outside Bend.

[DerTiefster]

It was a typo. Tumalo. I'd misremembered which vendor had the clearly readable label, too. It was Acoustic Vibes (from whom I came agonizingly close to buying a Collings MT earlier in my search). Their Columbia label clearly lists "Bend, Oregon" as the principal Breedlove address, gives a 5-digit serial number reasonably following the serialization pattern shown on Breedlove's site, and identifies the mandolin as a "Columbia." My mandolin label just as clearly cites Tumalo (when I can type), gives a three-digit serial number not following Breedlove's site "dating guide," and doesn't mention Columbia. If the attached photo violates anyone's rights, please remove it, but I think Acoustic Vibes and Breedlove might both be happy to see it here.... Same for Sylvan's sunburst Columbia (like mine in appearance but theirs has the better tailpiece).

Mine is a really pretty-sounding mandolin, but my ears aren't attuned to the descriptions and definitions some others use (and sometimes about which they even seem to have a common understanding.) And I even added its label to the set...

[MandoSquirrel]

More info than you gave at the other site; reinforces my suspicions. I think this is a VERY early "KO" model, before they introduced the " Columbia" name. AS I understand it, this is not equivalent to the Quartz KO now made, but basically a near custom instrument, AT LEAST of Premier class quality/status, if not Master class. Of course, I could be wrong, Dod or others from Breedlove should be able to tell you as much as can be told.

[DerTiefster]

I just gathered these photos together this a.m. before church. I have come to hope that the mandolin I have is as you are speculating. It certainly has a fine sound to it. I thought that without a year marker on the label, it must be the 143rd or so mandolin the Breedlove Guitar company made. With Henderson and Breedlove's initials applied, I came to think (starting about Saturday a.m.) that this could a very nearly custom product from masters of the craft. I'm still amazed at how pristine the finish is. It must have been essentially untouched most of its life. I just snapped the photo of the #143 label this a.m. (7th of 7 tries, of course).

[MandoSquirrel]

...I thought that without a year marker on the label, it must be the 143rd or so mandolin the Breedlove Guitar company made. ...

Either that or the 143rd Instrument from the Breedlove Guitar company.

[DerTiefster]

Because I plan to keep it for (well, I was looking for my "last" mandolin, or possibly its backup) a while, I wanted to search out its story so I had one to tell to the (as yet nonexistent) grandkids. I'm looking for info. If I have stumbled into an early piece of Breedlove's corporate history, it makes for a really nice story. The seller to me had sketchy info about the owner previous to him, but it adds a bit of color to the tale -- an Italian connection to mesh with our family vehicles, Alfa Romeos.

I hope to get info from the start of the tale from Breedlove. I'll be sending out queries tonight/tomorrow. And Breedlove's site gives 1999 as the serialization change-over from yy-nnn to sequential numbering, not 1996. Brain fade strikes again.

[DerTiefster]

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