Pete Burak
From: Portland, OR USA
|
Posted 3 Oct 2004 10:32 am
|
|
Hey Gang,
I know there has been some recent discussion of acoustic guitars, so I thought I would share my recent purchase.
I was wanting to get an acoustic guitar that I could leave set up in my living room, that I could play for my 18 month old daughter, and not worry if she got hold of it.
Well, I couldn't get past the bad tone of most all the sub $200 guitars.
I thought I was going to purchase a Big Baby Taylor ($350 w/gigbag), since I was kind of looking for a small guitar (and already own a nice Taylor).
Then, I get this "customer appreciation sale" letter from Portland Music, who has 4 stores in our area, including an Acoustic only store.
So I head down to the Acoustic store and started playing the Art & Lutherie, Ibanez, Fender, and a few other lower price point brands.
Then I notice about 15 Breedlove acoustics set up in the corner.
I had never seen this brand in person, but come to find they are based in Bend, Oregon.
Cool!
I am basically a one strum guitar tester.
If the 6th string of an open G chord doesn't sound good on the first wack, I'm on to the next guitar.
Anyway... this one guitar, a Breedlove AD200/SM, sounds killer.
It has the brightness of my Taylor, but also has that throaty thing that the Martin's have, but not as dark (muddy to my ear) in the low end.
I like the neck too. I also really like the headstock, the black binding around the body, and overall appearance of the guitar in general.
This is Breedlove's "Atlas" series, which is designed in Oregon, but manufactured in Korea.
It's priced at $359 w/o case.
It's a dread style axe. I try another Breedlove, same price, different shape (the 'Concert" series), and it doesn't have the tone.
So I hand the guy my preferred customer sale "ID" card (oh brother), and he goes to the manager to get the sale price (it's a 'one item only' sale).
$258.75! Cool!
They got me for $79 for the Breedlove semi soft gig bag, but it was worth it cuz it's got a cool Breedlove logo on it, and you can wear it like a backpack, too!
So I'm out the door with a nice axe, a matching case, and a set of Elixers, for $347.50.
Cool!
Here is a link to the Breedlove "Atlas Series" site: http://www.breedloveguitars.com/index/index6b.html
I got a really good deal because of this sale, but even at $359, I concider this a good buy, and reccomend it to others looking at guitars in this price point.
My only problem now is... I hope our babe doesn't trash this cool axe!
I kinda lost site of what the purpose of this guitar was supposed to be (to be able to take a beating from the baby)!
I'm playing Rubber Ducky on it and a bunch of other kids songs.
Currently, Her favorite artist is Elmo!
AD200/SM Description:
The AD200/SM is a solid sitka spruce top, laminated Mahogany back dreadnought. This guitar model combines Breedlove design elements and balanced tonal signature with the highest quality manufacturing practices in the world to bring you a highly affordable acoustic masterpiece.
[This message was edited by Pete Burak on 03 October 2004 at 11:36 AM.] |
|