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 ARCHIVED TOPIC: Opinions on Breedlove


Please note this is an archived topic, so it is locked and unable to be replied to. You may, however, start a new topic and refer to this topic with a link: http://www.mandohangout.com/archive/20070

jazzrambler - Posted - 02/26/2011:  05:19:26


Anyone out there with an opinion on Breedlove mandolins? I have a chance to trade for a Quartz OF. A style w/ f-holes. It plays nicely, I'd rather have the OO but can't be too picky.

MandoSquirrel - Posted - 02/26/2011:  09:26:18


I used to have a Quartz KO, & loved it. I sold it to get a Breedlove Premier series Cascade, which is a great F hole hole mandolin .
I have tried at least one OF in Guitar Center, & they're fine mandolins, as well.
I heard someone on stage play an "A" looking f holer once & asked afterward what it was(he had a tuner obscuring the headstock), & it was an Oregon, the Premier version of the OF; it sounded big, balanced & wonderful on stage.
Breed necks are easy playing; a little wider than some & radiused.

Weber F - Posted - 02/26/2011:  13:18:18


I once owned a Rogue, it was a beautiful instrument. Workmanship second to none. I tried different strings but still couldn't get the "woof" that I wanted to hear. Not a bad instrument but everyone has this certain sound in their head that they want to hear and I just couldn't get it from this instrument. BTW I also know a guy that has an old Sigma Martin that sounds way cool so until you hear the Breedlove, it's hard to tell.

TI_USER - Posted - 02/26/2011:  18:29:33


I have a Breedlove Quartz OF from 2007. Bought it new and it is a wonderful instrument. Workmanship is the best there is. The tone with standard bronze strings is very bright but I use Thomastik flatwound strings and the sound is everything I have looked for. Warm, dry and loud. Evenly balanced. Plus, I have always loved the Breedlove styling, especially the headstock. I always get good comments about it when I play on stage. It is the easiest mandolin I have ever played. I have never changed one thing about the set-up since I got it and it plays so smooth.

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/27/2011:  09:24:03


My son owns a Breedlove and loves it. He has played a 1970s Ibanez, a pre-war Gibson A and an Eastman 605 and the Breedlove is his favourite. I'm not sure what model his is, but here's a photo. I'm not crazy about the appearance of the Breedlove, but it sounds and plays great.


MandoSquirrel - Posted - 02/27/2011:  10:13:33


Looks like a Quartz OF to me, with the bridge changed to one with a piezo pickup?


Edited by - MandoSquirrel on 02/27/2011 18:11:55

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/27/2011:  14:19:51


I think it's an OF.

Right about the bridge. The saddle was changed by Willie P. Bennett when he owned it. He kept the base of the bridge, since it was already fitted to the top.


Edited by - Jim Yates on 02/27/2011 14:26:48

MandoSquirrel - Posted - 02/27/2011:  18:12:07


Yes, I meant OF, I guess my finger slipped!

Jim Yates - Posted - 02/28/2011:  07:04:58


MandoSquirrel, How did you edit that 2/27/2011 1:13:33 PM post? Hadn't your 15 minutes run out?

My goodness. Mine is still there too. Maybe it's just the Banjo Hangout that only gets 15 minutes.


Edited by - Jim Yates on 02/28/2011 16:48:48

MandoSquirrel - Posted - 02/28/2011:  16:16:18


[quote]Originally posted by Jim Yates

MandoSquirrel, How did you edit that 2/27/2011 1:13:33 PM post? Hadn't your 15 minutes run out?
[/quote
The icon is still there at the top of the post; I just clicked & edited. Guess I'm just editorially blessed!

jazzrambler - Posted - 03/01/2011:  20:06:42


Well, I got it today and went to a jam tonight. It's a better mandolin than I am a player. I'll really be breaking it in this weekend in Cedar Key. The action is great and it is very well balanced tone-wise. You can play in all positions with a good volume and tone, something my last mando was a little inconsistent on. I also like the string tension and added distance between the strings and the top.

MandoSquirrel - Posted - 03/02/2011:  13:18:31


Congratulations. They really are low priced relative to their quality.

jazzrambler - Posted - 03/02/2011:  14:04:40


Well, the price was right. I traded a '97 American Standard Strat that I haven't played in at least 3 years. I'm very happy with it. I thought I might just resell it and keep looking for an affordable Gibson A-2, but for now I'm really enjoying this axe. I'm a long-standing vintage instrument snob, but I'm slowly embracing newer makes. My main guitar is now a Larrivee, replacing a '55 Gibson C & W. Now I'm picking a Breedlove mando, who knows, maybe I'll ditch my 335 and Blackface Princeton for a Parker Fly and a Line 6...

MandoSquirrel - Posted - 03/03/2011:  17:04:32


jazzrambler - Posted - 03/08/2011:  17:04:25


Yeah, I like it a lot....playing more and better!

mandoman - Posted - 04/03/2011:  15:24:14


I have always thought they looked nice, but never had tried one until the other day when I was at Elderly. The F-style I played was amazing!

barryo - Posted - 12/30/2015:  05:20:27


quote:


Originally posted by Jim Yates



My son owns a Breedlove and loves it. He has played a 1970s Ibanez, a pre-war Gibson A and an Eastman 605 and the Breedlove is his favourite. I'm not sure what model his is, but here's a photo. I'm not crazy about the appearance of the Breedlove, but it sounds and plays great.





Jim,



I have a 2007 Breedlove Quartz OF # 9645 A Style, which I really love, but I am selling. It looks very similar. I believe mine might be older, with the original tailpiece. Sadly, I am selling mine, but that's another story.



I agree with the rest of the Breedlove players here that both the sound and the craftsmanship of there early Breedlove Mandolins was remarkable. As for their looks, I guess that you either like it, or you don't. I would guess Kim Breelove designed this mandolin with a focus on the sound it would produce, which is bright, rich, crisp and clean. I hear that Breedlove will stop making mandolins this year all together, which is going to make these early Breedloves even more unique.  I have a lot of detailed pictures in the listing, which you can find at:



mandohangout.com/classified/8293

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