Breedlove Guitars
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Company type | Privately held company |
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Industry | Musical instrument |
Founded | 1990 |
Founder | Larry Breedlove and Steve Henderson |
Headquarters | , |
Key people |
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Products |
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Parent | Two Old Hippies LLC |
Website | breedlovemusic.com |
Breedlove Guitars is an American acoustic instrument company based in Bend, Oregon. Breedlove produces acoustic guitars, acoustic bass guitars, and ukuleles.
History and background
[edit]Breedlove Guitars was established In 1990 by California luthiers Larry Breedlove and Steve Henderson, who left their jobs at Taylor Guitars to create what would become Breedlove Guitars.[1] Their intention was to produce guitars that merged traditional guitar making skills with modern technology.[1] After moving to Tumalo, Oregon, Breedlove and Henderson began specializing in custom, fingerstyle six and twelve string guitars.[1]
In 1991 the first Breedlove guitar model appeared, the shallow body C-10. At the 1992 NAMM Show, Breedlove and Henderson unveiled five models and three body types.[2] Around 1994, Larry's older brother, Kim Breedlove, joined Larry and Steve as a master craftsman and Larry returned to work at Taylor Guitars.[3] Other master luthiers at Breedlove included Terry Myers, who also left Taylor Guitars in the early 1990s then returned,[4] as well as later luthiers Jayson Bowerman, Aaron Adams, and Chris Lindquist.[5]
In 1999, Breedlove suffered a financial setback and hired a new president, Peter Newport, who invested in the company and expanded the company's model lines.[5] In 2001, founder Steve Henderson quit the company due to disagreements with Newport.[5] In 2003, under Newport's direction, Breedlove launched its first series of Imported guitars, the Atlas line which was manufactured in Korea.[5] In 2004 the company launched its first traditional designs not focused on fingerstyle playing, the Revival line which included dreadnoughts and orchestra models, which departed from Breedlove's history of original designs.[5]
In 2008, Breedlove relocated from Tumalo, Oregon to Bend, Oregon.[5] In 2010, Breedlove experienced its second financial setback when president and investor Peter Newport was unable to raise additional capital in the wake of the Financial Crisis of 2007-2008, and ultimately sold Breedlove to Tom and Molly Bedell's Two Old Hippies LLC of Bend, OR, which owned Tom Bedell Guitars and Great Divide Guitars, as well as retail stores.[6][7] In 2012, the combined company moved to a larger facility in Bend, which produces about 2,000 guitars a year as of 2020.[1]
In 2013, Breedlove completed the purchase of the world's largest collection of legal, CITES-compliant Brazilian Rosewood for use on the company's highest-quality instruments.[8] Beginning with 2014 models, Breedlove changed its headstock logo from a stylized "B" to fully spelling out "Breedlove" in a script logo[6] and made numerous changes to the model lineup, including launching several new series of instruments and discontinuing the Revival series of traditional body shapes.[9] In 2015, Breedlove produced a limited run of 25th Anniversary guitars, including a Kim Breedlove Signature, a Brazilian Concert, an Oregon Concert, and a Pursuit Koa.[10]
In 2017, Breedlove made significant strategic changes, including the announcement of the new Concerto and Concertina body shapes, the simplification of the company's model lines and body shapes, the introduction of a Sound Optimization process (replacing the long-standing bridge truss and graduated top design used on its premium models), and the introduction of the Tonewood Certification Program for sustainable forest practices.[11][12]
In 2020, Breedlove announced a partnership with actor Jeff Bridges to produce a signature model guitar that was sustainably sourced.[13] Later that year, two additional Jeff Bridges models were announced.[14] In 2021, Breedlove announced a limited run of four 30th Anniversary guitars, including a Northwest Classic, King Koa, Focus, and Phoenix, each based on a different model from Breedlove's past.[15]
Current guitar models
[edit]Guitar body shapes
[edit]As of 2021, Breedlove offers four guitar body shapes in ascending order of size:[16]
- Companion: A travel/parlor guitar with a 13.5 inch lower bout, 14 frets to the body, a 23.5 inch scale length, and a body depth of 3.25–4.00 inches. Introduced in 2020.[17]
- Concertina: A small-bodied guitar with a 14.75 inch lower bout, 12 frets to the body, a 25-inch scale length, and a body depth of 3.25–4.00 inches. Introduced in 2018, replacing Parlor shape.[12]
- Concert: A medium-bodied guitar with a 15-inch lower bout, 14 frets to the body, a 25.5 inch scale length, and a body depth of 3.75–4.50 inches. The Concert is Breedlove's most popular body shape,[18] dating back to 1991.[2]
- Concerto: A large-bodied guitar with a 16-inch lower bout, 14 frets to the body, and a 25.5 inch scale length, and a body depth of 4.00–5.00 inches. Introduced in 2017, replacing Dreadnought, Jumbo, and Auditorium shapes.[11] A Concerto cutaway model was introduced in 2018.[12]
Oregon-built guitar series
[edit]Breedlove's Masterclass, Legacy, Premier, and Oregon models, as well as some premium Signature models, are made in Bend, Oregon and are hand-voiced using the Sound Optimization System.[16]
- Masterclass: Formerly a high-end production line dating back to the founding of the company, now a reserved name for Breedlove Custom Shop models and limited editions.[19]
- Signature: Launched 2020 as a partnership with actor Jeff Bridges to produce a signature model guitar that was sustainably sourced.[13] Past Signature Series artists include Ed Gerhard,[20] Richard Gilewitz,[21] Chris Hillman,[22] and for the 25th anniversary edition, Kim Breedlove.[10]
- Legacy: Launched in 2014,[9] highest-quality production models, typically using exotic tonewoods such as Adirondack Spruce, Cocobolo, Sinker Redwood, and Koa.[23]
- Premier: Launched in 2014,[9] professional-grade models, typically using traditional tonewoods such as Sitka Spruce and East Indian Rosewood.[24]
- Oregon: Launched in 2012,[25] professional-grade models that use Myrtlewood either for both the top and the back/sides, or just the back/sides.[26]
Imported guitar series
[edit]Breedlove's Organic, Solo, Pursuit, and Discovery series are made in Asia, typically in South Korea or China depending on the model and year. They do not have hand-voicing using the Sound Optimization System[16] but have designs based on Breedlove's research on this system.[27]
- Organic: Launched in early 2020, this series of sustainably-sourced, all-solid-wood guitars features FSC-certified exotic tonewoods and Oregon Myrtlewood.[27] This collection also includes Jeff Bridges "Organic Signature" models.[14]
- Solo: Re-launched in 2014 to add a sound hole in the top side that enables the player to listen directly to the instrument,[9][28] using solid wood tops with laminate backs and sides.[29]
- Pursuit: Launched in 2014 with solid wood tops with laminate backs and sides.[9][29]
- Discovery: Launched in 2014 with solid wood tops with laminate backs and sides.[9][29]
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ a b c d "The History of Breedlove Acoustic Instruments". Breedlove Guitar Company. 2010-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ a b "Breedlove at AMS". American Musical Supply. Retrieved 2017-05-17.
- ^ Acoustic Guitars: The Illustrated Encyclopedia. New York: Chartwell Books. 2011. pp. 26–27. ISBN 978-0-7858-3571-4.
- ^ "1992 Breedlove CM Masterclass Acoustic Guitar with Case | Mojo Music Vintage | Reverb". reverb.com. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ a b c d e f "Made in Oregon: The First Twenty Years at Breedlove Guitars | Acoustic Guitar". Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ a b Bulletin, Brian McElhiney The. "Breedlove continues to grow in Bend". The Bulletin. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ "Two Old Hippies and Breedlove Announce Merger". premierguitar.com. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ "BREEDLOVE ACQUIRES THE WORLD'S LARGEST COLLECTION OF LEGAL BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD". Breedlove Guitar Company. 2013-11-26. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ a b c d e f "2014 Breedlove Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-18. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ a b "2015 Breedlove Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-19. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ a b "Breedlove 2017 Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ a b c "Breedlove 2018 Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ a b "Jeff Bridges and Breedlove unveil new signature model acoustic guitars". Consequence of Sound. 2020-07-21. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ a b "Breedlove and Jeff Bridges announce two new sustainably sourced signature model guitars". Breedlove Guitar Company. 2020-10-05. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ "30th Anniversary LTDs". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ a b c "Custom Acoustic Guitars". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
- ^ "Breedlove 2020 Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ "Acoustic Guitar - Acoustic Guitars - Custom Made Acoustic Guitars". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
- ^ "Build Your Own Guitar: Acoustic Body Styles & Tonewoods | Breedlove". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-18.
- ^ "Breedlove Master Class Ed Gerhard Signature Natural | Reverb". reverb.com. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Breedlove Calendar Series C25 Richard Gilewitz Signature Natural". Chicago Music Exchange. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Breedlove Revival Series Chris Hillman Calendar DK Ltd. Ed. 2005 Natural | Golden Age Fretted Instruments | Reverb". reverb.com. Retrieved 2021-04-20.
- ^ "Handmade Acoustic Guitars & Custom Made Guitars | Breedlove". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Flattop Acoustic Guitar & Custom Built Guitar: Premier | Breedlove". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Breedlove Announces the Oregon Series Acoustic Guitars". Premier Guitar | The best guitar and bass reviews, videos, and interviews on the web. 2012-12-06. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Guitar Tonewoods - Small Body Acoustic Guitar - Acoustic Guitars". Breedlove Guitar Company. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ a b "Breedlove Launches The Organic Collection of Sustainable, All-Solid Wood Guitars". Breedlove Guitar Company. 2020-01-01. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ "Breedlove Introduces the Solo Series". Premier Guitar | The best guitar and bass reviews, videos, and interviews on the web. 2014-05-14. Retrieved 2021-04-19.
- ^ a b c "Breedlove 2020 Catalog" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2021-04-17. Retrieved 2021-04-17.
References
[edit]- Gerken, Teja. "Breedlove Guitars Profile". Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Archived from the original on 2011-09-08. Retrieved 2011-08-12.
- Paul, Gayla Drake. "Breedlove American Series C20 Acoustic Guitar Review". Premier Guitar.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Larry Breedlove Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2012)
- Kim Breedlove Interview at NAMM Oral History Collection (2012)