NGD - BreedLove AD25/SR PLUS

[mmcquain]

Some of you may know that I was recently forced to sell part of my guitar collection to pay some bills after being laid off. One of the guitars I sold was a Taylor T5, which had been my only "acoustic" guitar for several years. I still need an acoustic from time to time and so I've been looking around for something that wasn't as expensive as the T5, but kept some of the features I liked about it - low action (I mainly play electric and am spoiled I guess) with a nice neck.

Well, I spent most of today playing guitars and price shopping (after doing a lot of research last night on the Internet). I almost got a Larrivee LV-03E (really liked the action, tone, etc.) but ended up find a great deal on a Breedlove AD25/SR PLUS that I really liked. It has the Fishman Classic 4T pickup system with onboard tuner. I also like the solid neck and the neck profile better than the Taylor I played on (I was thinking of another Taylor since I had a T5 before). The Taylors tend to have more of a V-shaped neck and this neck is closer to a C or D shape (which feels better to me since I mainly play Les Pauls). I have also never been crazy about the idea of a separate headstock like the Taylors (although I've never actually heard of any problems with the Taylor design).

The action is as low as the Larrivee and I ended up saving a few hundred bucks compared to the best price I'd found the LV (very nice since being laid off). Unplugged the guitar has a nice warm tone that isn't too bright and yet not too bassy. I'll be playing it twice per month with a church group at a local nursing home and it should project much better than my Taylor T5 ever did (thanks to the full body). The rest of the time I'll use it going direct to the FOH mixer at church. I tested it through a Crate acoustic amp with the amp's EQ set flat. Using only the 3-band EQ and Brilliance controls on the guitar, I was able to get some very nice sounds out of it. I still have to see how it sounds in the 800 seat room at church but I feel sure it will meet my needs just fine.

So that's my Day 1 report on the new acoustic/electric. Sure I tried a few nicer guitars, but for no more than I play acoustic, I can't see spending over $2000 vs. well under $1000 for a very nice guitar that will be just fine for all of my needs. If you're in the market for a good acoustic/electric then I highly recommend you check out both the Larrivee and Breedlove lines... both are great guitars!

Here's a few pics...

http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove1.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove2.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_Back.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_Binding.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_Action.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_Head.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_SerialNumber.jpg
http://www.mcquain.com/lespaul/BreedLove_Barb/BreedLove_Fishman.jpg

[testing1two]

+1. I have the grand concert version of this guitar (AC25 SR+) and it has been a wonderful instrument. After doing the casino circuit awhile, I decided the Fishman system wasn't for me so I retrofitted an LR Baggs M1/iBeam dual source system. All in all, this is a fantastic instrument live and in the studio. Yes, I still lust after high end acoustics, but I am glad that this one comes out to the gig with me every time I play it.

[Lawn Jockey]

Congrats on a beauty!!!


Breedloves are great guitars...and mandolins.

[Jimmydeez]

Nice guitar. I had a AC25 Plus for awhile. I upgraded to a Martin OMC Aura but I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another Breedlove.

[olin]

Congrats! I've been searching for a quality "budget" acoustic for quite awhile and played the AC25 Plus yesterday. I was very impressed. It may be hard to beat at this price. I'm going back today to see if my second impression is as good as my first was.

[powermatt99]

Congrats. I just picked up the Jumbo version. Best guitar in the sub $1,000 price point.

[RustyAxe]

I'm a Breedlover, too. I have the AD20/SR Plus, the non-cutaway, non-electric version, with which I use a Baggs M1A and Baggs ParaDI. It gets at least as much play as my Martin D-35, and is my main giggin' axe. I got mine minty used, for less than half of what the big box stores want, so the bargain makes it sound even sweeter (?).

[Scott Peterson]

That is exactly my guitar for the past year - I've gigged it plenty and it's been a fine instrument. For the money? Silly good value, no brainer. Can you do better? Sure... but you gotta drop a lot of extra cash to get there. For all the different factors involved, I've not had any second thoughts whatsoever.

I will say I had the nut replaced, the frets leveled and crowned, and had a full blown setup right off the bat once I got it. There was a lot of 'black oil' on my fingers after playing, my luthier said that they most likely used dirty rags when they polished the frets at the factory and it seeped into the fretboard. Once that worked itself out, it's been perfect since then.

[Mark Ray]

I just played some Breedloves at GC this morning. I'm wanting a "normal" acoustic for gigging (I've only had Ovations my entire playing life). I really liked how these felt, sounded, and played. How do they do plugged straight into a big PA? I have always just run my Adamas and Ovation through a hi-to-lo converter into the sound system with good results. Can I expect the same with this guitar?

Mark

[dave s]

Congrats on the new guitar! I've got the same model (sans tuner!) and have been playing it during gigs for about a year.

Since this was my first A/E, the Fishman on the guitar is set to the 'flat' detents allowing the sound guys to 'season to taste.' Most have said they added a bit of high-end on the board to get that 'shimmer' tone that you hear on records.

I've heard it on several live tapes and the AD25 sounds GREAT!!! Very 'realistic' sounding acoustic on the live stuff. Honestly, I'm VERY impressed with the guitar given its price point.

Enjoy!

dave

[mmcquain]

MarkRay - as some of the others have said, this guitar sounds great plugged straight into the PA (thru an impedence transformer). Dave (post under your's) says he goes straight and doesn't even adjust the controls on the guitar (lets the sound guy do it). I personal have found I like to push up the 3-band EQ controls just a hair (exactly how will depend on the room). The Brilliance control is for giving the "high end sparkle" that Dave mentions. But I've found that can add a little too much high end hiss if you go too far. So I usually leave it in the middle (notch) point and let the sound guys tweak it on the mixer if they need to.

Dave - Thanks! And enjoy your guitar.

[Mark Ray]

Thanks for the info guys. For the first time in a LONG time, I have acoustic gas. (Of course my gas is usually acoustic, as in very loud-HA!).

Mark

[Funky Chicken]

GASsing for the 12-string version big time. Amazing value.