Along with its body shape, a guitar’s top is the defining element of its sound, driving, through its vibration, the key aspects of volume, tone, sustain and projection. Spruce will, due in part to its famous stiffness-to-weight ratio, ring loud and clear. A solid wood top translates those vibrations with more immediacy and purity of tone, and reacts more directly with the intent of a player. If you are at an intermediate level or above, you will appreciate the instantly recognizable benefits of a solid wood top.
With EcoTonewood, Breedlove makes laminate technology sustainable, introducing a resonant core tonewood layer of clear-cut free, individually harvested African mahogany in place of the typical tone-robbing softwoods used in standard acoustic guitar manufacture. Coupled with Breedlove’s deep research into revolutionary body shapes; building to target tonewood weight adds to the optimized, natural sound of each guitar in the ECO Collection. And, Breedlove creates these better sounding laminate guitars while being kind to the earth while maintaining an accessible, entry-level price-point.
Introducing the Breedlove Concerto, a new guitar shape created to elicit more volume than a classic dreadnought, and more lush, complex tonal resonance in a comfortable body shape that feels just right. Loud, textured, and supremely satisfying.
Starting in late June 2022, this model will transition at retail from Sitka spruce to European spruce as we continually work to update our guitars with the most sustainable sourcing available on the market. Rest assured any ECO Collection guitar uses only fully sustainable, clear-cut free tonewoods.
Long treasured by cabinetmakers and shipwrights for its simple, straight-grained beauty, strength and workability, mahogany—used in tops, backs, sides and necks—is also one of the true classic tonewoods, famous for its clear, strong fundamental; even string-to-string balance; and warm midrange emphasis. Mahogany pairs well with spruce tops as well as with itself in single species guitars—and both combinations define much of American roots music.
Breedlove guitars feature a slimmer neck profile, which enables comfortable play, even with smaller hands. The hand-rubbed, semi-gloss Breedlove neck finish also contributes to ideal playability. The labor-intensive finish process includes precise finish coat applications, fine sanding, and hand buffing and rubbing.
Breedlove’s pinless Delta bridge is a distinctive element, alright, with a sleek, modern contour that adds an extra bit of unexpected beauty to every instrument, from Discovery to Legacy. But it also adds welcome functionality while anchoring great sound. Beginners love the fact that string changes are much easier without having to wrestle a traditional pin bridge. Pros love it for the same reason! No more looking for lost pins during a fast backstage string swap. And its low profile makes for perfect right hand damping.