Breedlove Revival or Martin Reissue?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rocket Boy
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Rocket Boy

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I'm looking at getting either a Breedlove OMR Deluxe or the equivalent Martin is styled after. Just looking for if anyone has tried both and what you thought?
 
I've played both side by side and they were both excellent guitars. The Martin was a standard OM-28. Both instruments had impeccable workmanship. For tone I would give the nod to the Martin in my test but I have little doubt that the Breedlove would win half the time if I had several of them to play. Some of my playing is very agressive and the Martin handled that better. The two were similar in tone, and both were outstanding on the softer stuff.

There are quite a few builders making great traditional OM style guitars. I would call your attention to Huss & Dalton especially. They're doing great things in Staunton VA.

Hope this helps and good luck
There are worse things in like than test driving great guitars. Have fun!!
 
There are lots of early 70's Martins out there with wonderful pre-fire aged woods that have more full spectrum tone than any other guitars will be able to attain in their lifetime (save some of the older Gibsons). If you get to Milwaukee , there's a Gretsch dealer that specializes in vintage axes as well as Gretsch and some kid crap. Warpdrive.com
 
I own the Martin OM-28V. The sound it produces is just awesome. also a very versitile guitar - probably martins most versitile.

Go w/ the martin - you wont be sorry.
 
I have not played those two guitars but when comparing Breedlove and Martin at similar price points I usually like the Breedlove. Got one.
 
Martin in a pretty known quantity-there is some variance, but if you can't play before you buy....



Pre-fire? What fire?
 
breedlove, santa cruz.martin,gibson, collins, you can't go wrong!!!!!!!
 
I own a concert body breedlove. Its about 15 or so years old, spruce top, myrtle-wood back and sides. I'm not familiar with the current line-up of breedloves, but I do know that they now make a cheap version, haven't played them but am skeptical.

The one I own is amazing. The strings are spaced a little further apart for finger picking. Mine takes aggressive playing just as well as soft fingerstyle playing BUT, you'll want to choose your mics accordingly. The thing sounds amazing with one mic for quiet stuff, but the sound really changes when you hit it harder. They're very expressive. I like Martins, but to me theres no comparison (at least in the higher end breedloves).
 
rory said:
I own a concert body breedlove. Its about 15 or so years old, spruce top, myrtle-wood back and sides. I'm not familiar with the current line-up of breedloves, but I do know that they now make a cheap version, haven't played them but am skeptical.

The one I own is amazing. The strings are spaced a little further apart for finger picking. Mine takes aggressive playing just as well as soft fingerstyle playing BUT, you'll want to choose your mics accordingly. The thing sounds amazing with one mic for quiet stuff, but the sound really changes when you hit it harder. They're very expressive. I like Martins, but to me theres no comparison (at least in the higher end breedloves).
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I have a Breedlove Focus. Mine has a red Cedar top, mahogany back and sides (they also make them with sitka spruce top and rosewood back and sides; the cedar top guitars are slightly warmer and the spruce slightly brighter), ebony fingerboard, Fishman blender system. They list for about $3k but one can be found new for about $2200-2500. I had tried one at a Sam Ash and a couple days later saw a barely used one at elderly.com for $1600; elderly has a full return policy so i pounced on it and it was indistinguishable from new.

The big Martins in that range still have that classic Martin sound. If you want to sound like Doc Watson with the huge bottom and slightly dull high end then get a Martin. If you want to play fingerstyle or have a versatile style the Breedloves rule.
 
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