What do you hear? Stuff I think about.....

[davismanLV]

Everyone's taste and hearing is different. We know this. What some hear is different than what another will hear. Or is it that the hearing is the same and the preference for a certain sound is paramount. Or, the most complicated scenario, is it both things? I think it's probably the latter, but it fascinates me how people differ on sound. So I just wanted to post this comparison I found. I think it's pretty fair and equitable.

No guitar company bashing please. You can prefer one and dislike another and that's fine. So what do you hear when you listen to this comparison. What do you like, and why? Humor me, okay? There's no right or wrong, there's just your preference.....

 

[GGJaguar]

I favor 12-fret dreads and they tend to be loud with a strong bass response. Accordingly, the Breedlove pushes those buttons for me. The two 14-fret dreads sound tight in comparison, like they need to break in. The slope dread would be my second choice although they don't always have the sustain that I'm used to.

 

[Cougar]

Well, that was interesting. The Breedlove sounded good. I'd say the best, actually. It was kind of a trick to bring in what I considered the worst sounding one (#1) right after the Breedlove, then #2, which I guess was a Gibson... I don't know what #1 or #3 was, and of course I'm not even sure about #2. The Breedlove sounded pretty darn good though.

 

[davismanLV]

That's how it was for me too. The Breedlove sounds so full and rich and resonant. The Martin right after it sounded tight and restricted, but still good. The Gibson #3, was lovely and very woody sounding to me. The Taylor in #4 spot was well balanced and sounded nice, probably in third place with me. I put them Breedlove, Gibson, Taylor, and Martin. Of course, I've heard Martins that sound way better than that one they had, so..... this is just one test. Random......

 

[Stuball48]

Which dealer produced the video--Breedlove? If I am promoting my company, my products (if I did my research correctly) are going to appeal to the larger audience.

 

[davismanLV]

Well, it was a Breedlove video. So you suspect foul play or tampering or just selective sampling or something?

 

[Stuball48]

Well, it was a Breedlove video. So you suspect foul play or tampering or just selective sampling or something?

Not foul play but I will say several Breedloves were played in front of a "panel" of listeners and a winner was chosen to compete against the other brands (not so vigorously tested). I think the folks at Breedlove believe they have the best (I hope they do). Pretty poor horse that will not brag on his own stable. Marketing is a big big deal!

 

[dreadnut]

That's why I love going to Elderly Instruments - you can go in the acoustic guitar room and choose from 200 guitars from all different manufacturers and try them out. Different visit, different favorite.

Some of the standouts:

- A '96 Martin D-45 on consignment, I should have sold my car and hitchhiked home from Lansing with this one. $2,500 asking price.

- A new Tacoma Guild D-50 Bluegrass Special. It fairly lit up the room. $1,500 Sounded just like my DV52 so I passed on it.

- Several different Collings over the years. Their dreads are absolutely stellar, but they don't come cheap.

 

[fronobulax]

Comparing the Breedlove to #1, I found the Breedlove was too bright. Even though there was a clarity that #1 did not have, I'd still go with #1. I had that comparison stuck in my head and #2 and #3 were different but not better. I suspect if the Breedlove had deader strings it might have won but if all I can do is listen I'm probably not going for the Breedlove.

 

[davismanLV]

Comparing the Breedlove to #1, I found the Breedlove was too bright. Even though there was a clarity that #1 did not have, I'd still go with #1. I had that comparison stuck in my head and #2 and #3 were different but not better. I suspect if the Breedlove had deader strings it might have won but if all I can do is listen I'm probably not going for the Breedlove.

Saying "not the Breedlove" isn't a choice, it's a non-choice. Which brand did you like the best?

 

[Zelja]

Breedlove & Dread#2 sounded best to me for different reasons. The Breedlove was more forward & had a nice top end & clarity - sweet sounding. Dread#2 was fuller in the low end & rich. Dread#4 was a bit bland sounding & Dread#1 was the one I liked the least - very flat, cardboardy sounding.

As Stuball said, I would expect a Breedlove video to have the Bredlove sounding the best.

 

[fronobulax]

Saying "not the Breedlove" isn't a choice, it's a non-choice. Which brand did you like the best?

If I had to buy now, without listening again, I'd go for #1. There was a mellowness that appealed to me yesterday when I listened. Today, who knows?

I'd still go with #1.

 

[Rayk]

I'm gunna say they all sound good in there own ways and each has a tonal focus .

If I had to pick I'd go with the breedlove but I've had always bent an ear their way from a long ago comparison of my own at GC .

The other reason I'd pick is as you know I prefer orchestra type models . Are we sure the breedlove isn't being favored ? Though the mic setup is the same not so on the seating and there's no info on Eq'n either . Every guitar has a sweet spot so mics move around . Maybe that's what their doing here with a fixed setup IDK .

 

[Westerly Wood]

dread #2 sounds muffled in comparison. the Breedlove concerto had better tone overall IMHO. the dread #2 (spruce/hog) did give it a run for its money, but I could actually hear the tones of the Concerto best of all 3. and that is just strumming. if the above then is true to my ears, then fingerpicking, the Concerto should be also best. maybe i need to rethink what i really need guitar wise right now, as my goal is to hear what i am playing vs say just another Guild westerly dread. not that there is anything wrong with that per say. but this post has been helpful. thanks for posting.

 

[richardp69]

That's why I love going to Elderly Instruments - you can go in the acoustic guitar room and choose from 200 guitars from all different manufacturers and try them out. Different visit, different favorite.

Some of the standouts:

- A '96 Martin D-45 on consignment, I should have sold my car and hitchhiked home from Lansing with this one. $2,500 asking price.

- A new Tacoma Guild D-50 Bluegrass Special. It fairly lit up the room. $1,500 Sounded just like my DV52 so I passed on it.

- Several different Collings over the years. Their dreads are absolutely stellar, but they don't come cheap.

$2,500 for a D 45???? That's pretty unheard of. I'd have gone into debt immediately for that one. I had one at one time. It was really good. I had a D 42 and a D 41 at the same time as well. The D 45 was gorgeous but I actually preferred the D 41 soundwise,

 

[dreadnut]

Well Richard you gotta understand this was in the early 2000's so probably 18 years ago. Yeah it was on consignment and once I picked it up I couldn't put it down. It was screaming "TAKE ME HOME!" but at that point in my life we still had five kids at home, so the cost was undoable for me.

 

[Rayk]

dread #2 sounds muffled in comparison. the Breedlove concerto had better tone overall IMHO. the dread #2 (spruce/hog) did give it a run for its money, but I could actually hear the tones of the Concerto best of all 3. and that is just strumming. if the above then is true to my ears, then fingerpicking, the Concerto should be also best. maybe i need to rethink what i really need guitar wise right now, as my goal is to hear what i am playing vs say just another Guild westerly dread. not that there is anything wrong with that per say. but this post has been helpful. thanks for posting.

Ahhh the search for tone and the intricacies of frequencies begins .

 

[Rayk]

I picked my Model out .
What !? It's cheaper then 10,000 bucks . Lmao

Premier Concerto CE Adirondack Spruce - East Indian Rosewood

Premier Concerto CE Adirondack Spruce - East Indian Rosewood

breedlovemusic.com

 

[Br1ck]

I would say Breedlove did everything in their power to present what they wanted to present. To think fair mindedness had anything to do with this is just being naive. They build a big lush resonant guitar. Is it what you want in a bluegrass band? Is that guitar what you'd find hanging on a Guitar Center wall? Breedloves are a pretty sounding guitar, good for some things, not for others. A friend has one I always enjoy playing, but I'd never buy one because it is not what I want in a guitar. They do slack key fingerstyle really well, country blues not so well. But really, anyone trying to sell you something is suspect, be it a company or a dealer.

 

[davismanLV]

I picked my Model out .
What !? It's cheaper then 10,000 bucks . Lmao

Premier Concerto CE Adirondack Spruce - East Indian Rosewood

Premier Concerto CE Adirondack Spruce - East Indian Rosewood

breedlovemusic.com

Ray, the Breedlove Concerto series is amazing. That's the one I just sold, but the myrtlewood version. And not a cutaway. That Adirondak over rosewood with the cutaway is probably gonna be one of the nicest sounding guitars you'll ever play. That's what was in the video except without the cutaway, which I really like. Let me know how much you love it after you buy.......