BreedLove AD25/SM

Price Paid: US $750

Features: 10
First, I must say this guitar is absolutely beautiful. The Tortoise shell binding, gold hardware, Fishman Classic-4, and string-through saddle make this guitar more than worth while. The spruce top and mahogany back are wonderful too.

Sound: 10
The sound of this guitar is much like a Taylor, big and robust. I would probably choose this guitar over a Taylor any day. You can play tons of styles, and still get a pretty sound. It stays well in tune too. I LOVE the sound this guitar makes. (it's sort of like a fresh Larivee sound too)

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
I think the action on this guitar is perfect. I can do Bar chords better on it than my les paul! The top on mine was perfectly bookmatced and the bridge was set perfect. Everything on it was aligned perfectly and i could find no flaws whatsoever.

Reliability/Durability: 10
This guitar will definitely last for a longggg time. The hardware is high quality as well as the other parts too. Everything is solid on it.

Customer Support: N/A
Haven't had to deal with the company at all yet!

Overall Rating: 10
I've been playing for a while now, and have owned and still own plenty of high end (and low end) guitars. This is the best sounding acoustic and the most solid acoustic I've played in a long time. If it were stolen, I'd hunt the burglar down and beat him with a stick. (haha!)

Submitted by T.R. at 12/17/2005 11:23

Price Paid: US $499.00 used

Features: 10
No need to repeat on what's been written previously below, but for more info regarding the AD25/SM check out breedlove's website for info regarding materials used for this guitar.

What caught my attention personally were the gold grover tuners, the extra pin strap so that I could use a full on strap (since several reviewers didn't have one), and the excellent work they did with the tortoise binding.

Sound: 10
It's not a Martin, much closer to a Taylor. Sounds crisp, full, and well defined in the higher registers. Bass sounds adequate. I am comparing this to a lower end acoustic/electric Martin guitar like the DCX1E (which has a lot more bottom end) and they're very different but the Breedlove can hang in terms of volume unplugged. But definitely crisp/full sound and very defined. A joy to play with and when I began playing it, couldn't put it down. It's great for plucking and strumming.

I bought mine refurbished from musiciansfriend and it was great. It was previously used but wasn't trashy or had scratches or dents on it. Looked brand new to me with the exception of the pickguard which had scratches on it.

Plugged, it sounded ok. I tried it through a small VOX amp which probably didn't do it much justice, but with the Fishman pickups and the eq you should have no problem adjusting to compensate for the sound you like.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 8
Action was surprisingly low. Easy to do the barre chords without straining. I figure that's what makes people love this guitar. I get a little buzz on the low E and A when strumming hard to get a loud response, but it's just a part of playing live. However, when going up and down the fretboard, no buzzes of any kind. Good for soloing.

Finish was good, however I saw some glue residue around several spots. No biggie really, just around the areas where the neck was attached to the body.

Reliability/Durability: N/A
I don't really know yet. Just got the guitar, but I'm sure it will last a long time. I take really good care of my instruments and wipe it down after playing to take body oils and sweat off the fretboard and body.

But then again, let's see.

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: 10
Overall, I'm really impressed with this guitar. It's light responsive to my playing. Sounds really full and bright. I haven't played with it a long time but I'm sure it will go a long way. I fell in love with the sound of this guitar while testing it at a store close to my house. I really wanted to get a Taylor or Martin, but wanted something different & 'distinct' but with the high quality that Martin and Taylor had. I have heard Breelove actually worked for Taylor for a while. I can hear the influence they have on Taylors.

I'll write a review later on to tell you all how it goes but for right now, this guitar is great. I would recommend this guitar for someone who likes to strum, and pluck.

Submitted by JDR at 08/30/2005 23:30

Price Paid: N/A

Features: 10
Reviewing a recent AD25SM, dreadnaught cutaway, spruce top, mahogany sides and back. Everything about this guitar is very, very good, especially for a guitar of this price. I own a Martin and a Taylor and it compares well with them. I am impressed. I didn't try out the pickups but I played this guitar for two weeks while visiting a relative (her guitar). The only concession is the laminated mahogany sides, but I guess for this price something has to give.

Sound: 10
Sounds GREAT! Enough said.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
Set up just right for me. Setup is a personal choice. If you get a guitar that is not set up for you, have it set up correctly. It has a truss rod.

Reliability/Durability: N/A

Customer Support: N/A

Overall Rating: N/A

Submitted by anonymous at 05/21/2005 15:27

Price Paid: US $599

Features: 10
This is a follow-up on my previous review, now that I have had a chance to play live with this guitar in a rock band setting and quieter acoustic setting.

Sound: 10
The sound from the Fishman system is amazing. It is not as natural as I'd hoped, but is offset by the way it cuts through the music to be in the forefront as a lead instument. And the tone can be varied from the premap control onboard the guitar. Little or no feedback problem, either!

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
The low action made playing 4 hours a breeze. I love the solidity of the neck and the balance now that I installed a strap button at the neck.

Reliability/Durability: 10
No problems at all with this.

Customer Support: 10
See previous.

Overall Rating: 10
This is one of the nicest electro-acoustics I have ever gigged with. I did two gigs over the weekend, and my fingers are note sore. The clients we played for are happy, I made money, so I'm happy!
I love the look, feel, playability and sound of these guitars.
I hope they make an Atlas 12 some day, since there's no way I can afford their USA made 12 strings.

Submitted by Doug Jones at 11/01/2004 10:52

Price Paid: US $599

Features: 9
Made in Korea, Designed and set up in Tumalo, Oregon.
Dreadnought cutaway, deep body. Rosewood fretboard and bridge. JDL truss bridge system. Gold Grover tuners. 25 1/2" scale, 1 11/16' at nut.
20 frets, Solid top, Solid Mahogany sides. Fishman Classic 4 preamp/undersaddle pickup. Neck Mahogany, top Spruce. High gloss and tortoise shell binding, abalone markers and rosette.
No bag, no case, no 2nd strap button. Comes with EXP lites.

Sound: 10
Incredible sound. Full, deep and bright. Long sustain.
Sounds great through the AcoustaSonic amp, and pretty vivid direct to board in recording. Not toally natural out the preamp, but no real quack, and it has fullness and a lot of bite. Fairly quiet self noise except for a bass hum that increases if you EQ more bass into the mix. I like this, and am surprised a Fishman can sound this good. Perhaps it's due to less pressure on the piezo element, thanks to the inovatice bridge system.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 10
Flawless low action, flat neck. Almost no effort to bar and fret this baby! Intonation sounds dead-on to my ears...
Pickup is totally balanced. Great bookmatched top and sides, and the mahogany looks inches deep and jewel-like. There is one tiny gap or lump at 12 o'clock on the soundhole, otherwise flawlees, immaculate.

Reliability/Durability: 10
Durable, yes. Hardware is Grover's so, yes it should last.
Finish is a deep gloss but does not impede roar of the bass strings.
I could gig this with no backup.

Customer Support: 10
Very god. I called Breedlove when this was late getting to the store and got the UPS tracking number. Plus, they anwer emaols same day. So far, so good. 5 year gaurantee on this guitar, too.
Dave and the gang at Blue Note were very helpful. Plus, they are the only store around SF Bay to carry a selection of Atlas and the pricey USA-made Breedloves. Best 12-string I ever played is there!

Overall Rating: 10
Been playing since the '60's. I use Ultrasound and AcoustaSonic amps.
I wish it came with 2nd strap button. The place to find instructions on critical installation of this (it has dovetail joint with dowels that you could ruin) is Folk of the Wood's web site.
I'd buy this again. Had an AC25/SM, but got this to be louder, and it is!
I love its look, its feel and its sound.
I wish it came with a 2nd source and blender, like a K & K Pure Western or onboard mic. And a notch filter, maybe!

Submitted by Douglas Jones at 10/23/2004 15:41

Price Paid: US $800.00

Features: 9
Korean Breedlove. Constructed per Breedlove specs. Excellent sound. Playability a little above average. Action is good. Solid Sitka Sodid spruce top, rosewood back. Cut-away electric with active Fishman electronics. Lifetime warranty. Bought mine through local dealer, who provides free adjustments. I like to support local people too. Patented bridge support design removes stress from the top and re-directs to the base which allows for thinner top, ergo more resonance. Excellent balance. I have guitars from the top manufacturers and this one stacks up nicely. Excellent bang for the buck. As beautiful to look at as it sounds. Grover tuners. High gloss laquer finish top.

Sound: 9
Suits my style well. Flatpicking, folk , blues. Use with acoustic and electric tube amp. Sounds excellent with both. Bright and rich.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 9
Action from factory excellent. No flaws.

Reliability/Durability: 9
Recently purchased, but no reason to believe it will not hold up well.

Customer Support: 9
Local dealer is 7th largest Breedlove dealer in the country and provides excellent service and support. Dealer states that Breedlove stands behind their products.

Overall Rating: 9
Have been playing 35 years. If stolen would probably replace it.

Submitted by Kevin at 09/04/2004 23:37

Price Paid: US $650.00

Features: 9
Look on the website to get features.

Sound: 10
Suits my style perfectly. Strumming, flatpicking and fingerpicking.
Piezo sounds great. I split the signal with a "y" cable into a Behringer dual tube mic pre-amp and then straight into Alesis M1 monitors. Sound unplugged is a balanced and bright but not brittle and with the piezo of course you can shape the sound any way you like.

Action, Fit, & Finish: 9
This guitar was set up great. Action is low with out string buzz. Perfect for electric guitarist going into the acoustic realm. I did not see any flaws in the materials or constructions but I bought it for the sound not the anality of it's looks. Intonation is the best of any guitar I have ever had.

Reliability/Durability: 9
So far has held up very well. Only seems to need adjustments due to weather climates. All guitars do.

Customer Support: N/A
Um, don't know. I buy stuff and keep using them no matter what happens. I don't think I've ever called about or returned a musical purchase in my life and I've owned some pretty crappy stuff.

Overall Rating: 9
Don't remember when I started playing. My parents can't remember anytime when I didn't have an instrument in my hands either. Just seems to have always been there. If this guitars was stolen or lost I would buy another guitar. Maybe not the same model or the same manufacturer but just another guitar. I don't have to stick with the same thing forever you know. Even if it wasn't stolen or lost I'd buy another guitar. Got to have a backup incase the backups backup needs a backup.

Submitted by Bob E.G. at 03/05/2004 02:10