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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Just curious what opinions are on these mid-priced guitars. I played one at a music store and found the bass quite booming. The guy said the bracing is modeled after a pre-war Martin.
Norse(made in China )man1 |
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Location: Parrish, FL | Not near as great as a 1537 ;)
(Shameless plug, never held a Blueridge) |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | no doubt...no where near the price tag either though!
Norse(for us economically challenged brethren)man1 |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Norsy:
If you found a store that has these and you like the guitar, the Blueridge guitars are supposed to be the best acoustic values out there. I've yet to find any stores that carry them. The reviews at http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Blueridge/ seem to be very positive. Poor set-up and cheap tuners appear to be the only beefs, but those things can be easily fixed.
Did the guitar seem like a quality piece to you? |
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Location: Gardnerville, NV | The luthier in our town thinks they're wonderful. He was trying to push me that way when I bought my '05 collecter. I played a couple that sounded very nice for sub $1000 guitars, but they weren't nearly as good sounding as my the Ovation and the fit and finish left a bit to be desired. |
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Location: Tampa, FL | I'm not overly fond of the headstock inlay. A local mom & pop is pushing them pretty hard. The reviews seem pretty good, but what do you expect, their fundamentally Martin wannabes for a bunch less. I think I would be inclined to favor the Taylor Big Baby if I was looking for an affordable non-O. Depends on whether you're locked into solid woods. Personally, I would look for a pristine early 80's Legend and stick bluegrass strings on it. I've got one that has pretty strong bass (but that just might be a result of the huge crack in the top) |
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Location: Warren,Pa. | The stores around here sell them and I've spent some time playing them. When I first stepped up to them my thoughts were "Made in China crap...silly headstock inlays...cheap tuners." Playing them...especially the larger ones...was very impressive. Very good fit and finish, stunning sound, fast necks. The sound of the dreads IS like hearing an old D-28...mezmerising. The 2 reasons I wouldn't buy one: 1)It's not an Ovation, and 2)Can't get past that overdone headstock inlay. If it's sound you're after, BUY ONE and close your eyes when you play. John <>{ |
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Location: Toronto | I tried a couple of their entry level models and I was actually impressed at the "feel for the price". However, there wasn't anything about the guitar that intreged me. NOW - if you want to try a Tanglewood (Japanese made I think) - now that "feel for the price" was stunning. I think I had a $600 model (Canadian dollars!) and was simpled amazed at the sound, speed and overall comfort.
For what it's worth - my Mom (72yrs old) has ordered a Blueridge - she wants to gig with it instead of taking her Ovation - she's afraid of what might happen to the O at the local Legion!
Dano |
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Location: Back in the Valley of the Sun Mesa Az. | Thanks for the responses. I have to say, I like the sound. They sound better than the newer laminated Martins, or any Ovation Celebrity I've ever played. Only draw back is thery are strictly acoustic (expet for one Grand Concert size that's available). Perhaps an installed Martin thinline for about $100.00 would do the trick. I think I would be around $600.00, minus trade. Something to think about.
I need one BOOMING a/e. I'd just have my 81 Legend wired, but I'm afraid she has seen better days (warping/sinking soundboard....Great bass, but she has gotten "muddy" sounding over the past year or so). |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | What about a Tak, Norsey? Esp if you want plug-in ability. |
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Location: Waurika OK | I played a used BR180 in Ark. last September. It sounded very good. I really considered buying one, they wanted to much for the one I played.
The 180 has abalone all around the top and was very pretty.
I agree the headstock is too much.
From what I have read, there is too much variation between guitars of the same model. I would want to have the guitar in my hands before I bought. |
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Location: Tennessee | I played a whole bunch of them at Gruhn's in Nashville when I was there. The low end are typical Chineses guitars ... decent build quality, low price. The upper end of the Blueridge line were very good ... solid rosewood, solid spruce, bone nut and saddle, very nice. But way too much bling for my tastes. A fair run at copying Martin ... similar to what Tak did back in the 70's. |
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| No meaning to hijack this thread or offend anyone. But why is this thread in the Sell/Trade area?
However, on topic I think the Blueridge acoustics are excellent values, made in China or not. But the inlays and the smaller bodies aren't really something I dig too much. |
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Location: Canton (Detroit), MI | A shop local to me has most of the Blueridge dreadnought and grand auditorium models.....they are pretty good. They have a BR-183 (equivalent to an OM-41) that I would put up against most new Martin OMs and 000s. If I didn't have to give up one of my Os to get it, I probably would buy it($1045 street price). It's that good.
Roger |
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Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | here's the real deal from a local builder. Rockbridge Guitars |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | I've tried Blueridge guitars a few times, and was quite impressed by them, with regards to tone, craftsmanship and value. Decorationwise, I think it's overkill, and that's what turns me off.
Everytime I visit my sister in NH, she and her husband often take me to a small shop in Stratham (spelling?) called Acoustic Outfitters. Besides their high end stuff, they carry Blueridge guitars there, and that's where I've tried them.
As Mitch previously mentioned, I still have yet to see a dealer that sells them here in my neck of the woods. I would still think twice before buying them though. While they do look, sound and feel like a Martin dreadnaught at a fraction of the cost of an M, it's still not an M. I would rather go for a Takamine, or perhaps a Sigma (are they still around?) which are known for their admirable tone without too much of the fancy decorative stuff. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | The general advice is not to buy one on-line, but if I could actually play one and it was as good as the reviews, well then maybe. The two models that have the best reviews are the BR160 dread (Martin D28 copy) and the BG160 slope shouldered dread (Gibson J45 copy). Both are solid spruce tops with solid rosewood backs and sides that sell for around $600. There's nothing else of similar construction at anything close to that price range. |
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Location: Hicksville, NY | Originally posted by Mitchrx:
The two models that have the best reviews are the BR160 dread (Martin D28 copy) and the BG160 slope shouldered dread (Gibson J45 copy). Both are solid spruce tops with solid rosewood backs and sides that sell for around $600. There's nothing else of similar construction at anything close to that price range. :) I strongly agree with you Mitch. To date, I too have yet to see a solid wood guitar with spruce top and rosewood back and sides for about the price you mentioned above. :)
The ones I tried were the BR-40 with spruce top and mahogany back and sides, and the BR-160 with the spruce top, and rosewood back and sides. For under $500, it's definitely a good value, and great sounding too -- at least from what I heard after trying them out. :rolleyes: |
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Location: Cleveland, Ohio | I have a Blueridge BR-163 000 size and love it, great sound. There is another alternative that many are saying is better though. Greg Rich, who designed the Blueridge for Saga Music Corp now works for The Music Link, who make Johnson Guitars. They have just introduced a new line that Greg designed called the Carolina Series, pre-war Martin style, forward X-bracing. I have a Carolina II Rosewood, the all solid line on order, but have yet to play one, but they are getting a lot of hype on the Blueridge Guitars discussion board. |
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Location: Carle Place, NY | Here's the link. Blueridge Guitar Forum |
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Anyone have experience with BlueRidge guitars?
