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I got a chance to take a friend into Jacksonville to do some shopping, and we stopped by one of the "guitar in a box" stores. WHile there were riffs of molly hatchett (among other rock guitar riffs) playing in the main room, it was quite peaceful in the acoustic rooms. I wanted to go inspect some classical guitars and see what I was up against, but couldnt help going into the "upper class" steel string room.

I picked up a Larivee cutaway that was really pretty and a finish that was outstanding. Sounded dead to me. I have no clue why as they usually dont sound this bad.

Nest was a breedlove. The first one was "ho-hum" in tone and volume. The second one was quite good. Both were pretty guitars.

I got them to unlock the cabinet and let me play a $6500 Martin D41 built with Braz. I was dissapointed in it all the way around. No volume, muddy bass and the trebles were only responsive in from the 8th fret up.

The reason I am writing this post is about the breedlove guitars. I played several, and with the one exception, they were pretty good sounding guitars. I have no clue what the big post that hangs down inside the guitar is. It was on every guitar. It appeared that there was a bolt(?) going through the bridge and attached to this big chunk of wood. The salesman siad it was some sort of adjustment thingy, but he really didnt know what it was either. At least he was honest about it. I loved the pinless bridge design.

What in the heck is that thing?? I cant immagine that much mass hanging from the bridge plate not being detrimental to the sound of the guitar.

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Reguards,

Ken H

Ken-
I've never touched a Breedlove, but I understand that a lot of them come from the factory with 'The bridge Doctor' installed.Bridge Doctor

Cheers

John

Basically, it's one of these. Or at least Breedloves version of it. The device allows them to reduce the bracing and build a lighter top. Also the guitar will never "belly."

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D..

Looks like John and I were thinking along the same lines!

I've used one of these to salvage a vintage Yamaha 12 for my grandson. It worked great and didn't change the tone that much.

David "Kawika" Hurd uses his own variation of this in certain models of his ukuleles.

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D..

thats it!!  I had never seen one before. All of the breedlove guitars I played today had one in it. I still dont know how that much mass can hang fromt he bridge without losing something in volume and tone.

Thanks for the info! I could see where this may help take a belly out of an old guitar, I dont think I would want to put one on a new guitar though.

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Reguards,

Ken H

They had a Breedlove guitar cut in half at the Guitar Center here in Austin. I was told after snapping a picture of this guitar with my camera phone, that I wasn't supposed to take pictures inside the store.

It was an interesting concept though and that's exactly what the sales person told me (that it is used to allow them to make much thinner tops without the top bellying since the device is connected from the bridge to the tail block.

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Thanks,
Blain

http://www.ullrichguitar.com

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