Blueridge BR-160

Solid Sitka spruce top, solid rosewood sides and bridge. Bone nut and saddle. Poly finish, tortoise pickguard. Neck is a bit thin, but well dressed with no high frets. Wood quality is high, and fit and finish is excellent. My guitar is now 5 years old and just keeps getting better. I play 1-2 hours a day.

Rich and warm, wonderfull bass and definition. Very close to a Martin HD-28. LOUD, very expressive. I even use this dread for fingerpicking and it records so well. Im frequently asked by people "What model Martin did you use on that recording!" The overtones are wonderful and loud, chords ring forever, sustain is excellent.

Guitar was well set up, however intonation was a bit off, and the nut was a bit high. I had a new wider nut cut to D28 dimensions, and had an intonated saddle placed. Now its insane how clear this guitar sounds. I use Martin SP mediums and they play like lights play in a cheaper guitar.

Only thing I didnt like were stock tuners. They worked well but didnt match the look of the guitar (I had the older closed backs). Also the 14:1 ratio is not as precise. I upgraded to Grover Sta-tights which was easy and now they work like butter. I tune once a week!

Ive used this guitar live, and in the studio. Its never let me down. Never even broke a string. I even use it with a removable soundhole pup and it sounds great. No flaws in finish, very durable poly. Id use it without a backup but take my Blueridge BR-40 just in case.

Warranty was 1 year I believe. Ive had no issues. Most good acoustics suffer if left in poor humidity or in temp extremes. I take care of my guitars and have had no issues.

Best guitar under 1.5K PERIOD! I got mine cheap and its the most underrated guitar out there. Hands down my favorite guitar. This stomps the economy Martins and Parkwoods, even Recording Kings.

High (not luthier) grade spruce top, Indian rosewood sides, back, rosewood fretboard, bone nut and saddle, and ebony pins (pins my addition). Stock "butterbean" tuners. Quite a bit of MOP inlay, Braced like a pre-war Martin D-28 (I wonder how/why Martin allows a direct rip-off of their pattern to continue, although I suppose US patent laws are hard to enforce in China). It's a well-made guitar.

I've had my 160 for three years and also have a 1976 Guild D-25. I've had a Martin D-28 and have played various Gibson dreadnaughts and jumbos. Compared to my Guild, the 160 is louder and brighter. I call it my "shouter" in bluegrass jams. The Guild is softer and has more bottom and, on softer songs, more presence. It's my "whisperer." I enjoy both instruments. Compared to the D-28 I had, the Blueridge is substantially lighter physically and has less bottom sonically. The difference in low end and presence isn't so noticeable live, but becomes much more apparent in recording. Frankly, I think it's hard to record with this instrument, although one of my recording engineer friends showed me a microphone position that improved the sound somewhat.

It's light. The neck bends rather easily. However, I've noticed that, over the years, the neck hasn't been a problem. When mine came to me from an internet dealer,it wasn't well set up. The luthier who set it up had no trouble doing so. I understand that these instruments are supported better by the distributer now.

I record and play live with it. It's a blast to play, one of the easiest to play that I've ever had. Contrary to both my Guild and Martin, it's an easy guitar to maintain -- weather changes really don't affect it and it's generally more stable than I thought it'd be. I wanted a guitar that I could take to festivals and jam in the parking lot without the instrument losing tune or falling apart and this instrument gets the job done.

I didn't know it had a warranty. After the initial set up, I've never had trouble with it.

I got my first guitar, an Aldens "Holiday" finger shredder, in 1968 and have played ever since. I'm not in a financial position to keep an expensive instrument (had to give up the Martin for that reason, so I wanted the best instrument I could obtain with the money I could spend (at the time, about 500 dollars). I'm blessed that many of my friends are musicians, ranging from tailgate pickers to guys who do it for a living. When they first played my 160, they had two pretty consistent reactions: (1) it was among the nicest sounding guitars they'd played, and (2) I was a jerk for taking business away from American luthiers, many of whom acknowledge that the technology used to manufacture these guitars is making it harder for hand-builders to compete. Nontheless, I like mine and intend to keep it.

I had read a lot of reviews, and articles about blueridge guitars. I have to tell you, i was a little apprehensive about it being made in china. Well the price won out, i bought a used br-160. I love this guitar. Gave it a 9 only because of the aging toner& pickguard, Everything else is great!

This guitar sounds beautiful, with bluegrass it rocks.

I bought my blueridge used so previous owner had changed the saddle to compensated tuscany, and had action adjusted accordingly. plays fabiously with elixer 80/20 bronze lights. I also added brass bridge pins. This blueridge will talk to you!

I havent had guitar very long, but it is about 2 years old, and it still looks and plays like new.

Bought it used, havent had to deal with them.

I would have to overall rate this guitar a 10. My lawsuit F-375 takamine sits in the corner gathering dust now. I also have a takamine NV-360 Nashville. It will kick both their butts!

Made in 2006. Thin neck, solid woods(sitka spruce/EIR), you know the features most likely. The only reason I am giving it a nine is because the neck could be a little fatter for my tastes.

I bought this guitar in the beginning of 2007 and wanted to wait about a year to give it a review. I have played most of the Martin lineup, including vintage axes, I've even been to the martin factory and played all the guitars from their picking parlor. I love Martins, just can't afford them. When I first strummed this guitar, I immediately thought Martin, from the way it vibrated and projected. It is very similar to most D-28's I have played. It has matured in the year I have had it and I only see it getting better. It will get a 9 here, because it isn't a pre-war dreadnaught, which will cost you 20x more than the Blueridge will.

Action was good from the factory, a little stiff at the nut. I had it filed down which wasn't much money, and definitely made it more playable. The wood quality, on mine atleast, is excellent...great grain, girls call it pretty. Bracing, fretwire, etc. all very good quality for chinese. The headstock, like everyone says, is ugly and overdone. They should put a thinner finish on it though, it's just thick plastic that kills some of the tone that could be unleashed. The thick finish does keep it from scratching the wood though.

I have played this guitar pretty often in the year and half I have had it. I see no problems so far, and I don't see why it won't stand the test of time.

Supposedly a 1 year warranty, I never had to use it though...

If it was stolen, I'd definetly try to find another one, or maybe the Br-163 just for something different.

Dreadnaught. No pickup. Solid spruce top. The quality of the materials seems very high.

All I can say is I am delighted with the way it sounds. I have a Takamine(EG-15C) and the Blueridge really is in another league. The sound is so rich and full with great bass and ringing highs. The reason I bought it was because I had read so many independent reviews that rated this guitar highly and I was not at all dissapointed. Is not a modest performer... is really quite loud although when played softly is very sweet.

The action was too low and buzzed when I got it. Had it raised and it is fine now. The finish is good although a little overdone with the headstock almost tacky in the way it has been designed. Some don't like the small tight tuners, but they seem to work fine keeping the guitar in tune well for long periods.

I have played for twenty years, motly accoustic. Owned a few Yamaha guitars the last being one of the better solid top models and the Takamine (EG-15C). I don't recall the Yamaha's having the tonal range this Blueridge has and as I have said the Takamnine sounds like a tin can compared. Although I will concede the Takamine is nicer to play in that it is smoother. I was so pleased with this guitar I went and bought a cheaper Blueridge (BR 70)to take to the batch and that is also a great guitar for the price.

To sum up. This guitar sounds better than anything I have ever owned. It's weakness however is its rather overdone finish. As I am a man into sound not looks I am extremely pleased with the guitar. I would buy another of these in a flash should I lose it. Check out the guys playing them on U-Tube. gives you some idea of the great sound they have.

Fantastic feel,finish and inlay. Rosewood fretboard, bone nut

Sounds great if you slap on some martin sp's or elixers (13 gauge brings best tone)
really full of tone, resembles martins hd-28, lots of bass

set-up was good but it needs better tuners, the stock ones fall apart after a bit of use
I just put on grovers and its flawless

everythings great ezcept tuners
great finish
i would trust it without a backup

new tuners and pickguard,thats all

great guitar if you want martin sound without martin price this is your guitar
if it was stolen i would definetly get another

I like the sound from the solid woods. I'm not sure about the open tuners, but they work great for now. I also really like the aging toner that makes the top more vintage looking.

When I first got it, it had very old light gage strings on it. After a fresh set of med. string, it had the boomy bass bluegrass sound I was looking for.

I picked mine up used, so the set-up was really nice. I haven't done anything to it yet.

Okay, unlike some of the other guys on here, I am not ready to say that the guitar soounds better than my Martin. I have a 2000 model HD-28 that is clearly louder that the BR-160. But, I didn't expect it to be. ( Everyone compares their guitar to a Martin for a reason guys ) I was very surprised by the tone and sound of the BR-160. I have no regrets about buying it and it is definately a keeper.

I have been playing guitar for 20 + years. I currently have the 2000 HD-28, a 1980 Yamaha FG-340 and the 2005 BR-160. I can't see any of them leaving. They are all a little different, and that is what I like about them. Even my beloved HD-28 doesn't fit every situation.
( Sorry Martin lovers )

tuners don't slip, stays in tune. the neck is beefy but fits real nice in my hand and feels like it's a quality instrument.

very full sound. mellow sounding, much like a martin, this is not bright like a taylor.
i like that old country d-28 sound and this guitar gives it to me. great for folk, country, classic rock neil young, jimmy page (D-28) vibe.

the action was a bit high and i've been meaning to get around to sanding down the bridge a bit to lower the action but it's been about 5 years and i still haven't done it so i guess it works cause this is my main guitar and it gets a lot of use...eventually i'll do that.
the finish is nice and the neck was right on from the day i got it. i haven't had to adjust the neck yet. i should probably get around to taking it in and having it professionally tweaked but it hasn't given me any problems.

this guitar has held up like a champ. i really don't even treat it like i should and it still keeps goin without any problems.

i think this brand is beginning to get more popular. most of the time when i tell someone i play a blue ridge they have no idea what i'm talking about. i just hope they keep making a decent product and give good customer service as they get larger.

it's made by saga which is a pretty big company and it's made in china so do with that what you will...

...if you've got the money buy american (or canadian or somewhere not china or korea ect). if not...and you have to get a chinese guitar this one pretty much kicks ***.

I guess all has been said many times already but to the best of my knowledge all of the work done on it looks perfect to me.

Contrary to others I find that it sounded somewhat dull or "checked" if you like in the beginning but it is now opening up allright. the sound is absolutely full and very balanced and yes it can go very loud without affecting the quality of the tone. Perfect for finger picking and not bad on strumming either, though it struck me how great a difference just two sets of strings could actually produce on this guitar. (I tried out Martin 0.12 Phosphor Bronze and the D'addario 0.12. With finger picking the Martins sounded much better on this guitar whereas with strumming many might prefer the D'addarios, and I have not even begun to try others !!!)
The neck could be a tick wider but on average it plays quite well.

the set up is a tat high like others commented but nothing that needs seeing to right away. I am no judge of the intracacies of guitar building so there is not a lot that I can add here other than that it looks allright to me.

I am not gigging so I have no idea how it will stand up to that or intensive playing for that matter.

no idea

I have been playing the guitar for 30 odd years on a fairly simple level and have had my fair share of guitars, in particular many cheapos !!!
I also had a (used)Martin D28 and a Gibson acoustic. I think that it is somewhat over the top to say that on average these Blueridges are as good or even better as the average D28, but having said that I played on several Martin D28s which sounded pretty awful. This Blueridge sounds good straight out of the box and is supposed to sound a lot better even after a year or so, I guess I will have to report back then !!!!
One thing I can say though: you folks in the USA are really lucky to be able to purchase these quality guitars at giveaway prices !!!!
Here in Europe I had to pay 800 euros, which is just over 1000 dollars to get one. With the prices in the USA I would probably get two or three Blueridges, laugh my head off and never look back !!!!!!

It's basic but it's nice. And the rosewood back and sides on mine is the nicest I have ever seen. I have an HD28V that is beautiful, but the rosewood grain on this Blueridge is superior looking. Bought it at Carmine Street Guitars in New York City.

As I said I have a Martin HD28V, a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner, and a Larrivee L03 Koa. This Blueridge is brighter than the Martin and has slightly less bass, but its separation of notes is far superior to the Martin. It's a much more balanced guitar. It has a lot of depth already, but I can tell that it is just waiting to open up-- the hints of greateness are definitely there.

I have played some great dreadnoughts at Mandolin Brothers here in New York, particularly the Collings and Santa Cruzes, and some Froggy Bottoms at Rudy's. The best way I can describe the sound of this BR-160 is that it's in between the Martin's bassiness and the Collings brightness that I've heard on a D2H or D1A. And it does this with a dovetail neck joint, not the bolt on approach that Collings uses. It's nice enough that I've been debating on selling the Martin I have, but i want to hold off and wait to see how the sound sits with me over time. Also, it's two weeks old and hasn't opened up yet, while the Martin is three years old. Don't want to jump to conclusions yet because the Martin is great. T

his Blueridge is a great bluegrass guitar, and it sounds fantastic for fingersyle. That was surpising to me.

This thing is light but extremely sturdy and well made. The bookmatching on the top is flawless and no seem is even detectible. The rosewood on the back and sides is the nicest I have seen, hands down. The frets are perfect. Could use a little lower action, maybe. Tuners are great. But it plays extremely smoothly. The inlays on the fretboard are quite nice, also.

It's very solid as far as I see.

Haven't dealt with them.

I've been playing 20-25 years and can play just about anything I hear. I began with Al Dimeola style playing, and I've got the Tony Rice thing down pretty well now after some practice. I have a Martin HD28V, a Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner, and a Larrivee L03 Koa, two Fender Teles and A Bill Nash Tele. This is a great guitar; don't let anyone tell you otherwise. You may have to play a few, but that goes for all brands, including the high-end makers. This guitar inspires you to learn bluegrass, and it sounds fantastic. That is probably due the great wood used, plus the scalloped bracing. But also important is the bone material used on the nut and the saddle. Martin doesn't do that on the HD28V. The headstock is maybe a little too ornate and small -- I wish they'd enlarge it to the cize of a Collings, which looks more traditional -- but it's growing on me. And I thought I would have preferred an ebony fretboard, but the sound difference is negligible from what most luthiers tell me. Moreover, neither of these things change the fact that it sounds and plays fantastic. As I said, it's so good that I'm debating selling the Martin, which cost over four times this one. The Santa Cruz Vintage Southerner models itself after a Gibson J-45, but it blows any J-45 I've played away. When I bought the BR-160 at Carmine Street Guitars I played a Blueridge BG-140, another J-45 copy, and that sounds so close to the Santa Cruz or just as good that I'm debating selling that one, too. The Saqnta Cruz cost me $3,000; the Bg-140 about $525. Rick Kelly at Carmine Street in New York sells these at great prices and he services them.

It seems to be well built and carefully made. Flamed top makes the finish look thick and plastic-y. I don't know what the woods are, but the specs are readily available.

I simply cannot undersand how these mid-level BlueRidge models get the good sonic ratings that they do. Jeez guys, go to a real guitar store and play a quality model.

The tone is basically good. Probably due to the top. That is the end of the good news. The sound is not resonant or clear. The bass strings have a hint of a dull thud in there, which is a dead giveaway that this is an El Cheapo guitar. But wait, it isn't inexpensive. At one-half the price I would consider it a decent value.

It seems, as I said earlier, to be a well built object.

It seems, as I said earlier, to be a well built object.

I have played for 30+ years. I have several nice guitars in my possession, and I was hoping to use this as the travel/jam guitar, but I will press one of my older good sounding models into service.

Sonically, I am disappoited with this guitar. Great reputation, looks great, nice to play, sounds clunky. And it ain't just mine, I have since played a few others of these and yup, they sound similar. I think that this and other mid-level BlueRidge models are over-rated.

-Solid Sitka Spruce Top w/Aged Toner
-Solid East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
-Dovetailed Mahogany Neck
-Pseudo Pre-War (More-so Parabolic) Shifted Brace & Deep Scalloped
-14:1 Open Butterbean Tuners
-Overthetop Abalone and Mother of Pearl
-Herringbone & White Binding Appointments
-Bone Nut & Saddle
-Rosewood Fretboard and Bridge
-Decent Hardcase

I do NOT care what anybody says, try finding a 100% solid wood guitar for under 700.00. You can purchase 1,000+ dollar Martins and Taylors, high dollar Yamahas, Takamines, Seagulls..and you would still end up with a "hardwood and/or nato" neck, laminate back & sides, and Mortis-Tenon joint.

It may be typical features for a high-dollar American Dread, but at well under 700, the features are not only unheard of, but they are OUTSTANDING!

I've owned this guitar for well over 8 months now, and for the first time, I haven't found myself scouring the walls for a replacement. When first purchased, the guitar was exceptionally bright. Over the past few months, it has mellowed sound with a tinge of lovely chime. It is VERY similar to the D-28, however through experience, it's a touch lighter on the bass register. Overall, the guitar is very well balanced, projects extremely well, and is buttery smooth.

Some cringe at the idea of a Chinese manufactured guitar being compared to the Martin D-28 & HD-28. Pay no mind to the ethnocentric critics, they find fault because they need to justify their 2,000+ dollar purchase and/or they are simply ignorant.

As much as I have strained, I can't seem to find any imperfections that would impact the function, playability, and sound of the instrument. Cosmetically, HARDLY visible glue seep from the neck joint, and a SMALL bit of filler visible on ONE inlay. Seriously, unless you are viewing it with a microscope, by plain sight and even upclose...it's still a knockout!

I can't be honest on the setup, it was adjusted by a guitar-tech the minute it arrived at the store.

I must say, the shallow set neck was somewhat of an adjustment.

This is as durable as my Martin and the components (although no-frills) are simple and durable. The gloss thickness offers the right amount of protection without sacrificing tone.

Who gigs without a backup?

I've been playing for approximetly 13 years now, I've owned a little bit of everything, Samick, Peavey, Custom Fenders, Hamer, Martin, Ibanez, Ovation, Seagull, on and on and on.....this is by far one of the best guitars on the market.

When I was in the market for a new guitar, I was mainly looking at the Martin D-28 and Taylor 310. I stumbled across the guitar by accident. Forget about the name, if you played this thing blindfolded, your impression would be either the same or exceeding that of any Taylor or Martin.

This guitar's features are well known; regardless of its Chinese origin
its materials will give it the same sound as its model, more or less.
This review is based on and about the reasons people sell them on ebay.
For a friend too disorganized to do it, for the past couple of months,
I've undertaken this study.

I don't own one, so except in a hypothetical,I can't comment on this.

n\a

Naturally, most BR-160 for sale are new. Almost all of the used are
sold because their owners have a sense of impending doom. The most
frequent defect is cracks around strap holder; second is splits on the
lower bout. Possible stress marks at the base of the neck have been
encountered and one had an earthquake along severe run-out of the spruce. I'm sure these problems are in a very small number of those
produced, but the potential buyer should be wary. Guitar luthiers
generally play or have played extremely fine instuments and thusly
have points of comparison; I doubt Chinese maker have this chance.

n\a

I've played for decades, I own no-name Chinese guitars, very fine!
and a 1955 Guild, 12 string

You have the drill on the specific features of this guitar from all the other reviewers. Overall, the only thing I'd add is that it's a pretty little dreadnought with a neck that slides across the web of my hand like butter. Inlay is spiffy but not too Minnie Pearl. The color is a little too amber for some people, which is the only reason I'm giving it a score of 8.

It's a funny thing. This guitar really does r-i-n-g when you want it to do so, and when you do the D through low E resonate beautifully and diminish slowly. With practice you can tame it so that it sings quietly and sadly and without a ring, but the resonance and slow diminish stay right with you. Slap a capo onto the neck anywhere south of the 6th fret, fingerpick and, well, yep, that's the sound I like with a dulcimer or acoustic bass.

What can you play with this? The sound lends itself over to bluegrass, folk and Celtic music. Not well suited for classical unless you like screwing with history and inventing something new -- which I would highly encourage people to do.

Action's fast, though to get it there I had to adjust the truss. Factory delivered I found the neck adjustement too high, which began to slow down the action at about the 5th fret until it got doughy by the 10th. Since the adjustment and string drop it smokes.

I believe mine arrived with D'Addario light/medium. Got rid of them fast and replaced them with a few combinations of medium-weight strings. Finally hit upon a combination of uncoated Elixir (E,B,G) and Gibson (D,A,E). Ay-yi-yi! That's when the guitar started talking to me. Bridge, saddle and nut arrived intact; hardward is fine.

The BR-160 stands up to live playing -- very well in fact. It also travels well in a Gator and holds its tuning when being carried across town. My guitar is three years old and the finish still looks great. I DO use it in gigs without a backup from time to time, so long as they don't require me to switch guitars for tuning purposes.

I haven't had any relationship with the manufacturer because I've never had reason to call it up with complaints.

I've been playing classical guitar for 25 years and bluegrass for 16. I also own a fretless Fender Standard P-Bass, an Alhambra 9FC, an Antonio Mar??n Montero 2005, a Bourgeois County Boy, a Martin D-28 Marquis and D-40FW, some crappy little Yamahas and a bunch of hand-me-down Frankenguitars, dulcimers and other stuff.

This Blueridge is a great guitar. I really wish people would stop using Martin (even mine!) as THE gold standard. I frequently use the Blueridge as my primary guitar while performing and the Martin as my secondary for unorthodox tunings. Know what? People dance, I smile and my bandmates stop cursing the presence of an Asian guitar on their hallowed stage.



Bad news for lefties. Blueridge is no longer manufacturing the BR-160 in lefty mode. Thinking I'd be bummed if I were to lose mine and couldn't replace it, I bought another one last month.

You already know all the specs/features; mine came w/a strap button installed on the neck; i like the bone nut and saddle, dislike the plastic bridge pins (replacing w/ ebony pins that are on order). My spruce top has dark lines that run w/the grain; they actually give the top a cool look. the pickguard is not as bad as I thought; the headstock inlay is, from what I understand, a 'veneer' or thin sheet that is applied to the finished top- before the topcoat? I don't know; it looks ok, not bad. For the money, the whole thing is GREAT- solid woods, nice bracing, clean.

BRIGHT tone, I'm hoping it mellows a little with the ebony pins and time. It sounds great- very even tone, louder by far than my other guitars. I think it'll end up sounding better and better over time. I haven't tried medium gauge on it yet- lights sound really good and the action is very nice.

Action was great- I got it used on eBay for 366(!) with very very little wear on it ( a few scratches on pickguard!). tuned up great. It buzzes a tiny bit on A and D strings at ~ the 5th to 7th frets. Many people have told me that a simple fret dress will take care of it. I don't even notice it unless I'm really hitting it hard. Some sloppy stainwork on the top-side of the fretboard (by the side fret markers) at the 1st to 3rd frets. barely notice it. One tiny bubble in the topcoat on the spruce top. can't see unless holding it to a light and catching a reflection. Very clean inside. Poorly mounted tuners, crooked and obviously quickly mounted. Pretty small complaints that have very little to do with what I care about, which is how is sounds.

I've only had the guitar for a couple weeks so I can't really speak about how durable it is. It seems solid enough, and aside from some new tuners in the future, I think it will last a lifetime. I think.

No opinion- got it used and will never deal with the company I expect. For the price, who cares!

Been playing for 26 years; I've got two other acoustics (beater laminates, but both play and sound fine), two electrics, lots of electronics, mandolin, lots more. I love this guitar- plays great, and I think it will just sound better and better with age. I'd get another if lost or stolen, maybe another model just to check it out- they're cheap enough! I played a few Martins, ranging from 15s, 16s and one D-18, range in cost was from 900.00 to 2100.00 (electronics included in the pricey ones). I liked this one better than any of them, and saved 600 to 1800.00! I'll get it professionally set up soon, and then it'll be even more righteous.

Features:
Year: 2003
Blueridge BR160
Aged Toner Finish
Headstock Inlay (beautiful)
Bone Nut/Saddle
Spruce Top/Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
No electronics
Tuners: Sealed Butterbeans

Golden Gate Hardshell Case.

The Blueridge 160 that I own is full of volume and tone. I have heard many guitarists with age and experience say that a guitar conforms to it's owner's style. I play mine with a vengence. It rings like a liberty bell. I personally play in a bluegrass band in which my uncle plays rhythm on a 1964 Martin D-28 (with the genuine Brazilian Rosewood) and my 160 stays right with it easily. They actually sound very similar. He'll agree. Granted the 64 is worth about 10 times what my 160 is though. haha I love Martins and I love Blueridges. I own two Martins myself including a Limited Edition HD-28. Every guitar is different. I won't claim that my 160 will be better than anyone elses guitar without hearing the proof with my own ears, but this one is truly a jem. Many fans of our group tell me to put my Martins up and ALWAYS play my Blueridge after they hear me play each of them. These are folks who mostly aren't guitarists. They are folks that know if music sounds good or doesn't. As for playablility, all my guitars play just as I want them to. I set them up myself. I don't prefer one over the other. I love the distinction of my Martins. But for some odd reason, the blueridge does out-perform them in virutally every catergory. Just include this in the list of guitars to own. Don't pass a Martin or any other high-quality guitar up based on any single opinion. Every guitar has it's beauty and personality. Blueridge is simply a great guitar and I confidently stand by that claim based on my 160.

Was set-up quite well from the factory. Wood and workmanship looks excellent. I'd have to say perfection for the money. One flaw that has appeared, is a crack in the top-side in the valley of the slope. It's about 3 inches long and runs parallel with the grain. Will it continue? We'll see. Does it hurt the sound? Hasn't hurt it yet. Will I get it repaired? Within another year if it gets worse. I build instruments and I would do it myself. It's not a drastic law though.

I bought my 160 to perform with. I own Martins and I'm afraid to let anyone touch them. The 160 is my workhorse. I encourage people to play the heck out of it. Very durable guitar considering the abuse it has taken. And yes, I have used it many times in gigs without a back-up. Never has let me down a single time.

I would assume it would be based on the dealer. I have never had to have mine repaired. Saga is a good company though. I wouldn't say great, but good.

I have been playing 23 years and I have owned/played a substantial amount of guitars in those years. Yes it it were stolen I'd try (hope and pray) to get another 160 that even came close to comparing to this one. I have yet to hear a bad one though. Action is great (factory). Flatpicking is phenominal on it. Many guitarists/listeners have fell in love with it. Sound is extraordinary. I have owned this guitar for a few years now and there's definately no box sound here. It slams most dreadnoughts like Andre The Giant. 20 years from now? Mercy.

Chinese made Dreadnaught guitar, basically a Martin D-28 clone. Has a bone nut and saddle, vintage style open back tuners and a slightly "aged" high gloss finish. This guitar looks like a Martin HD-28 (but with a VERY over the top "fancy" headstock design!), and has according to the Saga website a "pre-war" forward shifted scalloped bracing like the old Martin HD-28s... This is not true - the bracing is not forward shifted, and it is more "parabolic" than scalloped... The construction is much more comparable to an after-war standard D-28, and so is it??s sound...

I play kind of folky stuff, Neil Young type of stuff, Indie, Alt Country, etc... mostly strumming rythms with a pic. Therefore this guitar beats most other guitars in that price range - big, clear american Dreadnaught sound in the tradition of Martin guitars... It sounds very much like a standard D-28, and has basically the SAME sound as the Guild GAD-50 (no wonder, same construction, same factory!!!). Compared it to a Guild GAD-50, a Nashville Takamine, an american made Guild dreadnaught for about 2000 $ and a Taylor 210... I did like the expensive Guild a little bit better, the GAD-50 sounded exactly the same (but the Blueridge felt better), the Taylor was VERY nice too but a bit too open and glassy sounding for me - and - the Blueridge was the better deal price wise!!!

People saying that tese guitars are nothing for pros and just sound like chinese junk are ignorant snobs - this guitar holds up against many more expensive guitars, those Chinese do such a good job that Guild (GAD series) and Epiphone (Masterbilt) are making their guitars in the same factory now as Saga...

Very good setup from the factory - had not to change everthing!

As with all massive guitars this guitar cannot be beaten as an electric - the open tuners do a fine job, the finish is flawless - very good. I??d have an older Ovation for stage use, though...

I play for about 14 years and I??m mainly playing electric. But this guitars sounds so nice that I??m playing much more acoustic stuff than before.

Basic well put together all solid wood dreadnaught guitar; nothing fancy except the headstock which is lavished with MOP. I'd have been happy with something a bit more restrained, but the rest of the guitar suits me fine. The woods used are beautiful, the finish essentially flawless.

I purchased the left handed version of this guitar, the only LH guitar Blueridge makes, and had to pay $100 more than the RH version. Having said that, for the sound this thing puts out it was worth every penny. A word of warning though, when I played it literally straight out of the box it didn't sound like what I expected, I guess that is the "boxy" sound that others are describing. Now that I have owned it and played it for a few months things have really loosened up and the sound is incredible. I'm wondering if it will keep changing and keep getting better. If it changes will it be better? Is there a better guitar sound than the sound this BR-160LH is making right now? If there is, I have not heard it and I have played lots of guitars for a long time. No doubt this is a fantastic sounding guitar and the best thing out there for the money, or a lot more money, or any money at all that I know of.

On initial inspection this guitar was perfect, not a flaw anywhere, and the setup was excellent, low and fast. It is very easy to play and the frets are very smooth. After a month or so I did find one flaw, on the upper side of the upper bout there is a very very small dimple in the finish. It is so small that I would never have noticed it but for the very smooth shiny surface. By holding it in the light just right I can see the flaw, but it takes a minute to find it. Given the way the guitar is sounding, I wouldn't consider returning it over this extremely small imperfection.
There was one curious thing at first and that was an odd smell to the guitar, almost like freshly cut wood, but strange smelling wood. In any case, the smell was gone in a few days. I suspect it had something to do with the wood, glue and finish as well as being packaged up inside plastic. This smell wasn't exacly bad, but it was a smell and I'm glad that it went away swiftly.

I regularly use this guitar in my church, mainly playing for the teenagers, and at a local old folks home, it has yet to give me any problems. It seems to be well built, but this is something that only time will tell. For any rough treatment, camping and so on, I use my Yamaha beater.

Never had a reason to contact them.

I have been playing guitar for about 24 years and own Martin and Yamaha acoustics as well as a few electric guitars. I have played a lot of guitars over the years (I can play both left and right handed) and this Blueridge is undoubtedly an excellent guitar; in there with the best. It plays very well, like a Taylor, and sounds fantastic, like - but not identical to - a good Martin D-28 (not all D-28s sound the way a D-28 should). I'm not sold on the open backed tuners and the headstock is a little garish for my tastes. With those very minor caveats, I don't hesitate to recommend this guitar, it is undoubtedly one of the best values out there and I have no regrets about not paying 4 times as much for a Martin D-28. It is the best gamble I have ever made on a sight unseen and, more importantly, unheard guitar. If $ 600 is your price limit, the Blueridge BR-160 is the guitar to get.

2004 model, rosewood back and sides, sitka spruce top. All solids.

i write and record a range of musical styles; ballads, pop-rock, jazz, souls, country. You name it!
The BR160 is terrific for the big, strummy stuff ( i have a BR163 for the fingerpicked, detailed parts) both have taken precedence over my Taylor 613CE, Gibson J200jr, and Guild D15.

well set-up, well put-together, and very well-finished.

looks good and durable. Mine'll live in the studio, but this looks the business all-round.

easy to deal with the uk distributors, and the retailer (County Music Supplies, Shrewsbury, UK)

i have played for 25 years, taught for 7, and work as a guitar technician. I own pretty well every guitar/amp i could have dreamed of in my youth, numerous Gibsons, Gretsches, Guild,Taylor, Yamaha,Rickenbackers .... no Martins! I bought the Blueridge BR163 over a Martin OM42, saving nearly three thousand pounds ( just under $5000 US)

This is an update to my review for the BR-160 that I purchased about a month ago.

After 4 weeks and a set of bone bridge pins this guitar has really opened up. It is a totally amazing guitar. I love it and have no regrets about buying it instead of a Martin. I took it up to Guitar Center with a buddy and we did a guitar off between a D-35, D-28, HD-28 and a D-41. The Blueridge held its ground and was as good sounding as all 4 of the Martins. What a sweet guitar. I wished when I was buying it that I could have heard it first, so I have made this little site with some sample recordings of my guitar, so you can hear how it sounds too. go to www.artkat.biz/br160/index.html to hear it for yourself.

www.onlineguitar.com is replacing 1 tuner that has a slight problem with the tuning key. They are very easy to work with.

What are you waiting for. Get one before they realize what they have and raise the price.

2005
Made in china
Solidtop
Same feature as the rest of review posted here.
Paid 590 US NEW W/CASE

I play bluegrass. I was hesitant about buying a chinese built guitar.
It is loud but not in a good way..Very Twanky, and lacks any real tonal quality. I would say that it sounds n par with other cheap imports.
I've tried many different sets of strings now and still cant get anything out of it.

The action as others have stated was very high. The string spacing was overly tight. The frets had sharp edges. I dont think anyone does setups prior to these leaving the factory. The intonation was out even with a compensated saddle. Not very impressed.

The spruce top is a basic grade. Bookmatch was fine however the grain has some run out in it.

Inside the body, there is glue protruding from joints. And the bracing is splintery. Also does not have a good smell coming from the sound hole.

Also noticed that tuners were drilled and set crooked. If you look at the back of the headstock the tuners looked very crooked (Probably can reset them ) but this is new shouldnt have to.)

Also seems the body and neck were finished while joined. Hope I never need a neck reset. Maybe this a cost cutting at that factory I dunno,,,Looks cheap.

Base on the fit and finish I wouldnt gig without a back up and I wouldnt bring this on stage. I think this would make a very good beginner guitar. It's seems solid so I will give it a 4 in this dept.

Actually tried calling saga to get some warranty info on it. And they dont deal directly with you....Got the run around. But for a chinese 590 beater, guess It doesnt matter

At the end of the day it's an affordable import. It's nowhere near the guitar it attempts to replicate. I wont say that name out of respect. It's good for the beginner..If you are a perfectionist do not buy this. You will be disappointed. But if you like Cheap Eyecandy and bad sound go for it...

10-Excellent, I play bluegrass and let me tell you this is as fine as any over priced Martinout there. You will not be able to convince some Martin players of that, but then again that's who Martin makes them for.

10- Like I said you won't get any better

10- very fast and smooth

10- appears to be made very well

haven't needed it

10-Don't listen to people who will tell you that it has to be a Martin to be bluegrass. This is the one of the best on the market and I saved 1500 dollars.CGc

Mine is a 2005 BR - 160 made in China and you probably already know the features from reading the other 40 odd reviews. Please note that I have owned this guitar for 3 days, so it has not had ample time to open up. I will review it again in about a year. I purchased this gutiar from www.onlineguitar.com as they were the cheapest that I could find. They included a free extra set of Martin SPs and an imitation SKB case (sweet). This guitar has all the features of much higher priced ($2300 to $2500) Martins. That is not to say that they are of the same quality level as the Martin stuff, but they are nice features for the price. I don't like the sparkly rear purfling, but that is just a taste thing.

This guitar is amazing for the price. Over the past year I have played about 100 or so different guitars in my quest to find the perfect balance of price and quality. And then I chucked all my hard work by purchasing this guitar site unseen from an online guitar store. Thankfully I still came out ahead on my gamble. This guitar sounds great. It is not as good as a real Martin HD 28, and is not as bassy as some of the D-16R and D-15 models that I played, but it has a very well balanced and woody tone. It sounds better than any of the Taylor and Takemine guitars that I have played over the past year and is made of better woods. It can't compare with Bourgeois or Collings, but then again, not many guitars can. It is certainly loud enough to hang with my pals Bourgeois slope d, but the tonal quality is not there yet. Once again, this guitar is only 3 days old, so time will tell. I have put about 7 hours of play time on it since I got it Monday and it is definitely getting better. It does have a bit of a boxy tone like the last reviewer said, though I hold this guitar in higher regards than the last reviewer. He said he would buy another one, but called it a "beater". I would say that the Alvarez, Ibanez, and Yamaha laminent based guitars are beaters. This one is definitely several notches about those. As a side note, my friends have a couple of old (1970, 1971) Guild acoustic guitars (spruce and mahogany) and this guitar sounds very much like those. I also played a 1973 Gibson that sounded very similar. And for $500 bucks, that ain't half bad.

This guitar came set up a bit high at the saddle, but no problem. I used my stewmac saddle vise and files to straighten that out. This guitar was far more beautiful than I imagined. I was afraid that it would be very orange (like some of the other reviews) and that the pickgaurd would suck, but the guitar is yellow with no orange in it at all. Maybe Saga heard the complaints and changed the formula. I also got a good dalmation pickguard that was very even in its spots. The wood seems to be of high quality, and the spruce top has a pretty tight grain and even some bear claw qualities. I am not sure why everyone complains about the tuners. I haven't had any problems with them and I love the "waverly" look and feel. I didn't like the head stock in photos, but in real life it looks cool. I have only 3 complaints. 1. The fretboard inlays have a JUDICIOUS helping of black glue to hide overcuts. This looks extremely bad. I would rather see a very plain fretboard done right. 2. I don't like the back purfling, it is too sparkley and looks cheap. 3. The bridge pins and GLUED IN endpin are made of cheap plastic. These are all being replaced in about 2 weeks (next paycheck). I love the action of this guitar. It feels just like my friends DC16-GTE. Small fast neck with medium string height. Perfect.

This guitar seems well put together, but time will tell.

Haven't had to call - yet

I have been playing guitar for 16 years, I play at least an hour a day, but usually more. I am primarily an electric player, but have really been enjoying the whole acoustic guitar "thing" for the past 2 years, almost to the point of fanatacism. I am even considering buying and building the StewMac Triple - 0 kit for fun. Someday I will buy that Bourgeois or Collings, but for now I am glad to finally have a good guitar that sounds nice, looks good, and yet can still go camping with me without causing me too much anxiety :).

Bought my ~2004 BR 160 about a year ago for $499, thirty bucks for shipping. This Chinese made dreadnought came with extra strings, nylon strap, sturdy molded hardshell case. It is constructed of solid Indian rosewood back and sides, solid Sitka spruce top with nice b/w herringbone binding, mahogany neck and Kluson butterbean tuners. Inlaid marquetry stripe in middle of the back. Aging toner on top, gloss finish all around. Also has inlaid abalone snowflake on fingerboard and some rather gaudy abalone inlay on the peg head. This seems to be aimed at the bluegrass crowd, so a few embellishments are not out of place. The neck dimensions feel real nice on my hands. Another strap button would have been nice.

Can't really say I play any particular style, but it's probably most influenced by folks like Doc Watson, Junior Kimbrough, George Harrison amongst many others. Mostly I let my fingers go where they want to, and every now and then they come up with something new and neat, something that makes me happy.

The BR 160 was balanced and tight, with enough middle and crisp high end to cut through the substantial low end. Granted, even my ear can hear that it does not have the upper register complexity and sweetness of the D 28. But. For the money, wow.

Man oh man can this thing roar. And then it will produce some of the sweetest sounds when noodling around For a first guitar, I am extremely pleased with this one. Not as full sounding as the Martin at the store in the side by side test, but after more than a year my 160 seems to have opened up, with an even bigger sound across the spectrum. And, depending how it's tuned, has developed a more complex shimmer in the upper registers.

Fit and finish seem real decent. Action might be a titch high, but I am still learning what I like and don't like, and haven't really experimented with different gauge strings to see how that would affect playability. This has been through some climate changes here in MN and has needed no adjustments save retuning after settling into either the high humidity summer or the drier winters. No finish runs or sags, though it seems pretty thick. The inner bracing is tight and cleanly glued, frets are all silky smooth. All the pretty stuff is very tightly routed and inlaid.

Sturdy, substantial. Doesn't seem to pick up nicks or scuffs very easily, as mine has been banged into the odd chair with no dings. Just noticed some very light pick marks on the top that may or may not buff out (I do like to wail on it in a nice full E when doing my Junior K thing ;-) )

I don't play for crowds, but should that day come, this would be my sole guitar.

I have other Saga instruments: 1998 Blueridge BB60 banjo and 2004 Cremona SC 175 cello. Replaced a plastic nut on the banjo after warranty expired. No other work needed on any of their instruments.

I've just taken up guitar in the last year or so. Also purchased a middle to low end resonator to goof around on, and I love them both. I came to it via saxophone, banjo and keyboards, had decided it was time to take the plunge.

Before scouring online sources for best pricing and packages, I wandered into several local shops and compared the 160 against a few of it's brothers and sisters: the BR 40, 60, 70, 140 and 180. I also had the chance to plunk around on a Seagull (neck was too shallow and wide), several Taylors, as well as a low end Martin (D15?), two $2K + Gibsons, and a couple different D 28s starting at ~$2200. To be honest, I was initially attracted to the sound of the BR 70, but after hearing some of the higher end guitars, it sounded flabby in the low end. Plus, all sources I consulted assured me that the solid wood construction of more spendy guitars would allow further development of the guitars' sound over the years. That and price sealed the deal for me, and I can't imagine life without this guy hanging on my wall. Great guitar, supreme value.

Everyone here already knows the features of this guitar. But a quick rundown would be rosewood back and sides, spruce top, and mahogany neck. My guitar was puchased new in April 2005. Let me tell you the price is right for an all solid wood guitar. But let me tell you that the places that they saved money on are not the greatest, I.E. the neck and the thickness of the back and sides.

I play bluegrass music, and for a beater guitar this is a good one. But I also play professionally and my Martin D-28 CW is what I will use when I'm gigging. For jam sessions and such the Blueridge is fine but when I read people comparing this guitar to a Martin D-28 or D-18 and saying it is better I believe it is because they have never owned a Martin. The sound is pretty boxy (is that a word) compared to a real quality guitar

Hi action, but that does not bother me as I like my action high. Nice gloss finish. Good fit.

I have talked to a guy at a guitar shop who says he does not like these guitars because they fall apart after a couple of years but we will have to see.

Have not had to use it.

I have been playing professionally for 30 years. I own to much gear to list. Believe it or not I would probably replace it if it were stolen or lost. Just don't let the reviews fool you, this is not a better guitar than a D-28. Remember you get what you pay for.

I just purchased my Bluefridge 160 on August, 2005, and I really enjoy it. As you probably know it is solid Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce. It has a very good solid wood sound. The set up is a little high, and I plan on having the bridge shaved and nut adjusted to bring the action down a little. This guitar has so much volume that bringing the action down will not hurt the sound. There is plenty of criticism out there on the Dalmation pick guard. I plan on replacing it with a pick guard from Bruceweiart on ebay - either an ebony or rosewood with abalone, mop inlay for about $30. I did replace the plastic bridge pins with Martin ebony pins, and this simple task really made a significant difference. I have used light/med D'Addario 80/20 and Martin Bluegrass Accoustic 80/20, either work well. I did not care for the D'Addario EXP.

When I went to the fabulous store in Webster Groves, Mo., to try a guitar, they let me compare my Alvarez Yairi to the Blueridge. One of their salesmen would trade guitars with me and I got to compare the Blueridge to a Huss and Dalton, a Martin d-28, d-35, Collings D2, a used Martin D3R. The Blueridge does not have a Martin sound, but is sure is close enough that myh bluegrass friends look in amazement that I got such a fine sounding instrument for well under a $1,000. This axe has great sustain, and with a little bridge modification it should sound just fine.

Like a lot of other folks, I don't really care for the tone on the spruce, but it does have a fine gloss finish with herringbone binding. The headstock is so good looking! That really catches people's attention. With the bridge pins I put in and replacing the pickguard with an inlaid pickguard, this guitar will show very well. The action needs work, and I don't mind dropping $75-$100 to a lutheir to get what I need done.

Just bought it.

I tried to lower the action myself, and the store where I purchased the guitar helped me and told me that if I ever had a problem to bring it back.

I played since the 60's, and put my old guitar up in 1985. My brother linlaw turned me on to some good old boys (and girls) who love bluegrass, and I found my real love in music. I have been through one heck of a learning curve, but I ihave been on it for 3 years. This guitar keeps up with the big boys toys, we have Martins and Collings at our gigs, and they do not drown out my Blueridge. I don't even get comments about a guitar made in China, except for "how do they do it?"

I bought used from a guy who said that he thought it was approx. 3 years old.

All-wood dread. Backs/sides solid Indian Rosewood. Solid Spruce top. Antique-look / orange-hue finish on top (some people don't care for it,.... but I really like it..... differentiates it from the 1000's of bright spruce tops out there). Rosewood fret board.

Thin neck is shallow and easy to maneuver. I like this because I have smaller hands. I thing the nut width is 1 11/16.

Action is medium high - I've chosen to not lower because I'm a pretty aggressive player.

The butterbean silver tuners are ok,.... but nothing to write home about. Holds tune well,.. My temptation is to go looking for some heavier 18:1 tuners - really to increase the already impressive sustain and to add more pizzaz to the Bluegrass experience.

Check out the specs at: http://www.sagamusic.com/catalog/products.asp?keyword=BR-160

My style of playing is bluegrass, country & gospel.

This guitar is absolutely awesome for this style of music. Rings like a bell with lots of boom and sustain. I'm guessing that this guitar is sounding better than the other reviews of newer guitars because it's been played.

I've checked out many different brands / models of guitars and would set my reference point at either an old (20 years) Martin D-28,... or D35 which really reverberate. Compared against these two guitars,.. I'd say the real difference came in difference in age,....not quality of sound (I sense some Martin fans getting ired now!!)

I would describe as rich / full sound,.... almost "buttery". Not as bright as some guitars I've played,.. but awesome thumping bass and mids.

My wife commented to me the other day that I trade guitars like I change my shorts (I just passed by the Martin D-15 in favor of a new Larrivee D-03MT mahogany). I can tell that with this sound and play,.. I have no intent of letting this Blueridge go.

Only reason I didn't give this a 10 was because I played alongside of another one of my acoustic axes and not quite as bright on the high end strings,... this might only be because I've strung the guitar using the Martin SP Phospher Bronze Lights (I remember being given the choice for "brighter" or "mellower" when selecting -- I said "mellow").

Few complaints - mostly compliments. Would have liked to seen lower action,... but I know how to take care of this.

The glue under the corner of the pickguard appears to be a bit weak near the soundhole - not really noticeable.

Slight discoloration of the finish around the sound hole in one 1/2 centimeter spot. Have to turn the guitar just right to see this.

Frets & the abalone inlay are beautifully done. Can't say enough about the subtle ornate abalone inlays on fret boards.

Finish is very beautiful.

Concerning the interior of the guitar body I'd give it a 9.75 out of 10 only because I could only spot a very *tiny* spot of glue in *one* place (where kerfing met one of the back braces). Everywhere else... I couldn't see any glue. The kerfing are relative tall when compared with what I've seen in other guitars. You can really see the distinct grain patterns of the Indian Rosewood - it looks like they used high quality tonewoods - the *sound* verifies this.

My perception is that this guitar will be a good long term investment. It is heavier than my other dreadnought.

No experience.

Without a doubt the Blueridge BR-160 is going to carve out a name in Bluegrass / Country / Gospel music scene. The combination of the sound / playability / quality construction / price makes this a winner.

It's no surprise to me that Acoustic Guitar magazine rated it as one of the top 3 guitars under $1,000 in 2004. You can check out the review at http://www.acousticguitar.com/issues/ag131/feature131.html

I compared this guitar to the Epiphone Masterbuilts,.. Alvarez MD's (which by the way were very impressive), Martin D-15, D-28, D-35 (D-28 & 35 not fair comparisons), Takamine (can't remember models - approx $800+) and the Garrisons (again,.. another nice sounding guitar but not the punch of the Blueridge on the low end and did'nt jump at the plastic-like bracing). Fact is,.. there are many **great** sounding guitars out there from these companies,...comes down to personal taste.

I've been playing guitar (on and off) for approximately 10 years.

Let me start off by saying that I do not own this guitar. It was one of the guitars I was considering buying. I've played it quite a few times.
The features are basic. Very nice finish, nicely detailed. Spruce top, Rosewood back and sides. Does not normally come with a case (though i have seen some offer it at no charge), and has no electronics.

This is THE guitar. I love the sound of this guitar, never really played one like it. The rosewood gives that nice thick, rich, boomy sound. This is the best sounding guitar i have had the pleasure of playing...

The action was a TINY bit high, but no big deal. The neck was a bit slim, but barely noticeable. The finish was great, high marks in this department as well.

This was the deal breaker. Being a Chinese made guitar, and not having any reviews out there to tell whether this guitar really withstands the test of time drew me away from it. It's solid wood, so it should only get better. And chinese craftmanship has definately improved lately, but it was just too much risk to take when looking to purchase a guitar I would potentially never have to replace.
This guitar could be the next "IT" thing. It could reaplace Martin and Taylor, IF the guitar holds up.
If I was ever looking for a second acoustic, with no need for electronics, for the price I would not hesitate to buy this guitar.

N/A

The initial impression is that this is one amazing guitar. It has a great look and Great sound. The the that really drove me away from it was it Chinese heritage, and the lack of reviews from players who have had this guitar 5+ years. This guitar could sound Amazing now, tomorrow, weeks, months, even a few years down the road, but eventually could turn to crap. The bridge could pop off (As has happened with other cheap guitars), the pegs could seperate from the head...Who knows.
If i ever have a spare $600, or am looking for a second acoustic, I would not hesitate to give this one a shot. Unfortunately, right now It's not a chance I'm willing to take...

2005- bought online, unseen and untested before purchase. I went to a local guitar boutique in my area and played one there which was going for $695.00 without case and decided to try my luck online instead for $499.00 with hardshell case- no taxes and free shipping! And I ended up with one I like better than the dusty old string one at the guitar store. The online one also came with a free digital tuner and a set of strings and had new strings installed on it before it was sent!

Very loud. Started off with light strings as that is what it came with. I replaced with medium lights and it is much better. Sound is so full and loud it almost is too busy of a sound with the fresh strings and strong resonance of the guitar. The huge volume tends to drown out some of the higher end strings and created a busy sound for my ear. I hope and expect it to mellow out soon. it resonates/sustains like no acoustic I have ever used. I used to think Martins were the only ones that had that harmonious vibe to them but this almost vibes my whole body it emanates so strong. The tightness of the top spruce grain is what I believe gives this guitar it cannon like sound throw. I can hardly hear myself sing it is so loud! The grain

I lowered action a little bit and it seems fine. Very easy to play and hold. I like the fret work as it is clean and smooth. replaced the pickguard with a solid black one, the dalmation colored one I did not like and it was installed a little crooked. Extremely tight grain spruce top with many intermitent horizontal lines/ dark streaks and on one side has a half inch knot streak from the spruce going vertically against the grain- so not quite bookmatched.

Seems heavy duty to me, tuners may need to be replaced sometime in the distant future.

N/A have not encountered yet.

I definitely feel like I got more guitar for the money than with any other option I am aware of. I have never seen a solid spruce guitar with SOLID rosewood back and sides for under $1000.00 anywhere, and this is half that and well made.

The BR-160, modeled off pre-war style Martin D-28s, comes with a solid bookmatched Spruce top, solid Rosewood back and sides, and solid Mahogany neck with Rosewood fingerboard. They are made in China, which I always took to mean don't touch, but this guitar proved me wrong.

When looking at the 160 a Martin side by side the most noticable difference is the intricate inlay in the peghead. It is a "flower-pot" type inlay. It was custom designed by Greg Rich to be on all the guitars. Very beautiful!

The peghead is smaller. But it is modeled off the way dreadnaughts pegheads were made. It has butterbean tuners, that so far have held tuning very well.

The guitar also features front facing bracing. Which gives you more tone, and overall adds to the sound of the guitar. Pre-war Martins had this, but currently they do not.

The finish is antiqued. Meaning the top has a slight orange tint, but still looks nice. The finsish is very well applied, I couldn't find the first dent or ding anywhere on the guitar.

Out of the box, the guitar had a great tone. Not the full bassy tone that bluegrass players desire, but still a great tone.

Over time, the guitar really opens up. The high end becomes tighter, and the bass becomes a lot fuller. After playing the guitar for several months, I would play it against any guitar made. I have that much confidence in it.

I added a Fishman Natural 1 undersaddle pickup. I play through a Crate CA-112D amplifier. Th guitar just sounds like a million bucks. I play live with electric guitar and bass, an electric banjo (yes, you read that right)and a full set of drums. This guitar stands up against everyone of the other instruments on stage.

I also play a lot of studio sessions. I am constantly complemented on how great the guitar sounds. No one I talk to can believe how much I paid for it. In the studio I usually use a matched pair of Neumann U-89's, and send my pickup direct to the board. I an get any sound out of this. From the boomy bluegrass sound, to electric funk guitar sounds. (By using the pickup I can also route the guitar through any processor and effect made)

This guitar was perfect for me right out of the box. The action did not have to be touched. The frets were wonderfully dressed. The finish was as smooth as glass.

I play extremely hard and expect the most out of my gear. I use the guitar almost seven days a week, and have not had the first problem with it.

I am thinking of buying a second one and setting it up identical so I can have backup in case something terrible happens.

I have not had to use any form of customer support, so I don't know how well they work.

I have been playing for about eight years now. I have had several other guitars, all major brands. None of them can compare to the Blueridge.

For an acoustic dreadnaught guitar to get so many great sounds and tones, it is amazing. I would recommend these guitars to anyone.

This guitar is a D-28 copy. Overall very nicely put together and sturdy. Very handsome guitar that rivals any high dollar guitar in looks.

Well, i am a professional bluegrass musician so a good, loud, deep sounding guitar is in order. This guitar has that deep booming sound that most bluegrass guitarists are looking for. Still, not as loud as a good old D-28 Martin but a large number of well known musicians are turning toward this guitar. Marty Raybon's lead guitarist is picking a Blueridge.

Action was close to the way that i like it. The nut could have been a little cleaner.Good finish job on the top and the rest of the guitar. I am not too fond of the tuners. A good set of Waverlys would work much better.

This is a pretty consistant guitar that works well on stage. It is durable and i like it because i can take it to places that i don't want to take my nicer Martins. I would play a show with it and have no problems with it at all.

NA

I have been playing bluegrass music since i was 9 years old. I have played little local festivals up to the WSM Radio in Nashville Tennessee. I own a Martin D-35 and another DR-35. A Morgan Monroe archtop Stanley Model Banjo and a Gibson Archtop Banjo.OVer the blueridge is a great guitar that will work very nicely in most playing situations.

D-28 herringbone copy made in China. All solid woods (nice looking spruce and rosewood). Bone nut and saddle. Nut cuts are not perfectly spaced, 5th string annoyingly close to 6th. Action was too low. Medium strings are a must. Gloss finish, but I doubt it's lacquer. Overall construction is pretty clean and well done. The pickguard that comes with it is ugly. I replaced with a tortoise Martin type. The tuners are low end but decent butterbean type. You'll have to pay extra for a case from most sellers.

It's got decent volume with medium strings. I don't consider it a cannon. (My Gibson J-60 with the Advanced Jumbo bracing IS a cannon.) The tone is very Martinesque, with the kind of high-end and middle that you would expect from a much more expensive guitar. 80/20 bronze sound right to me (phosphor bronze is too much on the treble side, in my opinion). Overall, this is a nice sounding substitute for the type of Martin that most of us can't afford or simply won't shell out for.

Factory set-up is largely irrelevant to me. I'm going to install a new bone nut and saddle to raise the action and correct the string spacing. The guitar looks very nice with its herrinbone-type inlays and the rosewood and spruce seem to be of excellent quality and are both nicely matched. Neck is straight and the (medium?) frets feel smooth.

Ive only had it for a month so I have no idea how it will hold up.

Ive never bothered with customer support on guitars.

I've played for thirty years. My main acoustics are a Gibson J-150 and a Gibson J-60. The Blueridge is no toy, but it is not going to make you sell any of your expensive guitars and spend the cash on something else. When I perform, it is with the Gibsons. The Blueridge may hurt Martin's sales of their D-15 and D-16s and the like, but it is not the same as a good D-28. Bottom line, it is a good sounding guitar FOR THE MONEY.

This is a Follow up on the BR-160 I purchased on line in Nov.
It is mainly about the customer support. So read on.
I have now had this guitar a little over a month. And these are my impressions now.

Sound has opened up a bit and is excellent. Superb even. Sure is a cannon. I put DR strings (.12's) on it and it really came alive. Why Saga ships with .10's is a real mystery to me. The strings don't last and they are too thin to provide any real great tone.
But Nothing in the price range can compare. Certainly not Takamine or the Taylor 110. This blows it away.
Warm rich and balanced tone.
I am especially surprised at how loud and responsive it is when finger picked. Very sweet,and lush. Excellent.
The headstock is small but the strings being tight to each other on 6,5 and 1,2 is no real worry to me. It has not caused any intonation problems or string muting problems.

Neck has been a pain and tho it is straight, the trussrod is loose inside the neck, and there is fret buzz. And any tightening causes the neck to have a back bow and even worse string buzz.I have been playing since 1968, and know what I can do and not do to set up my guitars. I do know how to adjust the trussrod properly.
Frets are high on the second fret and adds a "Boing" factor. Not nice but my guitar tech will remedy that. They look high at the body too.

The tone is fantastic, but the neck has been overly sensitive, and unstable. But corrections can be made no sweat.
Tuners seem to be holding well.Intonation is fantastic.
When I get the little bugs corrected the guitar will be worth the hassle. I really do believe in this product. Just not their method of customer care. It sucks.
I have already gigged with this guitar and was really impressed.'Cept for the nagging neck bug. No rating until the work to fix the bugs are complete. I think this guitar will be fine. I am not an eager optimist usually.

Customer support is at best shaky, IF YOU BUY ON LINE. I want to stress that this is where I disagree (Respectfully) with Saga.
Having said that, They did respond to my queries immediately. But here is what happened:
I'm having a bit of trouble with instability of the neck and I wanted to take my guitar to the pros at Elderly Instruments under warranty and have it looked at. But because I bought it on line I have to send it back to where I got it from. Which means I have to spend another $30.00 to ship it there, and then they ship it back to Saga, who in turn decides what to do about the guitar.
With my Gibson Les Paul, Even though I bought it from Musician's Friend, I was able to take it to Elderly Instruments and they fixed it no questions asked.
When I contacted Saga About my guitar they told me that, that is their warranty policy, and that it would take quite a long time for all of this to take place. A couple of months! for something as simple as a trussrod fix inside the neck. The guys and gals at Elderly could have that fixed inside a week tops.
So rather than pay to ship the guitar back and then pay to have it shipped from the point of purchase home, I have decided to bite the bullet and just pay to get 'er fixed. So my advice is:
DO NOT BUY A BLUERIDGE ON LINE! Cause if you have trouble at all you are hosed. And Saga will not budge on this issue.
Saga needs to adjust their thinking on this to be sure. Customer satisfaction should not come at the customer's expense. I would do whatever it took to remedy a situation as speedily as possible were it my company.
It brought home to me that paying an extra $100.00+, is worth it when there are troubles. Something to be said for paying a bit more and having a reputable dealer to fix problems. And Elderly is the best at it. These people never leave you high and dry. They even set up all the guitars before they hit the floor. And they take a lot of pride in that, as they should. But the guy who sells on line no matter how good or responsible is can't get you in and out all that quick. Especially if he is required to send it to the factory. If it were something major I might understand the wherefore and why. But not in this situation. Bad rating.

I have no regrets for buying this guitar at all. It is so superb in tone and playability.
I would still buy another one if lost or stolen. But I would buy it from Elderly Instruments instead of on line.
I have been playing many years. I have owned mainly Guilds(Pre-Fender!) But this guitar is superb and matches any of my Guilds.

I'm adding this follow up to my review of my Blueridge BR-160.
When I changed the six factory tuning keys, to brand new standard Gotoh chromed enclosed tuners, I had to use the six hex-threaded screw-in bushings from the factory tuners, on the newer Gotoh's.
The reason is, the thickness of the 160's wood headstock is too thick to use the six hex screw-in bushings provided with the Gotoh's. Those Gotoh bushings are just too short to screw in and reach the the body of the tuner on the back side of the headstock.
Doing this, the Gotoh's worked just fine.
Now, one other thing.
With the big E sixth string, I did a reverse winding of the string on that tuning key post, because that gave the string a straight line right to the bone nut slot. This gives more clearance with the A string as it exrends down to it's nut slot.
I did the same with the small E string, doing a reverse wind there too.
That gave the 1st string a straight line to that nut slot also.
These two strings having a reverse wind causes no problems at all, and might just relieve some stress on those two bone nut slots.
Is all this really necessary? No not at all. Just some personal doings of my own.

I am writing my second review. Actually its an amendment and quick update. I am five down from here, (Rob and I bought mine through Janet Davis). This guitar is amazing! It has already opened up a bit and it now sounds as good if not better than any Martin I've come across. People at jam sessions are astonished and I have to say quite a few Martin HD-28 owners are pissed! I just wanted to amend something that I said that turned out not to be true about the build of the guitar. I said it was a one piece neck in my review. It is not. A friend of mine got it up in the light and was able to show the grain reflection differences. Not only is it a two piece, but the scarf joint is so well done that you can't tell unless you go to extreme measures of proof! I dont know how they are doing this at Saga for the price but I am definitely hooked. This friend of mine is fairly knowledgeable about wood and he also pointed out that the wood qualities are better than I had mentioned in my review. You will have to be plain crazy to pick a Martin over this guitar. I understand that the higher level models of Blueridges just shatter Martin in comparison. Well, enough said.

Materials have been amply covered. Spruce rosewood,and so on.
Made in China and well made.
Loud and clear is best suited for the tone. I would say it is better than most D-28s I have played.
Teh neck is a bit on the thin side for me. I am used to playing Guilds. This is more like playing an electric. But the setup formthe factory is superb and there is not one flaw I could find in finish or workmanship.
Came with a very nice case.
The tuners work well once in tune. But not geared especially well. A lot of turning to get it to tune. But once in tune it does hold. I recommend Grover "Staytite" tuners. They hold tune and they are 18:1 ratio.
The woods used are fine and the binding is clean as is the purfling inside and out. But why the Herringbone on the edges,and normal purfling around the soundhole? Hmmm...
Still in all who cares when the guitar is so superb to play and listen to. Just a joy to play.

Rich and full and warm. Better than A D-28 in that it is not as muddy or bassy. Deep loud bass but clear and sweet. As I have played this guitar the sound has done nothing but improve.

Action is fast true up and down the neck and ewasy to play. Excellent and solid.

Too soon to know how the durability and reliability will hold up so far in two weeks it is rock solid and showing no signs of changing. Butthen it is nor summer yet.

I have had dealings with them and I have no complaints.

I have been playing since before there was hair. I own three Guilds A Fender Strat, and a Jazz Bass and some mandolins as well as Piano and harmonicas and various other things like that
If lost or stolen I would hurry to get another one ASAP. I am so happy with this axe that I have put all other acoustics in their cases. Favorite feature is the tone and the palyability.
I will be putting a Baggs IBeam pickup system in it for performing ease. But Love the tone acoustically

solid wood mine had one bad tuner but no problem

I PLAY BLUEGRASS AND BLUEGRASS GOSPEL.I REPLACED THE LIGHT STRINGS WITH MEDIUM ELIXIR.TOOK IT TO THE MUSIC SHOP THIS MORNING HAD TRUSS ROD ADJUSTED AND STRAP BUTTON INSTALLED.GOT IN JAM SESSION WITH D-28 A HUSS&DALTON AND ANOTHER BR-160.THEY WILL HOLD THEIR OWN AGAINST ANY GUITAR.I WAS GOING TO BUY A 910 TAYLOR BUT NOT NOW.I HAVE PAID 4 TIMES AS MUCH MONEY BUT NEVER GOT MORE GUITAR.

I LOWERED THE ACTION SLIGHTLY BUT IT WAS GOOD FROM THE FACTORY WORKMANSHIP WAS GREAT NO FLAWS THAT I CAN FIND.I HAVE OWNED A 710 AND 2-810 LIMITED TAYLORS AND THIS ONE IS AS GOOD.

IT IS AS GOOD AS I HAVE PLAYED BEEN PLAYING FOR 42 YEARS WILL TAKE IT TOMORROW WITHOUT A BACKUP

HAVE A LOCAL DEALER WHO ADJUSTED MINE,THOUGH I DIDN'T BUY IT FROM HIM CHARGED $2.00 CAN'T BEAT THAT

I HAVE BEEN PLAYING FOR 42 YEARS.HAVE OWNED TAYLOR GUITARS SINCE 1995 710&810.I CAN NOT BELIEVE THIS GUITAR IF IT WERE STOLEN I WOULD BUY ANOTHER I MIGHT ANYWAY FOR WHAT I WAS GOING TO SPEND I CAN BUY 5

Wow, all solid woods. check out other folks reviews.

Yay. Praise be to china, thanks for giving me a wonderful toy without spending mucho $$. Check it, it sounds great with light gauge strings considering thats what was on it when i bought...BUT, folks, you got to try it, go medium gauge. I SWEAR the tone almost doubles, it definitely drowns my friends martin and taylor. Taylors are great, but always seemed to bright or not enough volume not to mention ridiculously expensive. I borrowed a friends taylor 810 for a gig because it had electronics and when i was getting acquainted with it i was having withdrawls from my guitar I couldnt believe how much BETTER the blueridge sounded than the 810. Really, no bs. I read from a previous reviewer that this can be compared to a botique acoustic, and he's not too far off. I thought at first ok this is one of those guys who praises everything he has just because he owns it. But all the ratings are consistent...so no bs here folks.

The frets are dressed so nicely and the inlays are so solid. Great attention to detail. Get this guitar professionally set up if you dont like the action. Its worth it. I set it up myself with mediums and it was good, but when i had it done professionally, it was like butter. My friend was playing it and thought it was light gauge. When i was using my friends 810 taylor...i was wanting my blueridge neck. It is a tad bit thicker and wider. VERY nice neck. Great action.

treat it like your child.

Yay. I've been playing for 15 years. I have been trading and selling and buying crap loads of acoustics in search for that special one. I found it. It sounds so good and the price your paying is really worth it. Really this is a flat picking guitar...the dynamics die down a little when you start fingerpicking (unless you have claws). If it were stolen...i would question what i did to deserve that kind of karma, and hope that the guy who stole it play with a johnson acoustic with heavy gauge strings in the afterlife. I love this guitar so much im going to put some electronics on it...maybe the lr baggs dual source so i dont have to cut or drill anything on this beauty.

Made in China, great looking guitar. I've seen better but I remember when I first opened it up from its case I was in shock. Didn't expect half this from a $400 guitar. The orange finish is a bit of a turnoff, but doesn't really bother me. The headstock inlay is a bit much too, but that doesn't bother me either (Most people I show it to like it). The sound and value more than make up for it. Solid woods all around, nice abalone inlay on fretboard, nice trim.

I'm a beginning guitarist, and I bought this used Blueridge blind off of eBay. Never played it in person, so I thought I made a mistake until I received it. After playing it for a few minutes, I could immediately tell a huge difference from my friends' $300 laminates and the budget Martin and Taylor guitars I tried out. It has a nice deep tone with a Taylor-like shimmer to it. I was in the market for some budget Martins and Taylors or Seagulls, and this guitar outshines them all in my opinion. It won't beat out the high-end $2k+ guitars, but it could definitely hold its ground against them.

Used guitar, and the owner apparently adjusted the truss rod well. The neck is straight, but the action is still a bit high. I'll take it to get it set up in a couple weeks, but the setup is mediocre for now. The string spacing looks a bit off over the soundhole too, so hopefully a setup will take care of that.

I certainly feel like this guitar will stand up to years of good use. It doesn't feel as well-built as the high end handcrafted boutique guitars out there, but I'm pretty sure it'll hold up like most good old Japanese guitars. Tuners seem pretty solid for now, and the guitar sure sounds like it was well-made. Just waiting for the guitar to age a bit and the solid rosewood tone to come out.

Been playing for almost a year, and this was the first real acoustic guitar I bought. I've borrowed a Classical 80's Yamaha guitar, and a $250 Yamaha acoustic. They both sound pretty good, but the Blueridge definitely sounds a lot more crisper and louder. I was looking for a first good acoustic to buy, and I'm extremely pleased with the purchase. My friends that I jam with love the guitar, and if I'm with them I rarely get to touch my Blueridge anymore. It looks great, and the rosewood tone is very lovely. It shimmers and sure sounds like it'd record well. After I get this guitar setup I'm sure it'll play much better and it's definitely the best sub-$1000 acoustic I've played (everything in GC, Takamine Martin-lawsuit guitar, Washburn, Yamaha).

See other reviews.

Hard to believe. When I got the guitar, it had been set up with those aweful buzzy Martin phosphor Bronzes with the bronzed B & E string. I was sent into immediate buyer's remorse. Then I got my head straight, hung some D'Addario Phosphor Bronze lights played for about 30 minutes until it broke in a bit and WOW. Definitely a Martin sound. Big bottom end but not too big. Sometimes Martins are too boomy in the bass for my taste, but the 160 is just right. I'd give it comparable if not better marks against the Martins for Bass end. Mids compare well. Highs are not as complex as most Martins, especially the 28's and 18's. But it has a wonderful evenness of response. I think when it opens up the Martin lead on the highs will probably narrow a bit. No problem with compression either. I didn't find it as loud as some of the reviews here; definitely not a cannon. But it does have the Martin punch. It responds very well to dynamics. Just a slight bit of loss in complexity when you go up the neck. I play a lot of flatpick style (David Grier, Tony Rice, Etc) and I would say it definitely fills the bill for that.

Solid feeling. Very light. Great action! I'm a little worried about the neck. It is made out of a pretty low grade mahagony and is one piece. From what I understand, the strength of the neck in the transition between the fingerboard and the headstock is compromised in single piece necks. For that reason, I don't think I would ever hang mediums on this guitar. Time will tell if this neck has longevity. The fingerboard looks to be fairly low grade rosewood stained to look like ebony. In other words, it looks like they took their short cuts on the neck. The nut is really nice. Looks like they spent some time on it. The interior of the box is really well done. The braces look hand carved. Nice tight fit. Really superb and I think that it shows in the sound. Top is mid grade spruce. Back and sides nice looking rosewood. Finish is pretty good. Typical paint wells where the neck meets the body. There is a little bit of warp on the top horn where the top meets the top binding but overall, a good paint job. I'm not at all bothered by the aging stain or the pick guard. I think it looks pretty cool. I am worried about what the guitar will look like when it is 20 years old though! Something that does bug me that no one else seemed to mention is the rosette. I wish they had put a herringbone ring in the rosette. Its a bit too simplistic without and doesn't balance well with the beautifully done herringbone edge trim. Flawless job on the headstock inlays but there is some epoxy around the fret markers. Bridge is nicely done. I've got no problems with the saddle. Cheap tuners will do for now but I definitely will replace. Already replaced the bridge pins. All things said, this guitar is a real looker and a dream to play!

As mentioned above, I don't know about the single piece neck. I'd check with a few luthiers if it bugs you. It is a very solid yet very light guitar. Sometimes asian made guitars wind up feeling like toys. Not this one.

I've been playing for 29 years and I got to say: for the price, this guitar is astonishing! It really does hold its own against the average Martin. I cannot wait to hear it when it really opens up. If you are like me and can't afford $2000+ for a guitar but have a picky ear for tone, then this is probably the best you're going to do. If it were lost or stolen, I definitely would go right back for another. In fact, I know I'm going to eventually get the 183 for fingerstyle stuff. These blueridge people got me won over! I'm giving it a nine just as a guitar but for the price, it is really a 10.

the spruce top was really tighted grained

its a flatpickers dream! the day i bought my blueridge i played three guitars that a HD-28 and D-40. the blueridge out played the HD-28 but had almost the punch of the martin D-40. also the wife was happy about the extra shopping money

the action was about right. its the best $500 dollar guitar ive ever seen

there is not a day that goes by the it dont played. it should last for years. the tuners look like there mad cheap but for a $500 dallar guitar what do expect every thing cant be perfect

1 year warranty is not long but should last for years

2003 model. I purchased on ebay, mostly due to comments I read here. I was not dissappointed. I sold my Taylor 514 as this is better. Unbeleivable value for the money. I use a lot of alternate tunings, so it's handy to have several acoustics. Blueridge makes that affordable -without sacrificing anything

Very balanced sound, with considerably more bass than my "tinny" sounding Taylor. Great for hard flatpicking as well as delicate fingerpicking.

Set up was not perfect. Had to lose the crappy strings and do a little tweaking. It's fine now. Fit & finish is excellent, although they got a bit carried away with the "aging" toner, making it a bit too orangey. My main complaint was the ridiculous looking "dalmation" pickguard, which was falling off anyway. I immediately replaced it with a Martin style tortoise shell guard (which fit perfectly) Looks great now! I also replaced the bridge pins, as they kept falling out. The tuners do look cheap, but so far seem to work fine.

Appears to be a tank. Wouldn't mind a body strap button. Backup? --you can break strings on anything.

Warranties are for cars & washing machines. The Chinese now appear to be making as good of stuff as anyone, for a lot less money. In this price range -don't fret about warranties...........

Been playing over 35 yrs. Have owned hundreds of guitars, mostly electrics -but among acoustics, have owned Martins, Gibsons, Taylors, Takamines, Larrivees, etc. The BR-160 hold it's own with any of them, for a fraction of the cost. I will probably buy more Blueridges, whether it is lost or stolen, or not. I do wish they made something with a pickup & eq setup.

2004 Br-160. Dreadnaught. Sitka/Indian rosewood, all solid. Mahogany neck. "Aging toner" on the top, makes it a little orangy. Gloss finish all over, lots of abalone, herringbone purfling. Bone nut and saddle, TUSQ bridge pins. Rosewood bridge and fretboard. Came with a Geib style case. Very happy with the features of the guitar. Slightly thinner in body depth than my D-28, otherwise very similare in dimensions. Fancier trim than the D-28. Knocking one point off because I would prefer this guitar without the 'aging toner' (orange wood stain). Otherwise, a 10.

Great sound out of this. Nice clean highs and medium bass (not as bassy as the D-28, not as bright as a Taylor... fills a great space right in between). Leads cut through great. Perfect for rythym and flatpicking. Fingerpickers might want to look into the Br-163 with wider string spacing.

Action seems a little high for me, even though I'm a strummer more than anything. Will probably try lowering the action at the saddle and going from there. The finish all looks good. No sloppy glue, even gloss coat. This is picky, but some of the pieces of abalone in the inlay are far less lusterous than others, but that's VERY minor. The pickguard is coming up just a touch at the bottom, not even enough to slip the corner of a piece of paper into. No biggie, looks like it's staying like that. Also, it's a little irritating that they glued the strap pin in. I never use a strap, I'd prefer it gone.

The headstock is too small, changing strings is a bit of a pain, I'm sure others have already commented on that. I'm dealing with it, it's fine.

Seems sturdy enough. I got this guitar as my beater, so we'll see how the beach and car treat it. All seems well made though, and doesn't feel unstable.

1 year wartranty. Fine for a $500 dollar guitar. Haven't had to deal with Customer Service, doubt I will.

I got this guitar to travel with me rather than carting the far more expensive D-28 around. This is the best VALUE out there for a solid wood acoustic. Does it sound as nice as my D-28? No, I can't try to trick myself into thinking that. It's not as complex in sound or as deep on the bass side. Does it sound better than any guitar I've heard under $1000? Oh yeah, especially when compared to the low end models made by some of the high end manufacturers (Martin DM/DX/15 series, Taylor Big Baby/310). I tell everyone about this guitar and am trying to convince some beginning players to skip the typical beginner guitars, save some cash, and start off with a great sounding instrument, the Blueridge. If it was lost or stolen, I'd replace it without a second thought. A great sounding guitar I don't feel guilty about taking to potentially unfriendly environments... it's exactly what I wanted, and haven't seen anything else that could fill that gap for $500.

I think Cylus is wrong about Blueridge guitars going down in value. My dealer told me as of July 1st, Saga is raising the price of all Blueridge guitars $100. For all of us who own Blueridge guitars, they are worth more now! Besides, you ought to own one before you judge them! If mine were lost or stolen, I'd buy another and I'll have to pay more for it. They are a Fantastic value and a great bluegrass guitar!

Solid spruce top with the tightest grain I've seen on any guitar.
Solid rosewood back and sides. Very well made crafted instrument, including finish and the inside is as clean as any of the high end
American made models. This is a solid well made guitar. It deserves maybe some better tuners but they seem to function fine and I have had no promblems with them. Like Cylus I have been playin for a long time and have toured and played in the U.S. and Europe.I still make
my living in the music business.

The sound of these guitars is truly amazing considering the cost. I'm not gonna get into a big list of guitars I have owned or played regardless of the cost of some of them, the bottom line is what do they sound like? I can honestly say that the BR160 rates with the best dreadnaught models I have ever had and that can be a hard thing to admit when you have always considered the American made guitars the best in the world.

Very well crafted the spruce top is the finest grade I've seen and compares easily to my Engleman top guitars I own.

So far not any problems everything performs well including any truss rod adjustments nice and smooth.

So far haven't needed any but I know Saga is a well respected music
company.

If your looking for a guitar that will compete with the big 3 major
U.S. brands then I would suggest to give one of these a try. If you happen to have owned some of the higher end American models you
will have a good basis for judging this line. Last I would like to say
that I'm not bashing any of the American made lines because I own a lot of them and make my living playing and recording with them. I am simply saying in fairness that the Blueridge dreadnaughts are
amazing sounding and will compete with the upper market and in lot of comparisons will out perform them you be the judge.

Nice basic no frills guitar

Played one in a store. It sounded good, but have to disagree with Everette. It didn't sound Gibson good, or Martin good. Someone needs to give Everette a spelling lesson also, and remind him 5 years down the road, his Blueridge will go down in value while a vintage Martin or Gibson will go up in value. I know this, I have a 1955 D28, a 1965 D18, and a 1970 Gibson J50. Yes I have played almost 61 years, so I think I can speak with authority on these matters. Toured for almost 42 years, but now am content to sit and remember the testimony I built!

Well made, liked the faded top.

Have to wait and see, seems well built.

Solid spruce top, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides. Rosewood neck and fretboard. Dovetail joint. etc etc.

My style is still developing. I have owned a Takamine N-10, purchased over 15 years ago. Nice cedar top guitar with mahogany back and sides. Warm tone, easy playing. I wanted something else, and found the Blueridge articles and "BUZZ" on the Net. Bought the BR140 first, and have had that for about 2 months now. Nice solid mahogany guitar with identical appointments to the BR160, minus some purfling and inlay details.

The BR160 is the much better guitar in my opinion. The bone nut and saddle make a big difference, as does the Rosewood. The sustain is excellent and very ringing. The guitar is very lightweight, which is an indication of a very resonant instrument.

Guitar was setup with almost perfect action. Much lower than standard factory setups. Its just right. Finish is virtually flawless. The pickguard on this 160 is beveled, (whereas it was not on the earlier BR140.) Believe it or not, the "vintage" orange-ish finish of the top looks better on the 160 than it does on the 140. I can't explain why. The whole thing just looks better, (and I've been studying the 140 for 2 months in contrast.)

My only knock on it is that the B string buzzes a bit if you strum it hard and don't press very firmly right behind the frets. I've had this issue with guitars before, so its nothing new. The BR140 has it as well, and that one came with a plastic compensating saddle. (Didn't help.)

Seems very durable. Everyone reports no problems. Saga certainly has dialed in a winner here.

This is an instrument that will let you play to your ability without getting in the way. How deceiving in how the cheap guitar makes you so less confident about your playing. You don't have to worry about that with this guitar. It will go anywhere you want. Its a great deal.

For the money, it is the guitar deal of the world right now. I've strummed Martins, and for the money, there is no comparison. Sure, I would say the Martin I most recently played, (HD-28LV, new) was better. (It sure smelled better! Wow!) But not $2300 better!

Everyone should be paying around $1200 for this guitar. I made sure to snap one up before the prices went higher. They seem stable on eBay for now, but who knows what might change in the future. If Saga keeps this up, you can be sure we will all soon be playing these orange guitars with dalmation pickguards.

I thoroughly reviewed the Blueridge Guitar line before I purchased one, and only heard good things about them so i bought one. I was contemplating purchasing a Martin HD-28, before I became turned on to these guitars. Beautiful Solid Spruce Top, Perfectly Matched Solid Indian Rosewood Back and Sides. Beautiful and Tasteful snowflake inlay on the fretboard. I personally think the pickguard and vintage toner on top really make the guitar look cool, and set it apart from the crowd. I like the thinner neck it has. Tuners stay in tune great, and love the vintage look on those too.

What more can I say about the sound of this guitar than to say that it is a CANNON!! Like I said, I was seriously contemplating purchasing a Martin HD-28 before I played one of these, and I know this will offend the die-hard Martin players out there, but this guitar sounded better than two of the HD-28's I played prior to the purchase of this guitar. I play a lot of bluegrass, and mainly then, its rhythym guitar. This thing is perfect for that. But it is also perfectly suited for lead playing as well. It has a slightly better bass response than the HD-28, and tons better mids and treble response than the HD-28. It's really unbelievable that this guitar only cost $500!!!!!

I have looked this guitar over thoroughly and have found absolutely nothing that would be thought of as "cheap" or "typical" of a foreign made instrument. In fact this guitar, being foreign made, seems much nicer than many domestic guitars ive come across.

This guitar seems rock solid. The woods are very solid, and the finish seems of very good quality. Ive heard negative things about the tuners, but from what Ive experienced they seem very good,a nd stay in tune great.

No dealings

I cannot say enough good things about this guitar. I am constantly amazed. I would have bought this guitar if it had cost $2500+, but the fact that they only cost $525-$550, makes them, in my opinion the best deal in the guitar market. Keep an eye out, Blueridge will be the next big brand. If this guitar were stolen I would waste no time in buying me another one. I love the sound of the guitar. I just think its the perfect bluegrass guitar.

Made in 2003. Features as noted in other reviews. Solid woods with spruce top and back with rosewood sides. Not overly fancy, but well equipped.

The soud is amazing. I have had experienced players go wide-eyed when playing my guitar. First question most have asked is how much did you pay for it? Most did not believe the price. For me, the clarity and sustain are amazing and it is the best sounding guitar I have played

The action was low, which suits my fingerstyle playing. I have looked hard to find flaws in the fit and finish, but haven't found any. The frets are excellent. I love the grain of the wood. It is well matched.

I have only had the guitar for 3 months now, but it gives every appearance of being very durable and reliable. All of the construction is tight and solid

I have not dealt directly with Saga. Surprisingly, there is only a 1-year warranty. The quality merits a better warranty.

I have been playing guitar and banjo for 30 years. I would defintely go for another if this one was lost or stolen. It is the best guitar I have ever owned. I really love the overall appearance. It is classy without being gaudy. The neck is wonderful and fast. It stays in tune and is a joy to play. I looked at everything available in the price range and there was no comparison. I might put a pickup on it someday, but it is plenty loud enough to be heard.

i sold a 1963 gibson and bought a blueridge 160 and i wouldnt give my blue ridge for two gibsons , i also own a alveez yairi a simon patrick a1952 harmony , my blueridge dosent have to back up for any one of them oh by the way i have owned two martins which i got rid of , my opion is the blueride is hared to beat , mine is not for sale at any price .

my action was perfect , perfect guitar

definately

I"VE BEEN PLAYING FOR 42 YEARS IF IT WAS STOLE I DEFINATELY WOULDBUY ANOTHER, THE ACTION IS GREAT THE NECK IS PERFECT NOT A MARTIN SAW LOG, THE HIGHS AND LOWS PERFECT , THE BEST GUITAR I EVER OWNED I THINK IT BEATS MARTIN AND GIBSON ALL TO PIECES SOUND AND PRICE WISE