Blueridge BR-43

2005 Chinese Br-43, 20 frets, laminate mahogany sides and back, solid spruce top, 000 size, very heavy gloss finish, thin profile neck, chrome plated open back butterbean tuners,20 frets, very nice hs golden gate case

I play bluegrass, the sound is a bit compressed for my style, really need a dread, guitar has a nice tone, nice neck, needed to be set up, action too high for my tastes, no compensated saddle, intonation still pretty good

top wood is nice, not bookmatched,tuners were starting to oxidize,headstock too small, strings bumping into other tuners above nut. Could have been set up better.

Plastic strap button seemed solid, no top button,Very solidly made guitar, average weight for this size, my dreadnought is lighter, seems dependable, finish very protective, will last

Playing over 25 years, sending it back to MF, because of problem with strings rubbing against each other's tuner above nut.

Blueridge copy of a Martin triple-O. Made in china, probably early 2004. I have had the the guitar a little less than two years and the sound seems to opening up a bit now compared to when brand new. Puts out plenty of volume. Solid spruce top, mahogany laminate sides and back. 25-1/2" scale on a comfortable, slim mahogany neck. String spacing at the nut is a little narrow. Real bone saddle & nut. Small headstock with fancy inlay. I have no problems with the standard closed tuning keys on my BR-43. Blueridge seems to have gone to all open back tuners now. The standard Golden Gate hard case that came with guitar was ok, but tight fitting. I now use a genuine Martin 000/OM size case that fits perfectly.

I really like the sound of the triple-O size. A dreadnaught never has suited me or my style of fingerpicked blues in open tunings. Sounds better than laminated top acoustic guitars I have had in the past. I enjoy playing this Blueridge.

Action was a bit high at the nut, and saddle (except high E). No real defects I have found. Great gloss finish. I have had trouble with a few of the stock plastic bridge pins slipping after I change strings. Great fretwork for this price range.

Seems pretty solid and reliable. Stays in tune well.

Have not dealt with Blueridge about customer support.

I have been playing about 30 years. Own two round-neck wood body resonator (dobro) guitars and two Fender electric guitars. If I were buying my Blueridge again I might spend a bit more and get the BR-143 instead, which is all solid wood. My Blueridge BR-43 ended up replacing a 1980's Yahama triple-O style guitar that was pretty good but didn't have a solid top or as good frets & tuners. If lost or stolen I would probably buy another Blueridge. The small headstock takes a little getting used to. I kind of like the fancy headstock inlays. All in all the lower priced Blueridge guitars seem to be a super great deal if you don't object to them being made in China.

I think the year is 2004, made in China

* Select, solid Sitka Spruce top with hand-carved parabolic braces in the authentic prewar forward X-pattern
* Mahogany back and sides
* Carved Mahogany, low profile neck with, dove-tail neck joint and 25.5" scale length
* Natural high-gloss finish
* "000" body size with a 14th-fret body joint
* Black 5-ply body binding (B/W/B/W/B)
* Mother-of-pearl dot position markers
* East Indian Rosewood fingerboard and bridge
* Ornate mother-of-pearl peghead inlay
* Bone nut and saddle
* Black pickguard
* Accurate vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons

I play different styles of music and I have owned a variety of guitars, always looking for a combination of things in an instrument. The sound being first, this guitar is wonderful. It is a little bright (like a Taylor), but not exactly. It is clean and balanced. I am a bit mesmerized by this guitar as it has a distinct personality like a Martin or a Taylor.

The setup is great, the action is low and there is no buzzing. The craftsman ship is really sound and the instrument is amazingly light. Everything looks to be clean.

Who is to say how the guitar will hold up, but for the price it is more than worth finding out. The case it came with is a tank and it will protect the guitar well.

No connection with the company, I bought this used.

I have been playing on and off for 35 years. I have owned Epiphone, Kingston, Seagull, Larrivee the last two of which were amazing, but just not exactly what I was looking for. I presently have a Taylor and a small travel Martin and have played larger Martins and Gibsons. Again great guitars in their own right, but a guitar is a very personal thing and each maker is unique. This Blueridge is something more than unique, it is finally the perfect one for my style. I may add another later for variety, but I love this thing!

this is a 2004 000 sized guitar that features a solid spruce top and a mahogany laminate body. The neck is mahogany and the fingerboard and bridge are rosewood. Made in China. I know it's a copy of a Martin but I'm not sure which one; Martins weren't even in my price range. Has nice, closed tuners on a solid peg head w/some inlay.

This is where this guitar just shines. I've played LOTS of Blueridge guitars now and they are all LOUD and clear as a bell. This guitar is TWICE as loud as others it's size. Even though the body is a laminate, it really pumps; you can FEEL it kicking you when you strum it.

It all looks good. Tuners work great, no finish gaffs or anything.

This guitar is light, that must be one reason why it responds so well. As far as being durable, well, you can't be too rough w/any acoustic. It should last.

haven't dealt w/them.

I've been playing for a long time but only recentl got more into acoustics. I have acoustics by Washburn, Seagull, Taylor, and others and now Blueridge. This is the one I reach for. In this kind of price bracket you can't beat them, PERIOD!!! Got mine w/a case too.