Breedlove Guitars AD20/SM

Dreadnought, solid maple back, solid spruce top, laminate maple sides. Maple neck.

Wow. At this price I'm stunned. Not quite the bottom punch of my trusty old Guild D50 but then less than 1/3 the price so I'm very satisfied. I haven't tried medium strings, I imagine that will add a bit to the attack and volume.

Setup is great. I bought it used, with an after-market LR Baggs under-saddle active pickup. So somebody had to set it up while installing the pickup, whoever did it's fine. Nice low action (maybe too low for my style, but again medium strings may compensate) and no buzz even if I hit it pretty hard.
Excess kerf notching where the bottom braces meet the edges, other than that I can't find any flaws.

Don't know yet, but I do know Breedlove's reputation so I don't anticipate any problems.

Been playing about 39 years, and had a variety of acoustics during that time. Currently own the aforementiond Guild D50 (bought new in 78) and a Taylor 614 bought new a couple of years ago. I mostly picked up this AD20 to drag around those places I won't take either of those gems. I got more sound than I thought I would at this price, very pleased. But at this price I also won't worry about the camping at BG festivals and long rides in the hot car!

This is a standard dread, with solid Sitka top and gorgeous mahogany sides/back and neck (natural finish). Med frets on a 1 11/16 - 25.5" - 20 fret rosewood neck with abalone dot markers. Check out their bracing and bridge! Gloss body finish with tortoise binding. Narrow abalone rosette. Tortoise pick-guard. Rosewood headstock face with gold Grover tuners. No electronics.

I've been a "rosewood snob" most of my life and would never have believed that mahogany could sound as rich and full as my new AD20-SM does. It rings like a bell and each string is clear, and articulate, with even voicing from top to bottom. The intonation was perfect. Frankly it has the best mix of the Martin and Taylor traits...it has the richness of a Martin, yet the brightness of a Taylor.

ACTION: The natural/satin neck finish is a dream to play. Nice,low action using light strings. It's well-suited to strumming, flat or finger picking. You can play it hard and it stays in tune. FIT/FINISH: Beautiful workmanship! As good as I've seen in any guitar - ever. Grover tuners. Flawless gloss finish. Perfect joints, seams and binding. The top is perfect and the mahogany back sides are highly figured and absolutely gorgeous.

Seems very solid but it's a light guitar. All the parts were tight and aligned properly. I treat all mine with care so I don't know how much rough handling it will take.

No service needed. But I have called and talked to them... very responsive and friendly.

Been playing 37 year and I've owned/played dozens of acoustics and this is a truly incredible guitar - especially for the price. I can't believe they've managed to produce a guitar this good for this price. They've set a whole new bar for quality and price. Martin/Taylor... MOVE OVER! They've truly captured the best features and brought them together in one guitar. I really can't get over it. There's nothing I don't like. The sound is the best. I'm not big on flashy, so this is perfect... clean, elegant and functional.

Made in 2005, standard features for this model.

10/10 for standard features at an excellent price.

This is where this guitar shines. The tone is great - the bass is simply amazing. Good tight bass that resonates the entire guitar. low / low-mids are creamy, and highs shine with harmonics and overtones. It isn't the best sounding guitar out there, but for the price I have yet to find a guitar that sounds this "good". Opinion of sound is subjective. By "good" I mean this guitar has the commonly desired traits found in relatively expensive guitars.
I give it a 10/10 because of excellent sound for price.

Setup was good. I got a model that was straight of the box, so the guitar shop didn't have a chance to set it up themselves. Action is quite low, and is in no need of adjustment. Low-E fretbuzz occurs if strummed hard and not pressed down tightly, but can be eliminated by pressing harder.
There was a small scratch running alongside 16th fret - not on the fretboard itself by on the side. It obviously doesn't affect playability, but it is worth mentioning. 9/10 on this catagory because there's no good reason that scratch is there. On the flip side, I understand no instrument is 100% perfect.

Grover tuners that last and keep your guitar in tune. Gold finish. It will take some time to see if the finish lasts. IMO, a worn finish adds character and should not neccessarily decrement from an instrument's value.

Never had to deal with them.

Been playing for 15+ years. I play all sorts of styles.
I am 100% satisfied with this guitar, especially the tone. If it were stolen I'd get another.

solid spruce top. solid mahogany back and sides. Great bridge style NO PINS!! Makes changing stings a breeze and is very strong and vibrant sounding. Frets are near perfect. Beautiful overall finish. Amazing at this price level. Great Grover Tuning machines. Top notch.

I honestly could not believe how great this guitar sounds. The very first note or chord you play you will be very impressed. So far the best acoustic I have played or owned. I have several Takamine's , Yamahas, Gibsons,etc. GREAT SOUND. I play rock, blues, folky rock, alternative rock, and whatever else I feel.

Simply put for the Money it is GREAT. You will not find anything better out there for this price or for a price within a $1000. Great guitar.

I have not had it long enough but so far so good. As soon as I picked it up I noticed the feel of QUALITY. This is made very well. Should last a long time. Stays in tune. Amazing guitar. Would play this anywhere anytime and know I am going to sound great.

Have never dealt with them but if the quality of support is equal to the quality of instruments they make I am sure they are stellar.

I love this guitar. It is a great instrument. I have been playing close to 20 years now and it is the best acoustic I have owned and one of the best I have ever played. I can't imagine how good the High Breedlove guitars must be if these Atlas models are this good. Get One and you will be very happy. I have to one day play the higher end models. Breedlove is truly an amazing guitar company.

2004 current model, made in Korea. Solid spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides. Gold Grover tuners. Mahogany neck, rosewood fretboard and rosewood cover on the headstock. Abalone around the sound hole and dot markers on the finger board. Strings go through the bridge like most Breedloves or the Taylors. Got a gig bag, a strap, and extra strings. All I could beat the dealer out of. He knew he had me when I picked it up. This is beautiful.

Easy to play. Really a nice set up.

Well, it ain't a 34 Martin or a Santa Cruz PW but it is damned good. As much voice as my Guild D35. Doesn't really thump like Martins but I think it will kill banjos. A little buzz on low E but came with light strings.

I can't describe the bracing too well. There is a canti brace off the rear peg that supports the bridge. Looks strong and I think allows a thinner top.

You need to see this. Stunning at this price. Dealer adjusted nice low action, I think I will raise it a little and see if it booms out. Looked inside with a flashlight and couldn't find a glue spot or any sloppy stuff.

Frets are not bound but are perfect. Best polish I have ever seen. Top has a couple of bear claws but mostly nice straight grain mahogany and spruce.

Binding matches the pickguard. Bound top and back. Beautiful just beautiful. In the flesh it is a lot better than the catalog photos. This can fit right in with the finish on the rest of the Breadlove line. I'm not kidding, you have to see this.

You won't believe this. Lots better looking than the photos in the catalog. At this price GET ONE at least one.

I don't gig, just a homebody but it will go to bluegrass festivals. Gold Grover machines best polish of frets I have seen. Frets are dead even with the fingerboard. I need to add strap buttons. Finish seems excellent.

I wrote to them via email. Wanted to locate a dealer and had a couple of questions. Prompt. Warranty is 5 years.

This looks and sounds like a $2000 instrument. I was looking for the best deal I could get under 1k. Looked at the usual stuff, Takamine, Yamaha, Martin dm, etc. I have a Guild and a Seagull.

Wonderful sound, beautiful, craftsmanlike built. Get one before they figure out how good a deal they have.

Wish they included a case but THIS IS A BREADLOVE FOR LESS THAN $500.

Purchased new January, 2004. Korean made Breedloves were introduced into US market around November 2003. Dreadnought, solid sitka spruce top, solid mahogany back, laminate mahogany bouts. Satin neck finish, gloss body finish, good quality fit & finish. No pickup. Saddle is moulded and features compensation to improve intonation. Most significant feature is the bridge truss which is a wickedly clever structural enhancement that allows the moment acting on the bridge to be partially counteracted by a compression member that connects near the strap button. This allows the top to be thinner and the bracing to be reduced in theory minimizing bellying, bracing glue delamination and bridge delamination. Bridge does not utilize pins. Holes are drilled through the bridge allowing strings to insert rear of bridge near top. Includes gold Grover high reduction tuners. Frets are narrow and don't seem very high. Fingerboard is either Indian rosewood or Madagacar ebony. Strings are light gauge D'Addario.

Very responsive, excellent highs, mid and credible bass. For the money exceptional tone for the $. Should do a great job on blues, bluegrass, folk, country or rock, flatpicking or fingerpicking.

Action is low and excellent. Firm flat pick technique results in minor fret buzz but there are no high frets and this is to be expected for such low action. My Peterson strobe indicates that intonation is good but not perfect. Much better than my D35 Martin, somewhat worse than my semi-high end Tacoma. No flaws are evident. The Breedlove clan must be spending time in Korea because fit & finish, appearance approach the Oregon made instruments (which if you have not played and seen and you love steel string guitars you should!).

Should be reliable with proper care, storage and handling. The bridge truss appears to be proven in the Oregon made Breedloves which go back some years. This should allow a more responsive top to survive the structural loads. To my ears there is no question that that the bridge truss allows tops/bracing to be refined resulting in better response and tone.

No info.

Playing approx. 37 years. Own several good steel string acoustics, a resonator guitar, home built Strat & Firebird electrics. This is an exceptional guitar for the money. Don't know how much variance these Korean built Breedloves exhibit but if it were stolen I would try and replace it.

MAde in 2003-assembled in Korea
20 fret dreadnaught
solid sitka spruce top, solid rosewood back and neck

Sound is better than anything I have ever played in its pricerange. Lists for $599, I got mine for around $500.
Went shopping for a Baby Taylor, came home with this and I'm glad I did.
Has a BRILLIANT clear ring from lowest to highest. Definitely could be used in a recording studio. This is an AMAZING sound from a moderately priced guitar.

Guitar was perfectly set up at the factory for my taste. Low, fast action. Light gauge D'Addarrio strings. To my relatively untrained eye, practically flawless. Just enough flaw in the wood grain to let you know it is solid and pure.

All I can say is Awesome. Near perfect. BUY ONE!!

I've been playing for 15 years and this is the best guitar I have ever owned. The Breedlove Atlas Series is probably the best moderate expense guitar series going right now. Blows the Baby Taylors away!