Breedlove Guitars AJ250/SF-12 PLUS

This is a Korean-made jumbo bodied cutaway 12-string. They say that the assembled guitars are sent to Breedlove in Oregon where they are set up my U.S. technicians.

Laminated flamed maple sides and back, and a solid spruce soundboard. The 'plus' designation adds beautiful abalone around the soundhole and top rim, along with gold Grover tuners and a Fishman Classic 4T piezo pickup and pre-amp. The pre-amp unit also contains a built-in tuner- a MUST with a 12-sting. Alltogether, a really first-class package.

The top and body are all gloss finish, and impeccable. The binding on both the guitar body and fretboard is grained ivoroid. There's a relatively small tortoise pickguard that has a teardrop shape. A really top quality Breedlove case was also included.

The neck appears to be sapele, three-piece with a blocked dovetail extension and head plate. The head is trimmed with rosewood, and includes a mother-of-pearl Breedlove logo.

Really classy abalone elipses make up the fretboard markers at the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th and 17th fret positions.

The reason I bought this guitar is for the SOUND. I was able to test a number of 12-strings side-by-side at my local guitar store, and this one just jumps out at you with a playability and tone way above all the others.

You would expect a jumbo-body to be really bass-heavy and maybe a bit boomy, but that is not the case with this guitar. It sounds very full yet balanced with a really nice 12-string sparkle.

I play in a church group that performs in both English and Spanish. This guitar really adds variety and depth to our arrangements, and makes me sound like a better player that I am!

The action is a bit high, which I suppose is necessary with a 12-string to prevent buzzing. They did include a second saddle with some shims, that I have not yet checked out, i.e. I'm not sure if its intent is to raise or lower the action. Also included is a hex key to adjust the bridge truss system, which is supposed to prevent the top from distorting at the bridge due to stresses over time. It appears to be a good design, and from what I can find online, really does work.

The flamed maple is not the very best quality, and can be a bit spotty in its grain pattern, but is attractive nonetheless.

The only flaw I've been able to find is a small piece of stray wood (a splinter) sticking out of the interior kerfed bracing on the bottom of the guitar. I have not yet tried to fish it out, as its really not that big of a deal. Maybe when I check out the second saddle.

I have already played this guitar at 6 different events. With the factory case, it is very well protected. I have bumped the guitar several times, but this has not resulted in any visible damage.

Two strap buttons are included, and they are very well installed. I use a strap, and so far no issues whatsoever, and none anticipated.

I feel no need to take a second backup unit along- this will serve me well for many years.

My only communication with Breedlove was a question related to the Pre-amp. They were quick to answer the phone, and very friendly and informative in answering my question. It is evident taht these are 'real' people interested in their customers and in building a good business.

I have been playing about five years, and waited to start until I was 48. I'm crazy about guitars, and now own 7- the remainder are all six-strings, with one a nylon string.

If this guitar went away for whatever reason, it would be replaced with exactly the same model, something I really can't say about any of my other guitars.

My favorite thing about this guitar is its playability and its sound- I absolutely LOVE its sound and can't put it down. it's FUN to play.

This is a 2005 Jumbo 12string. Solid Sitka top and laminated flamed maple back and sides. It has a Fishman Classic 4 piezo pickup / preamp system.

I bought this guitar because of it's tone. It sounded so amazing. Other 12strings sounded good but this was heads above the rest. There are good instruments but every once in a while a certain combination happens and an amazing instrument is created. This is one of those rare instruments. I wasn't even looking to buy a 12string but I couldn't let it get away. It has a very full, rich, and balanced tone. The midrange is scooped ever so slightly which gives it the great voice.

This is also one of the easiest 12strings to play, the action and string spacing is very comfortable. I've actually been known to play some quick lead lines on it.

I play this at a weekly gig, along with a 6string Breedlove, I've never had any issues with it. It stays in tune even with changing from standard to alternate tunings periodically - in MN that's saying something!

Breedlove's customer service is awesome - fast, personalized, and accurate. They understand that their company will be built by musicians not shareholders.

I love this guitar. I've bought and sold tons guitars and gear over the years - get something, enjoy it, get bored with it, sell it. But I've acquired a couple of guitars that will never be sold. This 12string is one of them.

Body Style: Jumbo Deep Body, Soft Cutaway Binding (body & neck): Ivoroid Binding, abalone top purfling
Body Depth: Deep, 4 9/16? Rosette: Abalone rosette w/ Black Border
Width at lower bout: 17" Nut and Saddle: Tusq
Scale Length: 25.5" Frets: Standard
Nut Width: 1 7/8? # Of Frets: 20
Neck width at body: 2 5/16? Fingerboard and Bridge: Rosewood
String spacing at saddle E-E, 2 3/8? Inlay Pattern: Ellipse
String gauge: Light Headstock Overlay: Rosewood
Finish: Gloss Tuners: Gold Grover mini Tuners
Top Wood: Solid Sitka Spruce End Pin: Ebony
Back & Sides: Flamed Maple Laminate Electronics: Fishman Classic IV Pickup
Hard Case

Breedlove guitars are becoming quite popular and once played you'll understand why. I prefer fingerstyle and the sound and balance of this guitar are equally pleasing with or without an amplifier. I recently switched from a 1992 Fender Princeton Chorus amplifier to a Fender Cyber Deluxe and I can create wonderful effects by making adjustments between the amp and the Fishman Classic 4T pickup system. I do, however, choose too play the guitar without amplification the majority of the time.

The jumbo version provides an excellent bass response when wanted, but it's balanced, not overpowering. The guitar produces a rich full sound - not too bright, not too muddy. I've had mine for approximately 3 months and continue to be pleased. It has sufficient volume with, or without, amplification and has a balanced sound.

Sound is a very personal criterion and varies from guitar to guitar so I hesitate to comment about the ongoing comparison of guitar manufacturers versus Taylor (the apparent benchmark for comparison). I own a 2005 Taylor 614-CE with the Expression System and a 1994 Taylor 410 so I offer my personal observation. There is a reason Taylor is the benchmark for comparison and we'll leave it at that. Breedlove guitars, however, offer extraordinary sound and value in a guitar that costs 1.5 - 2 times less than a comparable Taylor. They deserve strong consideration when choosing a new instrument.

The set up from the factory was very nicely done. A Careful tuning was all that was required.

Fit and finish were adequate to very good but not perfect. I was surprised that some things passed Breedlove factory inspection without the instrument being marked as a 2nd or used instrument (as many manufacturers do). There are several areas on the binding around the upper bout that have extreme discoloration and slight bubbling in the gloss finish in these spots; the neck binding has some minor indents and scratches that occured during assemby; and the interior bracing has some chips and imperfections that are rarely found on guitars in this price range. They do not impact playability or sound but these defects would be unacceptable on a guitar that retails for approximately $1500 with the case. I got a pretty good deal so I accepted these flaws because of the excellent sound quality. The PLUS in the model number provides abalone inlay around the top and sound hole, and gets gold grover tuners. Together, these really set off the appearance. The SJ model has flamed maple laminated back and sides. Flamed maple always provides a beautiful wood finish appearance and this guitar displays beautiful match quality. The case is nicely made (no - it's not a Taylor case) and provides excellent protection for the guitar and accessories.

Breedlove Atlas products are covered by a limited five-year warranty so they are confident the guitar is well made.

My playing live days are well behind me but I do not see any reason this guitar wouldn't hold up to the rigors of the road. I never played a gig without having several guitars at my disposal (Taylor, Rickenbacker, Fender) and wouldn't consider it today. Things can, and do, go wrong.

The hardware and pickup system is first class and should last providing proper care is used. The strap buttons appear to be installed very well.

As with any higher end acoustic guitar the key is proper care particulary humidification dependant on climate. I feel it will treat you as you treat it.

I have not had any reason to communicate with Breedlove direct. I feel their warranty is reasonable as mentioned above. Their website is informative and based on other peoples experience I anticipate reasonable service if it becomes neccessary to communicate with them.

I have been playing for 45 years and have played a variety of music styles over the decades. I played live gigs for 8 years during my youth and owned some of the finest guitars ever produced. In addition to the Taylor's I mentioned above I own a 57 Fender Stratocaster, Rickenbacker 330, Rickenbacker 620, and Epiphone Les Paul Elitist. I purchased this guitar because I wanted a 12 string to fill in the small void in my music that I couldn't fill with any of the others. To me nothing compares with Taylor but I didn't want to spend $1800.00 or more for a guitar that I play only occasionaly. I played almost every manufacturers guitar in this price range and in my opinion nothing compares. Providing it stands the test of time I wouldn't hesitate to buy this guitar again if something unfortunate were to happen to it.