Breedlove Guitars RD20X/R

This is another wonderful instrument from Steve Henderson in Oregon.Although different sounding than his other guitar models, this is one fine dreadnought.Mine is a 1999 solid select spruce top and the best solid bookmatched rosewood I have seen on any guitar.My model has gold tuners with ebony and is the X style without the JLD bridge doctor, which is a great idea for the fingerstyle models but not for a dreadnought.No pickup just a pickers delight.The Breedlove appointments are the best.The 9 is because what features can a guitar have?

The sound is just now starting to open up which is generally typical of a dreadnought which is why old Martins are sought after.Compared to my HD-28, the Breedlove seems to have more control over each note and the sound combines better when strummed.My Martin is more of a limited single note picked guitar, so the Breedlove wins out in this area.The typical bass of a dreadnought and also with mids and even treble.I have read other reviews about the maple and the one I tried did sound dry, but not this RD20X/R.

Steve Henderson is known for a high quality built instrument.Set up was a little high,but that is often typical of a Dreadnought flat pick guitar.The bookmatching is beyond compare, the top has excellent silking and the rosewood has a rich color and is beautiful to look at.There is no poor quality Breedlove that I have ever come across except for a Myrtlewood that sounded dry like a maple.Mine has a very comfortable neck.

Breedlove guitars are so gorgeous that many players feel that they will not hold up with live playing.I play out on occassion and believe just the opposite.Henderson has come up with beauty and durability.An ugly guitar does not neccessarily mean that it holds up better.Solid strap button on the neck next to the heel,gold has not tarnished and is very dependable and stays in tune.

I haven't had to deal with Steve Henderson or Breedlove about warranty,but have called and emailed and someone has always gotten back to me.I own other Breedlove concert models and am pleased with them all.Customer support should not be a problem.I only hope that they do not get so big and start mass production.

I personally enjoy the Breedlove line of guitars.If it were lost or stolen, and I needed another dreadnought, then I would buy another of these higher end model RD20X/Rosewood.I have quite a collection of instruments I mainly play fingerstyle,but for a flatpick guitar, this is a better guitar than my Martin HD28,similar to my Santa Cruz D, but the Breedlove is better in appointments and wood choices.If you are interested,buy one now before the possibility of any mass production like what has happened to Martin.Breedlove makes one of the best handmade guitars made today!