Blue Ridge Guitars

Subject: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,Jim
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 06:57 PM

I recently took a look at my old Martin guitar and realized that I'm going to have to take better care of it. I've never bought a new guitar, but someone suggested that I take a look at Blue Ridge guitars. Well, was I ever impressed. For only $600, I got a BR-140 guitar that's a real boomer. My buddy has a D-18 and I enjoy playing the Blue Ridge as much as his Martin. If you're in the market for a mid-priced guitar that plays like a hand-made professional guitar, be sure and check these out.
I've seen some OOO sized Blue Ridges , but haven't had a chance to play one yet. Has anyone else tried these guitars?

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,Flatpick
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 07:24 PM

Jim,
Yup, tried a pal's Blue Ridge at a festival, he said he wanted to hear what it sounded like from the other side of the soundhole.
He had sold his Martin D-41 some time before but needed a decent guitar although he now concentrates on dobro & mandolin ( just to set the scene).
They are damn fine instruments. If I had any critism at all, the 'aging toner' is a bit too yellow for my taste. I have now played several models in local music shops, including the 000 models and like every single one of them.
   I don't think Head of Domestic Affairs will ok another guitar purchase, but who knows, if she ain't looking.....?
They play and sound just fine.
IMHO.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Bobert
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:00 PM

Well, there are plenty of them in guitar shops round here but, ahhh, maybe that's 'cause I live on the Blue Ridge...

I've played a few of them and the only thing I have found is that, while most of them play exceptional, some don't... So if you are going to buy one, play several of the same model youb are interested in purchasing...

But, even with that said, as an original owner of a '66 D-18, if I were going to buy yet another acoustic geetar, it'd be a B.R...

B~

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: catspaw49
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 08:26 PM

Have a look at the top of this thread. Many of the guitar brand threads are Grouped there now. There are at least three other informative Blueridge threads to add to your knowledge. Always good to have some new opinions as well. I think you'll see there is a good felling overall towards their guitars around here.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Beer
Date: 05 Nov 07 - 10:08 PM

Yep, have one. Blueridge 140 paid $500.00 cash and love it.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 01:07 AM

I sometimes pick one up out of curiosity when in shops or at festival stalls. So far I have only found one that I quite liked - I forget the exact model - in the Nottingham Hobgoblin.

IMHO if you find a good Mugen THE78 or 80, or a good Yamaha FG360 (Nippon Gakki) it will be better for less, and many good Martins of Gibsons will be better (but more costly). I knew one fellow with a Washburn (forget the model number, one of the slightly better Washburns) which had a wonderful sound although you needed to be Edward Spannerhands to play it.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,nehorseman26
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 10:35 PM

I have a Blueridge 180A. Wow. Great tone. The neck isn't quite like a Martin - somewhere between a Gibson and a Martin actually. It's for sale if anyone is interested. My wife is buying me a D42 and I can't pass that up.

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,DonMeixner
Date: 07 Feb 08 - 11:16 PM

I bought my son Geof one as a Christmas gift. A BR 43, 000 sized. I played it quite a bit before I gave it to him as a first guitar. I found it easy to play with a fairly fat sound and some decent trebles. A finger pickers guitar..

My onliest complaint is the A and B strings lay across the string coils on the E and e string tuners above the nut. Maybe no important but it does bug me a bit as a missed bit of design detail.

Don

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,Flatpick
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 07:42 PM

Nehorseman26 - I'm interested, price & location?

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Feb 08 - 09:59 PM

As I said a couple years ago, these are some fine geetars... Real fine...

B~

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,country_boyj
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 03:19 AM

I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT BRAND'S IN THE $600-$900 RANGE, AND ENDED UP WITH A BR60CE... ACOUSTIC- ELECT.LOVE THE FEEL AND THE SOUND GET'S COMPLIMENT'S EVERY WHERE I PLAY,LAST WEEK A FRIEND TRIED MINE, CAUSE HE LIKED THE SOUND,(HE PLAY'S A TAKA-) HE BUYING ONE THIS WEEKEND. I SURE LIKE MINE..!!! THANK'S FOR LETTING ME VENT. J.B.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Beer
Date: 17 Jan 09 - 09:18 AM

Just had the following pick up installed and will try it out this evening.

SHADOW SH Terzzo
Shadow,Onboard Preamp with 3-band EQ and passive Nanoflex pickup.

Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 09 - 09:44 PM

I'm looking hard at a BR 160 in our music store.
I've always been a Martin guy, but this one looks, feels and sounds like a higher end Martin.

What sells me most is the volume...especially the higher strings which are super loud...louder than my three Martins.
The overall sound is pretty nice and I'm hoping it will improve with playing.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,gospel bluegrass
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 11:35 PM

I purchased a Br 1060 Carter Stanley memorial. This is a most impressive instruement. It is an exact replica of a D28. Select rosewood back and sides, select sitka top.Beautiful abalone and MOP inlays that are sharp and clean. This has a very large voice, it can hold it's own in any jam session. Large bass without excessive boomyness, sparkling treble.It strums well, but comes to life as a flatpicker. It opened up after 3 months of picking and just gets better the more that I pick it!! It has impressed other, more experienced players, and I recieve compliments on it's looks and tone. The most frequent response is "Wow!, what is that?" For a musician on a budget looking for the best bang for you're buck, try these Blueridge guitars. You will be surprised as much as I am, that they are as close to a vintage Martin as you will ever get, without spending a fortune.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,Hawkwood
Date: 31 Jul 09 - 06:29 PM

I got my Blueridge 180 a couple of years back....I had sold my 1968 D-45 to pay off bills and got 20k for it....picked up several older Japanese Martin clones including an Alverez and several Sigmas....but I was able to trade into the Br-180 used for the $800 ....Its a very fine guitar...my D-45 was a bit heavy on the bass end.. and the Blueridge is just about as nice tonally with great balance and a faster neck...it also has a built in pickup and enclosed gold tuners (don't know when they began putting the open tuners on)...my only question is whether I want to keep the pickguard....I've had many fine Martins including a Pre WWII D-18, two 50s D-18s a pre war 000-18, a 60 D-28 and D-35...and the Blueridge is as nice as any of em....the set up is low so I can flat pick or finger pick it...a great guitar to have till the recession becomes a depression and we can pick up used Martins for $200

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 08:55 AM

i have owened 4 blueridge guitars, 2 br-40 i br-60 and 1 br-160, i also own a aj500r epiphone masterbuilt, well to make a long story short, the epip is still here, and all 4 of the blueridge are gone, i also own a new d-16 martin and its for sale.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: Beer
Date: 01 Aug 10 - 08:52 PM

So what are you saying Guest?
ad.

Subject: RE: Blue Ridge Guitars
From: GUEST,Gospelgrass
Date: 20 Dec 10 - 04:21 PM

I have a BG 160 that has been my stage player for the last two years. It is a cannon and turns heads in jams and on stage. I have owned a Taylor 814, Guild D55, Guild DV52, Guild DV4, Gibson J45, Gibson Hummingbird, Martin D28, D41, D42 Special and an HD 28. I used all of them on stage and in the studio.
   I still have the D55, DV4 and still miss the HD 28. But the BG 160 has caused me to seek out a BR 160 or BR 160A as my next flattop.
   I have considered several custom built flattops but they do not stand out against a Blueridge for the price, playability, finish and voice. I have played several other Blueridge guitars, some had issues needing repair but they all have sounded pretty good.

I do not intend to criticize any of the acoustics I have used but I sure do enjoy and regard the Blueridge guitars highly.