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08 Oct 05 - 11:06 AM (#1578825) Subject: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: wilco I have been reading the threads on expensive guitars, and I though that I would add a dealer's insight. I have a small acoustic music store in eats Tennessee. i don't do internet sales or mailorder. Unlike many of the other guitar distributors, Saga consistently provides good Blueridge guitars. Some of their other lines are weaker. Nationally, their two best-sellers are the dreadnaught size BR40 (laminate mahogany) and BR 160 (solid rosewood). In my store, BR 60 (laminate rosewood) and the BR OOO 163 sell the best. My favorite blueridge models are the BR 140 (solid mahogany) and the 183 000 (solid rosewood). In my place, all of the instruments can be played, and I'll get out the extra instrumenst in a particular model. The BR 160 and BR 180 are in a row with a 2000' HD28 martin, 68' J45 Gibson, and a high-end Tack. Wilco in east Tennessee |
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09 Oct 05 - 10:45 AM (#1579371) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST Yeah - I've been hearing a lot about Blueridge guitars - unfortunately, I've not been privileged to hear them for myself yet. People who have tell me their sound is up there with Martin. |
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09 Oct 05 - 11:02 AM (#1579389) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: number 6 Actually I have a Blueridge .... Up until a while ago I'd only consider a non-Pacific rim made guitar ... last fall I started to hear accolades about the Blueridges .... I wouldn't even consider trying one these Chinese axes ... eventually I was persuaded by to try and test drive one from a local music store .... it absolutely blew me away .... this model had great sound, tone, solid rosewood body, sitka spruce top, bone bridge and saddle, well crafted workmanship .... and for the price it couldn't be beat ... so I bought one. You'll hear all these comparisons that they are equal or better than a Martin which they are clones of ... though I'm not going to venture in that area I can assure you that they are certainly worth the money ... they are cheap guitars that deliver top notch sound and playability. There are now a few excellent oriental manufactured guitars out there along with the Blueridges such as the Epiphone Masterbuilt, and Tanglewoods. These allow people who can't afford any of the higher end brands as Martins, Taylors, Laravees etc to have the opportunity to own and develop there craft on a good guitar. sIx |
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09 Oct 05 - 12:37 PM (#1579464) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Big Al Whittle how much are they in America? is there a cedar topped one? |
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09 Oct 05 - 03:18 PM (#1579566) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: wilco There is not cedar top Blueridge guitar, as far as I know. |
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09 Oct 05 - 05:05 PM (#1579620) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Richard Bridge Do not repeat do not buy anything that has passed through the hands of Saga Musical Instruments of Los Angeles. I bought, new, from a dealer, in England, one of their mandolins. Inside the soundhole it set out the warranty to the original retail purchaser. The top soon split from end to end. I 'phoned, I emailed, I faxed. They told me to whistle Dixie. Never have anything to do with them. I tell anyone who mentions their name the above wholly true facts. I hope I am causing them damage. |
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09 Oct 05 - 08:27 PM (#1579767) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: number 6 Guess that's why you pay the big, big buck$ for those Martins, Taylors and Gibsons, Larivees, Collins, Santa Cruz .... sIx |
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10 Oct 05 - 02:31 PM (#1580317) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Steve-o My local music store (L.A. area) had five Bueridges, all of which I played numerous times. Both aesthetically and sound-wise they seem to be the very best you can do for the price (re./new guitars, of course). The top of the line was going for around $600. I have no information on the value or validity of Saga's "warranty". |
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10 Oct 05 - 03:04 PM (#1580353) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Fortunato Good value guitars. The best of them, solid woods are all that I have bought,in my opinion, are better than the veneered Martins, Taylor, etc. One of them, a D45 copy, is significantly better than MANY Martins I have played. Actually it compares favorably to a $10,000 Marty Stewart model Martin I have played. I haven't had dealings with Saga and don't dispute the above problem. But the guitars have been extraordinary given their price. I would buy one over anything Gibson makes today, or any inferior brand. |
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10 Oct 05 - 03:30 PM (#1580385) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: number 6 Actually Blueridge as a Gibson line of clones .. the BG series. The BR line is the Martin clones. As per warranty .... it's a year. I suspect it could be a bit frustrating dealing with Saga concerning any issues. Since these guitars are manufactured in some mysterious part of China, exactly where no one seems to know, dealing with warranty issues there could be a slight communication problem. Overall I find them to be very well crafted instruments, they certainly can hold their own when it comes to the more expensive established brands. That is why I mentioned above, they are inexpensive, and that's part of the chance you take. They are not a Martin, Taylor, Santa Cruz, who have substantial marketing groups, hence a solid warranty to back them. How long they'll last I dunno, but I'm sure mine will outlive me. I myself havent had any issues with my BR 160. I know personally one other person who owns a BG model. He's had no issues with his BG, and is completely satisfied with his. I should mention he is also an owner of a Gibson 1967 j200. sIx |
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10 Oct 05 - 04:02 PM (#1580412) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Midchuck I would buy one over anything Gibson makes today, or any inferior brand. Funny you should say that, since Epiphone, which is owned by Gibson, or was last I heard, has come out with the "Masterbilt" line which is also made in China of all solid woods and competitive with the Blueridge in both price and quality. Also the Guild DAD series is in the same ball park. I seriously question whether American manufacturers are going to be able to compete in their "mid-range" lines. Peter. |
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10 Oct 05 - 05:32 PM (#1580477) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: number 6 I believe Fortunato was referring specifically to the Gibson accoustic brand, the ones manufactured up in Montana (which has been getting it's fair share of hard knocks these days) ... not to the Epiphone brand. sIx |
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10 Oct 05 - 05:38 PM (#1580488) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: wilco As I mentioned in my original post, some of SAGA's lines are stronger than others. With exception to the blueridge guitars, quality control is very inconsistent. The rover and lower-end kentucky mandolins are identical to all of the other imports: Johnson, Epiphone, montana, etc. They're the same mandolin, with different lables. The higher end kentuckys are less of a crap shoot; but, if I were going to look at mandolins in the $450 to $800 price range, I would look at Michael Kelly. |
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11 Oct 05 - 12:06 PM (#1581037) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Fortunato Midchuck, I didn't know about the Epiphone, Masterbilt, line you mention, I'll attempt to look at them. Chance |
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11 Oct 05 - 01:21 PM (#1581092) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Wesley S Does anyone know if Blueridge makes - or plans to make - a 12 fret slothead ? Perhaps a 000 ? |
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11 Oct 05 - 04:22 PM (#1581244) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,Martin Gibson Bridge, I don't own a Blueridge, but they are not too bad for the money. You are not causing them any damage, I can assure you. But you continue to cause yourself damage with all of that whining. |
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11 Oct 05 - 05:10 PM (#1581287) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Richard Bridge Get a brain transplant, idiot. |
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11 Oct 05 - 10:56 PM (#1581506) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Fortunato Number 6 you're right, I was refering to my disappointment with Gibson Doves and Hummingbirds and Jumbos, and the small bodied Gibsons built in the last 30 years or so. Because I have a '54 J45 and still take it out to play, people hand me their Gibsons to try. The Gibson flat tops made after the 50's don't seem to improve with age (in my experience), and I don't understand why. Tone woods? Inferior veneers? Cheap wood bracings? Modern glues? They say they copy the dimensions and bracing, but they don't obtain. In my ear they sound thin when new and remain so. I have never played an Epiphone flat top and know nothing about them. |
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22 May 08 - 03:46 AM (#2346667) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST When I was shopping for a new acoustic guitar I considered the following guitars: Epiphone Masterbuilt AJ-500RE (I don't believe they make them anymore), Martin OOX1, Carlo Robelli jumbo cutaway A/E, Epiphone EJ-160, Ovation Ultra 2071 and the Blueridge BG-60. All of these guitars are around the same price (about $500) and feature similar amenities (solid tops and laminate back/sides), some are acoustic electric, others aren't. The pickup wasn't a big deal, since I could always add a fishman rare earth down the road and just use my pro-mag for now. What I found out about these guitars was that they all play fairly well and very in sound quite a bit. The ovation sounded dead and fake, the Epiphone Masterbuilt was bright and metalic, the EJ-160e sounded flat, the Martin 00X1 lacked character, the Carlo Robelli sounded bright with body and the Blueridge BG-60 sounded extremely bright and tinny. I also found that most of the guitars, except the EJ-160 and Blueridge, had a flat, thin finish that didn't feel very nice, and in the case of the martin, the guitar felt bare. I went with the BG-40 (the Blueridge gibson copy made with mahogoney back and sides) because it honestly sounded as good as the Epiphone Masterbuilt, played as nice as any of the others and sported a nice, thick finish the is reminiscant of the older days of guitars, something that a lot of new, "budget," guitars lack. I'm personally VERY happy with the blueridge, but all the other guitars are fine choices, too. |
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22 May 08 - 08:53 AM (#2346808) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Beer I have a BG-40 and love it. Laminated yes, but laminated has less chance of cracking. For the price I payed ($500.00 Canadian,maybe a little to much.) I am very pleased. I love the sound and have not had one musician speak negatively about it. They all want to try and remark on the weight and sound. Beer (adrien) |
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23 Nov 10 - 10:19 PM (#3039177) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,Dave I popped into my local guitar shop to look at bass amps. They don't usually have much in regarding acoustics, but all of a sudden they had a load of Martins and Blueridge guitars, so I spent half an hour trying them all out. The cheaper martins sounded and felt pretty hit and miss. Nothing to freak out over. Then I tried a few of the blueridge smaller bodies and they felt very nice and sounded great. I finished on a BG60 withough looking at the price... and WOW! It had that sound I was looking for all this time... not too resonant, nice thuddy low end, twangy highs.. a real blues and country box. I own a Taylor 214 (pre 2007 so all solid) which I love but it's very sweet sounding.. the BG60 sounded much more meaty and just like the records I love. Thinking it would be one of the more expensive one's I put it back as I wasn't looking to buy a new acoustic.. then I saw the price tag - 375 Euros!!!!!!!! I went home to think about it, went back the next day.. tried it again.. and yes, I bought it! It's an incredible sounding guitar at any price. Maybe I got lucky... I'm sure there's plenty of duds out there, as there are gibsons martins and taylors that sound like crap too.. acoustics are a real lottery... I hit the jackpot with this BG60! Looking forward to recording it. |
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24 Nov 10 - 04:56 PM (#3039822) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: lefthanded guitar I've played a Blue Ridge guitar and it has a nice sound, solid build, and less 'twangy' then a Taylor, but jmho not nowhere in the league of a good Gibson or Martin. |
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20 Dec 10 - 04:25 PM (#3058020) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,Gospelgrass 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. |
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20 Dec 10 - 04:58 PM (#3058041) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,Babypix IMHO, The Blueridge guitars are suitable for students and travel only. If one is looking for "character" in an instrument, although they may all play fine, hold intonation, etc., there is something seriously lacking in these guitars. I bought one a few years ago, on the recommendation of a woman in our local guitar shop, who cautioned that it took about a year for the personality to really develop. I made my purchase anyway, and two years later, was still waiting for something warm or pleasant to emerge. Luckily, I was able to trade it with a friend who had a vintage acoustic Hagstrom which was too big and unwieldy for him. He was happy with a small guitar with no character, just to use for practice and lug around on airplanes, etc. I would NOT recommend this brand unless you have the whole thing SERIOUSLY set up by an experienced luthier, and, even then, it may not be a very good investment. |
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20 Dec 10 - 05:33 PM (#3058065) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: chazkratz I just acquired the best guitar I've ever owned and it sounds better than any I've played in stores. It's a Loar LH200 and despite its laminated body and small size is a blues monster, modeled after the inexpensive early 1930s Gibsons. It looks as beautiful as it sounds, with a rich, glossy, tobacco burst finish. I think it's the least expensive guitar in the Loar line, listing at $699 and going for around $500. Loars are made by the same company whch manufactures Recording Kings (before buying it I tried a Recording King dreadnought which sounded awfully good but was just too big for comfort--and the Loar sounds better anyway). Charles |
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20 Dec 10 - 06:49 PM (#3058127) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: chazkratz By the way, in case you're interested in seeing what my Loar looks like: http://loarguitars.com/LH-200.html Charles |
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27 Jan 11 - 05:26 PM (#3083610) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST I own a Blueridge BG-60 and I have to say that for the price, I couldnt have made a better purchase. I have been nothing but pleased with ths guitar. Ill take it with me to many festivals I play at and I must say that I have been told that it blows some of the higher end Martins out of the water. I love blueridge guitars,however I have not experienced any problems with it yet so Im not sure how good Saga will be but as for the guitar I give it an A+ |
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28 Jan 11 - 08:25 AM (#3083980) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Fortunato Keep it properly hydrated. We own two, good instruments, but one separated along the center line on the back from our failure to manage humidity. Otherwise well worth the money. c |
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29 Jan 11 - 02:36 AM (#3084504) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,Guest Hi got a Blueridge BR65 which I've had for about 10 years and it just keeps getting better. Gotta watch all my guitar playing mates as they keep trying to steel it! |
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29 Jan 11 - 03:37 AM (#3084516) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: PHJim I have owned a Blueridge BR140, the solid mahogany Dreadnought, and I thought it was well worth what I paid for it. My only complaint was the orangey colour of the aging toner used on the top. The current owner is very happy with the guitar. He also owns a 1958 Gibson J-50 so he is no stranger to fine guitars. |
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26 Nov 16 - 07:26 AM (#3822784) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: GUEST,just guesting I have a Blueridge BR-65 that I have had about 25 years...maybe that makes me the winner for longevity. I've played it onstage, written numerous songs on it, and travelled internationally with it, in addition to just playing the hell out of it. It's fantastic! It has had one problem in all this time...there is now a crack in the wood vertically on the face under the bridge, but I'm the worst at humidifying guitars, mostly because I grew up where there was too much humidity, and it's hard to accept the notion that water needs to be added to air. But nothing negative to say about this great sounding old workhorse. |
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26 Nov 16 - 06:09 PM (#3822908) Subject: RE: Blueridge guitars - best sellers From: Lanfranc I wanted to acquire a tenor guitar. A friend of mine runs a vintage instrument business so I was able to try Martin, Gibson and Kalamazoo tenors from the 1920s to the 1960s. Despite their provenance (and cost!) none tempted me to add them to my collection. Then I played a brand new little O size Blueridge BR40T tenor with a solid spruce top and laminated mahogany back and sides. It played and sounded at least as good as any of the older models and cost the princely sum of GBP375 (C USD450). That is the one I have owned happily for the past five years. I have also played other Blueridge guitars and have generally been impressed. Alan |