Each of our four 30th Anniversary models represents something unique about the history of Breedlove and where we’re headed. The King Koa is the most quickly stunning and initially striking of the bunch with its eye-catching figured flame top, back, and sides. On the other hand, the Phoenix gives off a completely different vibe from its ostentatious sibling with a dark and almost mysterious look that is understated and subtle.
Take a close look at the 30th Anniversary Phoenix, and its sinker redwood top will draw you in. From afar, the dark tone of its top may appear to be a coffee color, but looking more closely will reveal the rich patchwork of colors that, much like a fine cup of coffee, contains subtle hints of a variety of warm shades that give it a unique character. Flip this guitar around, and dark, dimensional striations along its ziricote back and sides evoke a sublime feeling.
When you pick up the Phoenix, you’ll find its shallow body easy to hold, and its warm tone will reward everything from strumming to even the lightest fingerstyle playing with clarity and sustain. It’s just as much of a wonder to play and hear as it is to see.
While it’s evident that this is a unique instrument, the Phoenix also serves as the most symbolic guitar in our 30th Anniversary series. The original Breedlove Phoenix, first introduced back in 2004, featured an extensive and detailed fretboard inlay of a Phoenix rising from the ashes designed by Kim Breedlove. Revisiting this instrument in 2021, the symbolism of the rising Phoenix has taken on a renewed meaning. The hope and optimism it represents can inspire in different ways, and to bring that inspiration to an instrument that will be used to create music is our way of looking toward the future.
For this 30th Anniversary model, Product Developer Angela Christensen wanted to rethink the idea of the Phoenix and its imagery, choosing instead to create a more straightforward, more muted design. “I wanted to symbolize the Phoenix and what that means,” she explains. “Last year was just so dark and dismal for so many people, I wanted to keep the visual aesthetic tone of the guitar a little more muted.” While the inlay may be smaller, on a more nuanced instrument like this, its message can still be felt, loud and clear.
With the imagery of the Phoenix inlay leading our 30th Anniversary series in representing a bright future, other design elements of this guitar follow in its path. The 30th Anniversary Phoenix maintains the tonewood selection and shallow Concert non-cutaway body style of the original model. At the same time, the Wave headstock design and Delta bridge are both updates that bring Breedlove’s modern visual aesthetic to this instrument. Fittingly, we’ve chosen ziricote offcuts from the guitar’s back to create a simple rosette that not only makes a strong visual statement, but represents our ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainability.
For all that the Phoenix represents, we hope that players find as much inspiration from this instrument as we do. View the full instrument profile here.
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