Early in 2018, the Breedlove craftsmen and design team in Bend, Oregon gathered around the exotic tonewoods stacks in the Custom Design Center with a creative mission; design and craft not only the finest sounding, but most technically challenging and creative acoustic guitars of the year. The group decided to create three “themed” instruments to unveil at the 2019 Winter NAMM show. Guitars were crafted in each of the three revolutionary Breedlove body shapes; The Concert, The Concerto and the Concertina. Each guitar was crafted with the finest Sound Optimized exotic tonewoods, receive creative and challenging finishes and push the inlay and detail team in fresh and different ways.
“HONEY BEE” CONCERTINA 2019 WINTER NAMM SHOW STOPPER (Photo left)
It just does not happen – incredibly quilted and highly figured myrtlewood. But From this one-and-only very rare Oregon tree, we were graced tonewood sets with totally unique depth and figure. Its honey color inspired our design team to emulate a honeycomb and the Honey Bee Concertina was born. The Queen Bee proudly owns the 12th fret with worker bees near the rosette and on the slotted headstock with honeycomb fret markers. Of course, the Honey Bee demanded a figured Hard Rock Maple neck and figured Hawaiian Koa binding. Finally we added the finishing touch of gold frets and gold tuners. Breedlove Concertina. Oregon Myrtlewood top, back & sides. Hard Rock Maple neck. African Ebony fretboard. Gotoh 780 tuners. Ameritage case.
THE “ANCIENT MARINER” CONCERT 2019 WINTER NAMM SHOW STOPPER
For thousands of years the Tongass National Forest has nurtured magnificent Alaska Sitka Spruce trees, the most popular tonewood for acoustic flattop guitars. But we have never experienced a one-piece top that must have come from an old-growth tree approaching 1,000 years old. Brainstorming an appropriate way to honor this magnificent sound board we recalled the use of Sitka for spars on early sailing ships – just imagining this tree growing centuries before European vessels braved our vast oceans.
Our design team took artistic license, staining the walnut back and sides like planks on the salty sea deck of a weathered ship with clinging seaweed and a slow-moving star fish. A nautical compass rosette. And most dramatically, an ancient ship navigates an angry sea at the 12-fret. The final touch is a carved octopus adorning the heal cap. Breedlove Concert Cutaway. One piece Alaska Sitka Spruce top. Oregon Black Walnut back & sides. Honduran Mahogany neck. African Ebony fretboard. Gotoh 510 Chrome tuners. Ameritage case.
“BLACK WIDOW” CONCERTO 2019 WINTER NAMM SHOW STOPPER
While experimenting with decorative, yet thin finishes, our innovative team created an intriguing black and red finish which we quickly named – Black Widow. That was all the inlay designers needed for inspiration. Positioning the arachnid at the 14th fret and emanating the web across the instrument top and fretboard – this Concerto CE is truly a unique work-of-art framed in African Bloodwood. Breedlove Concerto Cutaway. Genuine Honduran Mahogany top, back, sides, and neck. African Ebony fretboard. Gotoh 510 Chrome tuners. Ameritage case.
