Breedlove AD20SM Atlas Series Acoustic Guitar

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zZounds Gear Experts Say...
Solid Spruce top. Solid Mahogany back.

The AD20/SM is a solid top and back dreadnought. It is a bold acoustic guitar ready to jam. This guitar model combines Breedlove design elements and balanced tonal signature with the highest quality manufacturing practices in the world to bring you a highly affordable acoustic masterpiece.

Each Atlas Series Instrument has been designed and engineered by Kim Breedlove. Atlas guitars feature many of the design principles from Breedlove's custom shop including Breedlove scalloped bracing, pinless bridge and JLD Bridge Truss System. The body shapes are similar to the custom shop offerings for deep body styles with non cutaways and soft cutaways. The bridge, fingerboard and peghead overlay on each model are made from Indian Rosewood. The playability has been changed to a slightly narrower nut width 1-11/16 in., but each has the same low string height for fast comfortable playing. D'Addario EXP11 light gauge coated strings are comfortable, last a long time and have a full sound. Fishman Classic IV Pickups are on all cutaway models. These are easy to use, reliable and sound great. Each Atlas Series instrument has passed the strict quality assurance process in Bend, Oregon, USA. Breedlove has reached these amazing prices by creating a high quality system to produce these exact models and specifications.

The Breedlove Difference
The Breedlove tone is an outcome of the way they brace their tops. All of their guitars have tops voiced both before and after the braces are applied. They read more utilize a modern bridge truss device (patented by J.L.D. Guitar Research) that counterbalances the string tension on the top of the guitar. Does this mean Breedlove guitars lose the ability to vibrate well? Just the opposite. In the past, building a guitar top has required trade-offs between sturdiness for longevity, and lightness for resonance. Due to the increased structural integrity of the bridge truss, Breedlove is able to brace their tops for optimal vibration and sound quality. This creates what they call a relaxed top. You will also notice the back of their guitars vibrate more than other guitars. The result is a responsive guitar with rich bass, balanced mids, sweet highs, and a remarkable balance of sound when playing notes up the fingerboard.

A guitar where the strings pass over the nut and then angles sharply towards the tuner posts has added dampening, which causes loss in sustain. So Breedlove designed their peghead so the strings between the tuners and the nut are parallel to the rest of the string. Then they have the Breedlove Pinless Bridge. Why drill 6 holes through a part of the guitar that needs stability?

The ancient ones believed that the spirit lived in all things. Play a Breedlove guitar. Let the spirit move you.
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Body: Dreadnought

Top: Solid Sitka Spruce

Back: Solid Mahogany

Depth: 4-9/16 in. at Tail Block, 3-3/4 in. at Heel

Lower Bout Width: 16 in.

Breedlove Bracing System with JLD Bridge Truss System

Binding: Tortoise Bound Body with BWBWB Purfling

Inlays:
Abalone Rosette with Black Border
Centered Abalone Position Markers

Finish: Glossy

Breedlove Atlas Rosewood Bridge, Fretboard, and Headstock overlay

Nut Width: 1 11/16 in.

Hand Rubbed Neck

Neck Joint: Dovetail

Truss Rod: Double Acting, adjust at sound hole

Tuners: Gold Grover

End Pin: Ebony

Strings: D'Addario EXP Light Gauge

100% Acoustic

Case: Not Included

Design: Kim Breedlove, Crafted in Korea, Quality Assured in Bend, Oregon USA

For support or warranty questions, please contact the manufacturer:
Phone: 877-800-4848

Reviewers gave this product an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars. (6 ratings)
Submitted February 21, 2004 by a customer from mchsi.com

"Excellent Value for the money. Great guitar."

Overall: 4.5 out of 5 stars
(see rating details)
Verified Customer zZounds has verified that this reviewer made a purchase from us.
This guitar has a non-traditional but very effective bracing system. If you use sound board transducers such as B-band's AST, Macintyre Feather, or K&K Western for amplification, check carefully before you buy this guitar. They may not work due to the soundboard "post" brace.
Sound
I played a friends AD20/SM. Very nice! Got that nice dry vintage tone. Great bass from the mohahany, but not too loud.
Features
Very basic other than a nice Abalone rosette.
Quality
Very clean contstruction. One of the best Korean guitars I've seen.
Value
Excellent value for the money.
Manufacturer Support
n/a
The Wow Factor
I'm not looking for another guitar, but man, this think really had me tempted for a while.

Musical Style:

Fingerpickin' good folk, blues, gospel, and originals
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