Blueridge Guitars Buyers Guide
Hey there, fellow music enthusiasts! If you’re in the market for a top-notch acoustic guitar, you’ve undoubtedly come across the name Blueridge. Renowned for their craftsmanship and commitment to quality, Blueridge guitars have captured the hearts of musicians around the world. In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we’ll explore everything you need to know about Blueridge guitars, from their rich history to their diverse range of models. So, let’s dive in and find the perfect guitar to create beautiful melodies!
Understanding Blueridge Guitars
Blueridge guitars have a captivating history that stems from their connection to traditional American acoustic guitars. They have successfully blended time-honored craftsmanship with modern techniques, resulting in instruments that exude exceptional quality and playability. Blueridge guitars receive meticulous attention to detail during their crafting process, resulting in a balanced and resonant sound. These guitars are available in various series, each offering unique features and tonal characteristics. Additionally, they utilize high-quality tonewoods, such as solid spruce, mahogany, rosewood, and more, to create the distinct timbre that musicians crave.
Factors to Consider When Buying a Blueridge Guitar
Budget considerations
Musicians of all levels highly seek after Blueridge guitars due to their exceptional craftsmanship, tonal quality, and attention to detail. However, they also come in a range of price points to accommodate various budgets. For those on a tight budget, Blueridge offers affordable options without compromising on sound and playability. These guitars typically feature laminated tonewoods and simplified aesthetics, providing an accessible entry point into the Blueridge lineup. Blueridge has premium models with solid tonewoods and intricate inlays for a top-tier playing experience. Blueridge guitars provide exceptional value for all budgets, making them a reliable choice for guitar enthusiasts.
Body styles
One popular body style is the dreadnought, known for its bold, powerful sound and robust projection. It is a versatile choice suitable for various playing styles, from strumming to flatpicking. Another common body style is the orchestra model (OM), which offers a more balanced and intimate sound with excellent clarity and responsiveness. Fingerstyle players and those seeking a comfortable playing experience prefer the OM. For those looking for a vintage-inspired option, Blueridge also offers guitars in the slope-shoulder dreadnought style. This style evokes the warm and mellow tones of classic instruments from the mid-20th century. Blueridge guitars have smaller body sizes like the parlor and 000 models, ideal for fingerpicking and intimate performances.
Tonewood combinations
Blueridge guitars owe their exceptional tonal quality to the careful selection of tonewoods used in their construction. They often feature solid Sitka spruce as the top wood, known for its excellent strength, responsiveness, and balanced tonal characteristics. This tonewood allows for a wide dynamic range and clear articulation, making it suitable for a variety of playing styles. In terms of back and side woods, Blueridge utilizes a range of tonewoods such as mahogany, rosewood, and maple. Mahogany offers a warm and focused tone with a pronounced midrange, ideal for blues and folk genres. Rosewood adds depth and clarity, while maple enhances clarity and projection. Blueridge guitars use tonewoods that provide balanced, responsive, and versatile tones for musicians to confidently explore different genres.
Popular Blueridge Guitars: Features, Benefits, and Uses
Blueridge BR-160
Blueridge guitars are known for their exceptional craftsmanship and tonal qualities, and the BR-160 guitar showcases these features remarkably well. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, which provides a well-balanced and versatile sound, suitable for a wide range of playing styles. The guitar’s warm, rich, and resonant tone is achieved through the use of high-quality solid Indian rosewood for the back and sides. The BR-160 incorporates a forward-shifted X-bracing pattern, based on traditional pre-war designs, enhancing the guitar’s projection and tonal clarity.
The mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an ebony fingerboard ensures effortless playability and smooth fretting. The BR-160 also boasts elegant appointments such as herringbone purlling, a tortoise-style pickguard, and vintage-style open-back tuners, adding a touch of timeless beauty to the instrument. With its premium tonewoods, meticulous construction, and attention to detail, the Blueridge BR-160 guitar offers musicians a captivating and expressive sound that truly stands out in its class.
Blueridge BR-43
The Blueridge BR-43 guitar is a fantastic option for those seeking a high-quality instrument at an affordable price. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, which provides excellent responsiveness and clarity, allowing the guitar to produce a balanced and articulate tone. The back and sides are crafted from mahogany, offering warmth and depth to the overall sound. The BR-43 incorporates a traditional X-bracing pattern, ensuring structural stability and enhancing the guitar’s tonal projection. The mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an Indian rosewood fingerboard provides a smooth and enjoyable playing experience. Despite its affordable price point, the BR-43 doesn’t compromise on craftsmanship, with attention to detail in its construction and a tasteful, understated aesthetic. With its solid tonewoods, reliable build quality, and impressive sound, the Blueridge BR-43 guitar is a fantastic choice for beginners, intermediate players, or anyone seeking a reliable and enjoyable acoustic guitar without breaking the bank.
Blueridge BR-140
The Blueridge BR-140 guitar is a superb instrument that combines quality craftsmanship and exceptional tonal characteristics. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, known for its versatility and responsiveness, allowing for a wide dynamic range and excellent projection. The back and sides are crafted from mahogany, which imparts a warm and focused tone with a pronounced midrange. The BR-140 utilizes a traditional X-bracing pattern, delivering optimal tonal balance and resonance. The mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an Indian rosewood fingerboard ensures comfortable playability and precise fretting. The BR-140 also features elegant details like a tortoise-style pickguard and vintage-style open-back tuners, adding a touch of classic aesthetics. With its choice of tonewoods, solid construction, and attention to detail, the Blueridge BR-140 guitar offers musicians a rich and expressive sound that is ideal for various musical genres, making it a top choice for discerning players at an accessible price point.
Blueridge BR-341
The Blueridge BR-341 is a Historic Series Parlor Guitar. It was developed in the spirit of creativity and prosperity that was felt in America after the turn of the century from the aftermath of the Great San Francisco Quake of 1906. Saga Musical Instruments introduced this new Blueridge BR-341 as a part of their Historic Earthquake Series of Parlor style guitars, drawing inspiration from exceptional instruments of that time period.
The quality and sound of those early parlor instruments have stood the test of time, continuing to be some of the best sounding and highest valued collectables on the market today. The Blueridge BR-341 features a solid Sitka spruce top with scalloped braces, which provides clean articulation and a crisp tone. Its solid mahogany back and sides offer robust, warm resonance. The slim mahogany neck ensures fast, easy action and inherently long-lasting stability. The guitar also features a premium ebony fingerboard, adding both extra durability and striking good looks.
Blueridge BR-70
The Blueridge BR-70A guitar is a remarkable instrument that showcases the craftsmanship and attention to detail that Blueridge guitars are known for. It features a solid Adirondack spruce top, renowned for its exceptional tonal clarity, responsiveness, and powerful projection. The back and sides are crafted from high-quality solid Indian rosewood, adding warmth, depth, and complexity to the guitar’s overall sound. The BR-70A incorporates a forward-shifted X-bracing pattern, based on traditional pre-war designs, which enhances tonal balance and resonance.
The mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an ebony fingerboard ensures effortless playability and precise fretting. The BR-70A also boasts elegant appointments such as herringbone purfling, a tortoise-style pickguard, and vintage-style open-back tuners, adding a touch of timeless beauty to the instrument. With its premium tonewoods, meticulous construction, and vintage-inspired features, the Blueridge BR-70A guitar delivers a rich, dynamic, and articulate tone that is highly sought after by discerning musicians and enthusiasts.
Blueridge BR-163
The Blueridge BR-163 guitar is renowned for its craftsmanship and tonal excellence. It features a solid Sitka spruce top, known for its versatility and responsiveness, allowing for a wide dynamic range and excellent projection. The back and sides are crafted from high-quality solid Indian rosewood, adding warmth, richness, and complexity to the guitar’s overall sound. The BR-163 incorporates a forward-shifted X-bracing pattern, based on traditional pre-war designs, which enhances the guitar’s tonal balance and resonance.
The Blueridge BR-163 guitar features a mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an ebony fingerboard, which together guarantee smooth fretting and effortless playability. Its aesthetic appeal is enhanced by elegant elements such as herringbone purfling, a tortoise-style pickguard, and vintage-style open-back tuners, contributing to its classic and timeless look. Constructed meticulously from premium tonewoods and crafted with great attention to detail, the BR-163 offers a rich, expressive, and flexible sound. This makes it a superb option for musicians who play a variety of styles and genres.
Blueridge BR-240A
The Blueridge BR-240A guitar is an exceptional instrument that showcases the craftsmanship and tonal quality that Blueridge guitars are known for. It features a solid Adirondack spruce top, renowned for its exceptional responsiveness, dynamic range, and powerful projection. The back and sides are crafted from high-quality solid Indian rosewood, adding warmth, depth, and complexity to the guitar’s overall sound. The BR-240A incorporates a forward-shifted X-bracing pattern, based on traditional pre-war designs, which enhances tonal balance and resonance. The mahogany neck with a comfortable C-profile and an ebony fingerboard ensures comfortable playability and precise fretting. The BR-240A also boasts elegant appointments such as herringbone purfling, a tortoise-style pickguard, and vintage-style open-back tuners, adding a touch of classic aesthetics. With its premium tonewoods, meticulous construction, and vintage-inspired features, the Blueridge BR-240A guitar delivers a rich, resonant, and versatile tone that is highly sought after by discerning musicians and enthusiasts.
Comparison of Blueridge Guitars
| Model | Features | Benefits | Uses | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BR-160 | Solid Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood B/S | Robust, well-balanced sound | Various genres, seasoned players | Solid Sitka spruce top, Indian rosewood back and sides |
| BR-43 | Solid spruce top, mahogany B/S, slim neck | Affordable, versatile | Various genres, beginners | Solid spruce top, mahogany back and sides |
| BR-140 | Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany B/S, slim neck | Warm, responsive tone | Fingerpicking, strumming | Solid Sitka spruce top, mahogany back and sides |
| BR-341 | Solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany B/S | Clear, articulate tone | Fingerstyle, intricate playing techniques | Solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany back and sides |
| BR-70A | Solid Adirondack spruce top, solid rosewood B/S | Exceptional projection, tonal depth | Live performances, expressive playing | Solid Adirondack spruce top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides |
| BR-163 | Solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood B/S, slim neck | Balanced tone, comfortable size | Fingerstyle playing, recording | Solid Sitka spruce top, rosewood back and sides |
| BR-240A | Solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany B/S | Powerful, dynamic tone | Bluegrass, folk | Solid Adirondack spruce top, mahogany back and sides |
Conclusion
We’ve journeyed through the world of Blueridge guitars, exploring their rich history, outstanding craftsmanship, and diverse range of models. Blueridge guitars have established themselves as a prominent player in the acoustic guitar market, offering musicians of all levels the opportunity to create beautiful melodies and express their musicality.
Blueridge guitars blend traditional and modern techniques for high-quality American acoustic instruments. From the solid spruce and rosewood combinations to the carefully designed body styles, each guitar boasts its own unique character and tonal qualities.
Blueridge Guitars FAQs:
Are Blueridge guitars suitable for beginners?
- Absolutely! Blueridge offers entry-level models that are affordable, easy to play, and provide great sound quality for beginners.
Where can I purchase Blueridge guitars?
- Blueridge guitars are available at authorized dealers and reputable online retailers. Ensure you buy from a trusted source to guarantee authenticity.
Do Blueridge guitars come with a warranty?
- Yes, Blueridge guitars typically come with a limited lifetime warranty, providing peace of mind for buyers.
Can I customize a Blueridge guitar?
- Blueridge guitars are predominantly sold as standard models, but some authorized dealers may offer customization options. Check with your dealer for more information.
How often should I get my Blueridge guitar professionally set up?
- We recommend having a professional set up your guitar at least once a year to ensure optimal playability and performance.
Are Blueridge guitars suitable for different music genres?
- Yes! Blueridge guitars are versatile instruments suitable for various genres, including folk, bluegrass, country, and more.
Do Blueridge guitars come with a case or gig bag?
- Blueridge guitars usually don’t come with a case or gig bag. However, it’s advisable to invest in a sturdy case or gig bag for proper protection and transportation.
Can I plug in a Blueridge acoustic-electric guitar to an amplifier?
- Yes, Blueridge offers acoustic-electric models equipped with built-in pickup systems, allowing you to plug into an amplifier or PA system.
Are Blueridge guitars handmade?
- The artisans meticulously craft the products using a combination of traditional techniques and modern manufacturing methods, although they are not entirely handmade.
Can I use lighter gauge strings on a Blueridge guitar?
- Blueridge guitars are designed to handle various string gauges. However, it’s essential to consult the manufacturer’s recommendations or consult a professional to ensure proper setup and play
