Breedlove Masterclass Concert Adirondack Spruce / Exotic Grade Myrtlewood

This one-off Breedlove Masterclass Concert Acoustic Guitar was built as a showcase for Breedlove's new custom Masterclass Guitar programme. Starting life as a show guitar at NAMM, it has now made its way to the UK, and is here offered for sale exclusively at Merchant City Music. A stunning set of "exotic grade" figured Myrtlewood is used for the back and sides, complemented by Adirondack Spruce for the soundboard. This is finished with a subtle Copper Burst, applied to the top, back, sides and neck, showcasing both the luthier's skill and the grain of the woods.

Breedlove Masterclass Concert Copper Burst (NAMM Show Guitar)

This isn't a shouty instrument to look at, a brave move from Breedlove, as this opens it up to more minute scrutiny. In terms of fit and finish quality, however, it passes with flying colours. Even the most discerning eye will come away impressed. Turn your attention to the materials used, and it is equally beautiful. The Myrtlewood back and sides have evidently been selected as a showcase of the wood; it features not only a flame - evocative of maple - but further figuring, giving it a character all of its own.

Myrtlewood is the perfect wood to use on the ultimate Breedlove, native as it is to Breedlove's state of Oregon. Intimately familiar with the wood, Breedlove's luthiers are thus best able to extract the wood's impressive tonal qualities. Sonically similar to maple, it nevertheless has an impressive voice all of its own: clear, bright and balanced while remaining full and cultured. The particular Myrtlewood set used on this guitar is categorised as "exotic grade" for its exceptional tonal quality and grain pattern. Exotic Grade woods are only used on custom-made Breedlove guitars.

If Myrtlewood could be classed as Breedlove's signature tone wood, the Concert body used on this guitar is the company's signature body shape. The original Breedlove body, the Concert is still considered by many to represent the company's best, combining focus with impressive volume.

Breedlove treats every masterclass instrument as an individual, ensuring that all woods used are a perfect musical match. The Adirondack Spruce used for the top of this instrument is thus the perfect complement for the back and sides; it is subtle enough for gentle fingerpicking, but the Adirondack ensures that it responds in kind when strummed hard. The guitar has a lightness in the hand and an openness to the ear which bespeak the master luthier's skill. Less immediately obvious is the quarter sawn maple neck which contributes to more stable intonation, while also benefiting sound quality through its superior resonance transfer into the soundbox.

In terms of appointments, the body and fretboard are maple bound, with an inner band of black-white-black purfling. The maple heal cap is also back purfled, as is the headstock cap, which is ebony. Ebony is also used for the bridge and fretboard, which features subtle offset dot markers. A simple abalone ring adorns the soundhole. The chrome 18:1-ratio Gotoh 510 tuners are silky smooth and perfectly accurate, also featuring ebony buttons to complement the fretboard, bridge and headstock.

Finally, the safety and longevity of this guitar are assured by the inclusion of an Ameritage hard case, custom-built to fit it perfectly. With Masterclass guitars being heirloom grade instruments, only the best case will suffice. Ameritage cases retail for £895, and are more than up to the job of protecting such a guitar.

"Looking for a slightly different Spec? Talk to us about building your own unique Breedlove."