Today I got the BR 160 I've been wanting for a few weeks. I'm surprised how much lighter in weight it is than my Martins.
I love the responsiveness. The treble is louder than any guitar I have and the bass has a nice warm sound with an excellent tone all the way up the neck.
The guy at my store set it up for me. I'm not sure what guage strings it has, but I will probably put Elixir custom lights on it after I've had awhile
for it to settle in. The action is excellent.
Inside the case there was a form to fill out to send in for the limited lifetime warranty.
I'm not wild about the pick guard and am considering replacing it, but the guitar overall is beautiful. One of the things I noticed that sold me on the
guitar was the workmanship. When you feel the braces inside the sound hole, they're smooth, carefully shaped and sanded like my old Martin D 18. My lower
price Martin guitars' braces feel crude by comparison. (but they all have nice sounds.)
I wanted a guitar that wouldn't get lost in the mix in an acoustic jam, and this one seems like it's the one. It's my first Blueridge and I'm
pretty excited about it.
new BR 160
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 Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
new BR 160 |
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Posts: 11 (03/10/09 05:32 PM) |
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Broadus55.acousticfingers... |
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Posts: 148 (03/10/09 06:15 PM) |
Congratulations, Ed. Glad you like it and hope you continue to do so. I'm surprised that you would put custom lights on a dread. Do you just like how they
play?
Best, Bill
Broadus on AGF, HCAG, and the Larrivee Forum
Larrivee OM-03R, Eastman AC710S The chief end of man is to glorify God and enjoy him forever (Westminster Shorter Catechism, 1647) |
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Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
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Posts: 12 (03/10/09 07:12 PM) |
I'm not sure what it came with, but I suspect they are lights. They're a little brassy to my ears. I think the coated Elixir strings sound a bit more
mellow, last longer, and have a bit less finger squeak.
The guitar is very light and responsive, and I'm not a bluegrass musician...mostly blues actually. I've always liked dreadnaughts, but there have been times in my life when all my work onstage was using electric guitars...which is why I've had a bit of a lighter touch and gotten used to lighter guage strings. If custom lights decrease the volume or tone substantially, I will return to regular lights. I've played it some tonight....responsibilities can interfere with playing. Tomorrow, I will be eager to get home from work to play it more. It's definitely fun to play and I wonder how much and how soon it will open up more. It reminds me a lot of the Martin D 18 V, my brother in law got...except the Blueridge is louder in the treble. |
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poboxnyc |
New BR 160 | ||
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Posts: 36 (03/10/09 08:17 PM) |
Br 160's come with D'Addario EJ 16 Phospher bronze lights.
Great guitar. |
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intune66 |
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Posts: 1610 (03/11/09 12:01 AM) Moderator |
Congrats, Ed! Sounds like a keeper. I use Elixer nano lights on my Blueridges and think they sound great.......
Ryan
Some of my Guitars:
Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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watchme22 |
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Posts: 15 (03/11/09 06:03 AM) |
It's funny you mention stock strings... I have been wondering what replacements to put on my BR-40. I really like the one that came on it but there was no
hint of what they are with the documentation with the guitar. As a matter of fact, no documentation came with the guitar. Do any of you know what they install
at the factory? Guitar Hut set it up for me prior to shipping it, I assume they leave the origional strings on it?
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dmcowles |
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Posts: 2553 (03/11/09 06:40 AM) Admin |
They ship with a hang tag that indicates D'Addario EJ16s (phosphor bronze, light gauge.) If you think the stock strings sound good, you'll love how it
sounds with new EJ16s on board. I only say that because I am very skeptical about the claim that they ship with D'Addarios. Think about it - would Saga
have the guitar built in China, then ship American strings over there to put on them? I think not. My experience with the factory strings has been supportive
of that belief. I think they're Chinese counterfeit EJ16s, but that's just my opinion, and what do I know?
Dave
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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bobb |
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Posts: 13 (03/11/09 06:56 AM) |
I restrung my BR160 with EJ16s and they sound great. Next time will be a set of EJ17 mediums. I'm curious to see how much of a difference that will make.
Bob |
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dmcowles |
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Posts: 2554 (03/11/09 07:09 AM) Admin |
bobb wrote: I think you'll be stunned at how much difference there is. The Blueridge dreads really love medium gauge strings. Dave
You forget it and I'll forget it, but I'll remember it, and don't you forget it!
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watchme22 |
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Posts: 16 (03/11/09 07:12 AM) |
dmcowles wrote: Sounds like you know something, and if you know anything it's more than I know... Thanks, I am going to write that down and put it in the case so I will know what to buy when the time comes. |
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Bleu06 |
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Posts: 13 (03/11/09 10:05 AM) |
Tell me please, suppose I change medium size strings on the Blueridge that was delivered with light strings,
should the truss rod should be adjusted to compensate for the extra pull?  bleu blue from waiting 13 days.
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intune66 |
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Posts: 1621 (03/11/09 10:10 AM) Moderator |
Bleu06 wrote: I slight truss rod adjustment might be necessary but not more than 1/4 turn in most cases. It all depends on how low or high your action is. If you do make an adjustment, always remember that it may take an hour or more for the adjustment to take full effect, Bleu. Hope you see your new replacement guitar soon.......  .
Ryan
Some of my Guitars:
Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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lanaki |
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Posts: 7 (03/11/09 01:36 PM) |
my BR-163 was delivered with light gauge strings. since a good percentage of my playing is in slack key, i use mediums as they don't flop around as much. i
immediately replaced the stock strings with elixir nano phosphor bronze mediums. no truss adjustment was necessary. ymmv though.
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Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
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Posts: 13 (03/11/09 03:11 PM) |
I am enjoying the sound and feel of the guitar. It's very light in weight, but it stays in tune well, and I do a lot of pulling and stretching.
I'm going to play this for a little while before I change the strings. I want to get a pick up put in soon. After that, I will likely put Elixir custom lights on it. It reminds me of my brother in laws Martin D18 V which also is light. The D18 cost a lot more, and isn't nearly as loud on the high E string, but it has a wonderful low end. I'm trying to get some playing time on it to get it to open up. I still plan to keep my Martins, but this is an awfully nice guitar...unbelievable for the price. |
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Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
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Posts: 15 (03/13/09 04:44 PM) |
Last Edited By: intune66
03/13/09 11:06 PM.
Edited 1 times.
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heymelbs |
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Posts: 56 (03/13/09 06:09 PM) |
She's a beauty!
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intune66 |
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Posts: 1675 (03/13/09 11:08 PM) Moderator |
I set that picture link so that you (anyone) can just click on it, Ed. Nice solid EIR guitar!
Ryan
Some of my Guitars:
Stanford PSD-28, 21, 20 Blueridge BR-70, 60-AS Aria AD-80, R.K. RDC-57 |
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lroyb |
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Posts: 91 (03/14/09 04:39 AM) |
Nice guitar Ed, congrats. (insert thumbs up smiley) for some reason the smileys only show the link ? is it me ?
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Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
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Posts: 17 (03/14/09 05:13 PM) |
Thanks guys. I've played it a lot today...first day off since I got it. I can't believe how responsive it is. It's lighter than my Martins and just
rings out. I know it will get sweeter as I've played it more.
With the gold + plus pickup I had installed yesterday, it sounds very much like my D16RGT, but played unamplified, it has a distinct personality. What impressed me most was the volume of the high strings...much louder than any of my Martins. I need to get a better picture of the back. The rosewood is tight grained and pretty. The finish is excellent. I had the action set a bit lower than factory setting. The low E string was a bit high on the nut and the saddle just a tad higher than I like. The Elixir custom lights gave it a more mellow sound. I think next time I change strings, I would like to put in Ebony pins. |
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Ed Rhoades.theunofficialma... |
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Posts: 19 (03/22/09 05:27 AM) |
Took my BR 160 to a jam last night. It was the first time it's been out of the house except to have it outfitted with a Gold + pickup.
It was a typical jam totally acoustic with a number of people strumming in a very resonant room. Just as I had hope, my solos cut through everything and could be easily heard. A few friends borrowed my guitar and I had a chance to hear it from the other side and it sounded very nice. I also played a more expensive Blueridge. It was a 000 with 45 style appointments. It was a really nice guitar, but I'm a little partial to dreadnaughts. |
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whiskyjill |
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Posts: 12 (03/22/09 10:21 AM) |
I just got to play one of these yesterday. What a nice guitar. These dreads sure aren't afraid to be played loudly are they? Enjoy your new guitar!
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