One of my all-out favorites... an excellent Breedlove J22, a deep-body Jumbo
with the unmistakable Breedlove sharp cutaway. This guitar is Master Class
all around - Master Class Rosewood binding with top, bottom and side purfling,
Kim Breedlove's mother-of-pearl "Swallows" inlay centering around
the 12th fret, and upgraded gold Schaller tuners. A tightly grained Cedar
top complements a very elegant and classy back/side set in Walnut.
Ok, so it looks beautiful... but how does it play? Well, guitars around here
don't stay favorite for very long if all they have going for them is a pretty
face. But since I have yet to see a Breedlove come through that was not only
beautiful but also great to play and hear, the bar is set even higher. This
guitar wins the prize with a powerful, resonant voice that is also "scalable",
meaning that the rich tone of the guitar sings through within a range of playing
styles, from light fingerpicking to medium strumming/plectrum playing. For
mostly aggressive/heavy rhythm strummers, I usually recommend something with
a Spruce top, rather than Cedar... but if there were a Cedar guitar that could
handle a heavy hand, this would be it. For anyone seeking the deep, rich tone
a Breedlove Jumbo can deliver, then this guitar will be a treasure.
