Breedlove Owner`s Manual - Breedlove Guitar Company
Contents
1. to an adjustment before turning again Use extreme caution when making adjustments and if you are uncomfortable with this procedure consult a trained Breedlove Service Technician before attempting To tighten the truss rod turn the nut clockwise as seen from above This causes the neck to bow backward lowering the string height If you go too far the strings will buzz To loosen the truss rod turn the nut counterclockwise This causes the neck to bow forward raising the string height Go too far and the guitar will be hard to play Always make adjustments with your guitar tuned to concert pitch Breedlove Steel String Bracing amp the JLD Bridge Truss All Breedlove Custom Shop steel string guitars except for the Revival Series Pro Series and Atlas Series guitars use the JLD Bridge Truss system This device is a cantilevered truss that helps to counterbalance string tension at the bridge creating a relaxed top and improved structural integrity This allows us to brace our tops in a very progressive way with a focus on realizing the full acoustic potential of the top A relaxed top provides maximal wavelength response and a synergy is created by our use of a graduated top thickness balanced scalloped bracing and a pinless bridge in combination 7 with the bridge truss system This gives our guitars the distinctive and highly dynamic Breedlove Sound with a piano like bass and a remarkably well balanced tone suitable for2. Newer Revival instruments have an access hole through the top soundhole brace while older instruments do not If you do not have an access hole note that one of the two neck bolts is also in this general area The top neck bolt can be seen through the soundhole while the truss rod nut is not visible unless you have the access hole If you can see your wrench going into a large bolt you re in the wrong place To access the adjustment nut insert the wrench into the soundhole between the D and G strings holding them apart can be helpful and point it up toward the area described above to find the nut Turn clockwise to tighten the truss rod or counterclockwise to loosen it Truss Rod Adjustments for Pro Roots Atlas and Passport Series To adjust the double action truss rod on a Pro Roots Atlas or Passport Series instrument you will need a 4mm Allen wrench included The truss rod adjustment nut is located inside the soundhole just under the end of the fingerboard and accessible via a hole in the brace at that location Make adjustments by turning the wrench in the appropriate direction Keep the wrench between 10 and 2 o clock and reposition the wrench as necessary You may find it helpful to spread the D and G strings apart while turning the wrench When making truss rod adjustments turn a little at a time an eighth or quarter turn and check the results before turning again Allow some time for the neck to settle in
3. a broad variety of musical styles The bridge truss in your Breedlove guitar is adjusted before leaving the factory and should require very little attention from that point on However the system should be checked periodically for proper adjustment Checking Your Bridge Truss for Proper Adjustment 1 With the strings completely slackened or removed reach into the body toward the underside of the bridge Just behind the wood block directly under the bridge you will feel a wooden dowel extending to the tail block 8 Cutaway of a Breedlove guitar showing JLD bridge truss 2 Grasp the dowel between your thumb and forefinger and make sure there is no play along the lateral axis running the length of the guitar If there is any movement here the bridge truss will need to be tightened see step 4 If there is no movement move on to step 3 3 Roll the dowel gently between your thumb and forefinger a few degrees counterclockwise then return it to the original position The dowel should feel snug yet spin with some effort If the dowel offers excessive resistance i e the dowel won t turn the bridge truss needs to be loosened see step 4 If the dowel spins with just a touch of resistance your bridge truss is perfectly adjusted Restring the instrument and play on 4 If your bridge truss is in need of adjustment tighten clockwise or loosen counterclockwise the bolt on the front of the wood block it is visible through
4. description of the asserted defect examine the instrument and make service repairs and replacements as appropriate under this Warranty Upon completion of the service the instrument shall be returned to the original purchaser by the Breedlove Guitar Company with shipping and insurance to by paid by the purchaser In the event it is determined that the asserted defect is not covered by or is excluded from this Warranty the instrument shall be returned without repairs or replacement with shipping and insurance to be paid by the purchaser 5 Owner Registration To assist in confirming the original purchase and purchaser please register your instrument with Breedlove http www breedloveguitars com warranty Failure to register will not invalidate this Warranty Register your Breedlove on line at http www breedloveguitars com warranty or by phone at 877 800 4848 toll free USA or 541 385 8339 19 Breedlove Factory String Specifications Custom Shop Concert and Auditorium Revival OM and 000 All Breedlove Atlas amp Passport Models D Addario EXP16 Phosphor Bronze Coated Light Gauge 012 016 024 032 042 053 Custom Shop Dreadnoughts amp Jumbos Revival Dreadnought D Addario EXP17 Phosphor Bronze Coated Medium Gauge 013 017 026 035 045 056 Ed Gerhard Models 013 017 024 032 042 053 Twelve Strings Custom Shop amp Atlas D Addario EXP38 Phosphor Bronze Coated Light Gau
5. other warranties express or implied including any implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for purpose 18 3 No Other Warranties The Warranty set forth herein constitutes the entire warranty and representation of the Breedlove Guitar Company with regards to its musical instruments This Warranty shall be controlling over any conflicting terms and conditions of any purchase orders contracts or invoices which may be executed in connection with the purchase of this musical instrument No representation or warranty made by any salesperson dealer agent representative or employee of the Breedlove Guitar Company shall be binding upon Breedlove Guitar Company other than as set forth herein 4 Claim Procedures Unless purchaser is notified in writing that repairs and service under this Warranty may be made by an authorized Breedlove Guitar Co dealer claims for warranty performance and service shall be made by sending the instrument shipping and insurance prepaid by the purchaser to the Breedlove Guitar Company at the address shown on the back page of this booklet together with a evidence confirming the original purchase by purchaser such as a copy of the sales invoice or receipt a credit card slip or the like b a brief description of the nature of the asserted defect and c the name address and phone number of the original purchaser to whom the instrument is to be returned The Breedlove Guitar Company shall review the
6. proper phase relationship between the pickup and microphone Mic low cut filter D This rotary control allows for fine tuning the low frequency response of the condenser microphone A Remote Control unit gives you fingertip access to master volume and pickup mix controls The Remote Control mounts discretely underneath the top of the guitar There are no holes to be drilled and the installation is non destructive and fully reversible 15 M1 Magnetic Soundhole Pickup I Mix Preamp For complete instructions on the L R Baggs Dual Element System please refer to the User s Guide that came with your guitar Manuals can also be downloaded from the L R Baggs website http www lrbaggs com manuals L R Baggs I Mix M1 Designed for excellent sound reproduction in feedback prone high SPL applications the L R Baggs I Mix M1 combines the Active Element piezo pickup with an M1 magnetic soundhole pickup and routes the signal through an I Mix onboard preamp This system delivers the multidimensional acoustic sound of a dual source system with excellent feedback rejection The I Mix preamp offers considerable flexibility for tailoring your sound Onboard controls for gain low frequency cut and midrange cut allow for fine adjustment of the magnetic pickup tone and a separate midrange cut control is provided for the Element undersaddle pickup As with the Dual Source preamp the I Mix enables you to switch between mono and stereo out
7. that the driver is well clear of the headstock as the tool is turned Make adjustments at full concert pitch 5 Over Humidified Under Humidified Raised action Lowered action Sluggish tone low volume Fret buzzing Bellying up of top Fret ends protruding Lateral finish cracks Dips in top Generally a properly adjusted truss rod results in a neck with slight forward relief To check for proper neck relief push down on the low E string at the 1st and 14th frets simultaneously There should be about 0 010 of space between the bottom of the string and the top of the 6th fret about the thickness of a business card You may want a larger or smaller amount of relief depending on your playing style Note The Truss Rod should only be adjusted in order to establish proper neck relief and to counteract balance the effect of string tension Do not use the Truss Rod adjustment feature to try to correct larger set up issues or other problems that are not related to neck relief 6 Truss Rod Adjustments for U S Custom Shop Revival Series Guitars To adjust the single action truss rod on a Revival Series instrument you will need a round tipped 5 32 Allen wrench that is at least 4 long a special Revival Truss Rod Wrench is available from Breedlove please contact us for details The adjustment nut is located inside the soundhole toward the neck It is very close to the top of the guitar and right underneath the fingerboard
8. the top and back Tonewoods resonate freely thanks to a free floating fingerboard extension smaller neck and tail blocks and a bolt on neck Breedlove mandolins are well known for their easy playability A radiused fretboard low string height ample string set separation and a 1 3 16 nut width make them extremely comfortable Breedlove mandolins are optimized for use with medium light gauge strings but you may also use light or heavy strings 12 Breedlove Pro C25 CR Herringbone Breedlove Quartz FF Mandolin Changing Strings on your Mandolin When changing strings pay close attention to the location and orientation of bridge on the body When strings are removed the bridge may move If you remove all the strings at once it will be unsupported and will fall off It is a good idea to mark the location of the bridge prior to changing strings Place small pieces of masking tape on the top of the mandolin at each point of the bridge base to mark the location Also note the orientation of the bridge and mark one side with tape if you are not sure you know which way it goes To ensure proper instrument intonation the bridge must be in the correct location It is also a good idea to protect the finish of the instrument with a soft cloth while changing strings String ends can scratch the finish as can any movement of the bridge Please call Breedlove if we may be of assistance during your first string change Electronic Pickups for Mandolin
9. B r e e d l o v e O w n e r s M a n u a l Breedlove Owner s Manual Table of Contents 3 Humidity Temperature amp Solid Wood Instruments 5 Neck Truss Rod Adjustments 7 Breedlove Steel String Bracing amp the JLD Bridge Truss 9 Breedlove Set Up Specifications Steel String Acoustics 10 Changing Strings on your Breedlove Guitar 10 Breedlove Nylon String Guitars 11 Breedlove Mark Series Chambered Electric Guitars 11 Breedlove Pro Series Guitars 12 Breedlove Mandolins amp Electronics 14 L R Baggs Dual Element Electronics 15 L R Baggs I Mix M1 Electronics 16 L R Baggs Element Active Electronics 16 Breedlove Synergy Hexaphonic Pickup System 17 Cleaning your Breedlove Instrument 18 Breedlove Instrument Warranty 20 Breedlove Factory String Specifications Back Cover Congratulations on choosing your new Breedlove instrument To preserve the remarkable tone and playability of your Breedlove we have some simple suggestions that will help your instrument last a lifetime Over 200 years of combined expertise at Breedlove and extensive industry knowledge has contributed to the recommendations found in this guide Humidity Temperature and Solid Wood Instruments As with any high quality solid wood instrument humidity and temperature are very important factors affecting the health and well being of your guitar or mandolin Humidity and temperature are easily monitored and regulated with the
10. ation in real time Imagine six individual saddle sensors sending six separate channels of information via hexaphonic output giving you complete control over the tone and pitch of each individual string The Breedlove Synergy system can be installed in any Breedlove Custom Shop Pro or Roots Series instrument It is normally paired with an RMC Polydrive Preamp giving you a 1 4 piezo out with volume control a 3 band EQ a 13 pin polyphonic output with synth volume MIDI patch control and more Breedlove Mark I Chambered Electric with Polydrive V on board Note separate outputs for magnetic and piezo signals along with 13 pin polyphonic output The Breedlove Synergy System opens up a virtually limitless world of tonal possibilities linking your Breedlove guitar directly to the world of MIDI and synthesizer modeling And the Synergy system also provides fantastic acoustic tone at the same time Write or call today to discuss the Synergy system in more detail Cleaning Your Breedlove Instrument The fingerboard of your guitar or mandolin may need occasional cleaning depending on playing frequency your style of play and your body chemistry If possible wipe down the fingerboard and strings after each playing session If the fingerboard becomes gummy rub it lightly with 0000 steel wool Clean off any left over steel wool fragments then apply mineral oil Finally wipe down the fingerboard with a dry cotton cloth If the fingerboar
11. d appears dry or cracked you should first take a humidity measurement to ensure the instrument is being stored under suitable conditions If you find that the environment is too dry establish proper humidity as needed and then follow the procedure above Breedlove gloss finishes are very hard and durable They can be waxed with a variety of non abrasive waxes Most liquid furniture waxes or automotive waxes will do the job Do not use oils on Breedlove gloss finishes Breedlove Satin finishes are very durable and easy to take care of Do not use waxes or polish simply wipe the finish with a soft cotton polishing cloth after playing to keep it looking clean We hope you enjoy playing your new Breedlove and that it gives you many years of musical pleasure 17 Breedlove Guitar Company Instrument Warranty Your new Breedlove instrument is covered by the following Warranty The Warranty Term for Breedlove Custom Shop instruments Pro Series and Roots Series instruments is Limited Lifetime The Warranty Term for Atlas and Passport Series instruments is Five Years Your Breedlove instrument is made from thin wood and it is extremely important to maintain a stable environment of 44 48 Relative Humidity at 70 degrees Fahrenheit at all times 1 Terms and Conditions Breedlove Guitar Co warrants solely to the original purchaser of a Breedlove Guitar Co instrument that the instrument purchased shall be free from defects in ma
12. for other Atlas Series instruments Breedlove Mark Series Chambered Electric Guitars Care and feeding tips for your Breedlove Mark Series electric guitar are essentially the same as those for Breedlove Custom Shop Acoustics Truss rod adjustment is made using the truss rod nut on the headstock remove cover plate to access the nut We use the same finish process for the durable high gloss finish on your Mark I as we do for Custom Shop acoustics so you can follow the same cleaning instructions see page 17 For information on the electronics and pickups in your guitar please see the separate instruction sheet included with your instrument Breedlove Pro Series Acoustic Guitars The Breedlove Pro Series brings Breedlove Custom Shop performance fit and finish to a value packed new platform Pro Series guitars are made in the U S A and share many of the same assembly processes as Breedlove Custom Shop instruments They feature AAA grade solid tonewoods the JLD Bridge Truss system an on board L R Baggs Element Active pickup system and a Limited Lifetime Warranty 11 Breedlove Mark I Custom Breedlove Pro Series guitars feature the L R Baggs Element Active pickup Pro Series electronics are customizable though please contact us if you would prefer an alternate system Breedlove Mandolins Breedlove Mandolins are dynamic and full voiced Our mandolin bodies are slightly deeper than conventional mandolins with higher arches in
13. ge 010 010 014 014 023 008 030 012 039 018 047 027 Nylon String Guitars D Addario EJ44 Classical Hard Tension 0285 0327 0410 029 036 046 Atlas Acoustic Basses D Addario EXPPBB170 Phosphor Bronze Coated Soft Gauge 045 065 080 100 and 130 for five string models Mandolins D Addario EXP74 Phosphor Bronze Coated Medium Gauge 011 011 015 015 026 026 040 040 Electric Guitars Mark Series D Addario EXL140 Nickel Wound Light Top Heavy Bottom 010 013 017 030 042 052 19885 8th Street Bend OR 97701 541 385 8339 or Toll Free 877 800 4848 Breedlove Guitar Company 2007 Breedlove Guitar Company Printed on FSC Certified Recycled Stock with Minimum 25 Post Consumer Content
14. ice the symptoms of an RH problem before it poses a serious threat Some telltale signs of improper humidification are listed on the next page If your Breedlove shows symptoms of being over or under humidified take the instrument to a qualified guitar repair person immediately or call our service department 4 Avoid exposing your instrument to extreme temperatures such as a car trunk on a hot day or when possible the cargo hold of an airplane Avoid prolonged exposure to temperatures below 60 F or above 80 F Neck Truss Rod Adjustment The truss rod in your Breedlove guitar serves to counteract the effect of string tension on the neck of your instrument String tension pulls the neck forward and up while the truss rod pulls the neck down and backward A properly adjusted truss rod equalizes the tension on the neck Adjustment of truss rod tension changes the amount of bow in the plane of the fingerboard Let your instrument adjust to its new environment before changing truss rod tension Truss Rod Adjustments for U S Custom Shop Guitars except Revival To adjust the single action truss rod on a U S Custom Shop Breedlove remove the truss rod cover on the headstock face just above the nut Then using a nut driver turn the brass nut on the end of the truss rod clockwise to tighten rod and pull the neck back counterclockwise to loosen the rod and allow the strings to pull the neck up Use a driver extender to ensure
15. ng and replacing strings If no string guard is available use a business card with Scotch tape to prevent damage to your finish when pulling the strings through the bridge Remember to change strings often for best tone Breedlove Nylon String Guitars Breedlove Nylon string guitars are designed with the playability of a modern steel string and the warm tone of a nylon string guitar A steel string neck profile and low string height over a radiused fingerboard allow for fast fretting and chording and great playing comfort Special consideration has been given to the classical player seeking modern comfort and to the steel string player seeking seamless technique transfer Breedlove Nylon string guitars are fan braced and have the signature Breedlove graduated top thickness for balance and sweet tone We use high tension Nylon strings balanced with a neck truss rod Breedlove Custom Shop Nylon string guitars are available with 1 3 4 or 1 7 8 nut widths 10 Breedlove Nylon Nouveau For instruments equipped with undersaddle pickup transducer we recommend that you restring your instrument starting with the two middle strings and work your way outward This ensures that the saddle will reseat firmly and squarely over the transducer For Breedlove Custom Shop Nylon String guitars follow care and maintenance instructions provided for Custom Shop Steel String instruments For Atlas Series Nylon guitars follow instructions provided
16. put When in Mono mode the Remote Control unit mounted under the soundhole provides control of Master Volume and Element M1 blend In stereo mode each thumbwheel provides volume control for a single source vol controls the Element and mix controls the M1 For complete instructions on the L R Baggs I Mix M1 System please refer to the User s Guide that came with your guitar Manuals can also be downloaded from the L R Baggs website http www lrbaggs com manuals A12 Custom with Synergy System Installed RMC Polydrive II 16 L R Baggs Element Active The award winning Element Active system from L R Baggs pairs the Element undersaddle transducer with an all discrete class A preamp To that we add soundhole mounted controls for tone and volume The tone control is not simply a passive high end roll off it is actually a tone shaping circuit giving you a much wider tonal palette than a conventional tone control The Element Active comes standard in all Breedlove Pro and Roots Series guitars unless you request a custom electronics configuration Breedlove Synergy System for Acoustic and Electric Guitars The Breedlove Synergy System delivers astoundingly warm and authentic acoustic tone but that s just the beginning Imagine being able to connect your acoustic guitar directly to a Roland modeling system like the VG 88 Imagine hooking your electric directly to your MacBook or PC laptop and recording MIDI inform
17. right accessories specifically a thermometer and a hygrometer You can take an in the case approach to humidity control or you can treat the entire room in which your instrument will be kept Measure the relative humidity RH and temperature of your storage environment to determine if it is suitable Measuring daily for a week or two will help you determine whether conditions are stable Your Breedlove guitar was built in a controlled environment with an RH of approximately 45 at a temperature of 70 F An RH of between 40 and 50 at this same temperature will ensure a suitable environment for your Breedlove Note that RH is temperature dependent Air with 45 RH at 60 F does not have the same water content as air at 70 F with 45 RH If your storage environment is below 40 RH invest in a humidifier with variable controls to establish proper RH If the environment is above 50 RH a variable control dehumidifier will be needed to achieve optimal RH Humidifiers and dehumidifiers are available at most department stores and in addition to being essential for the health of your instrument they re good for you too Note This manual covers Breedlove acoustic guitars and mandolins as well as Breedlove Chambered electric guitars Humidity and temperature control are vital for the health of acoustic instruments and a properly humidified environment will also be beneficial for electric guitars 3 The transfer of water vapor between
18. s For minimum acoustic impact and a rich naturally balanced tone Breedlove recommends the Schertler C DYN M an electrodynamic contact microphone co designed by Schertler and Breedlove This pickup is a full bodied electrodynamic contact microphone which can also be coupled with a condenser microphone It requires no phantom power Floating Fingerboard Extension Adjustable Bridge 13 14 Mandolin Set Up Specifications Breedlove mandolins have an adjustable bridge Our factory setup is approximately 065 on the bass strings and 050 on the treble strings as measured at the 12th fret A Breedlove Service Technician can recommend the right set up for your style of play and desired tone ELECTRONICS CONFIGURATIONS FOR ACOUSTIC GUITARS L R Baggs Dual Element System The Dual Element pickup system is custom made for Breedlove by L R Baggs It features an Active Element undersaddle pickup an internal condenser microphone and an onboard Dual Source preamp The Dual Source is a great sounding preamp that offers flexible routing options for mono or stereo use Features include Stereo Mono Switch A Pickup and microphone signals can be blended into a mono or can be accessed separately by switching the preamp to stereo operation and using a stereo TRS cable High Low Gain Switch B Allows you to match gain structure to your pickup Mic phase switch C This switch changes the polarity of the mic signal so you can ensure
19. terials and workmanship under normal use for the duration of the Warranty Term or for as long as the instrument is owned by the original purchaser whichever is shorter and until the ownership of the instrument is transferred to another This Warranty does not apply to a wear or breakage of frets or strings or other normal wear and tear of the instrument or its parts b asserted defects caused by modification misuse or abuse or improper maintenance of the instrument c asserted defects involving subjective personal dislikes or judgements d asserted defects caused by accident or exposure to extremes of temperature or humidity which cause harm to the instrument or e defects asserted by any purchaser who did not purchase the instrument from an authorized U S dealer authorized international distributor or agent for the Breedlove Guitar Company 2 Limitations on Obligation The obligations of Breedlove Guitar Co hereunder are limited to repair or replacement of parts of the instruments found to be defective under this Warranty In no event shall Breedlove Guitar Co be liable for any indirect incidental or consequential damages including but not limited to lost profits of any nature or kind or for damages to persons or property whether such liability claim is based on breach of warranty or contract negligence or any other legal duty or obligation This Warranty is the sole warranty of Breedlove Guitar Co and is given in lieu of all
20. the sound hole A very small turn of the bridge truss bolt can be enough to return the rod to proper tension so make adjustments in very small increments and check tension after each turn of the bolt Adjustment Bolt Sizes for Breedlove Instruments Use the following Allen Wrench sizes when making bridge truss adjustments Custom Shop Instruments use a 3 16 Allen Wrench Pro and Atlas Series Instruments use a 4mm Allen Wrench Nylon guitars Revival Roots and Passport Series instruments do not have a bridge truss You ll discover that the bridge truss system offers unrivaled body stability and preserves consistent action and playability Note however that the bridge truss is not designed to make adjustments to instrument action or to compensate for over or under humidification Steel String Acoustic Guitar Set Up Specifications Our specifications for proper action are for 3 32 on the bass side and 1 16 on the treble side as measured at the 14th fret You may wish to set your instrument for higher or lower action than this depending on your playing technique When you have a pickup installed make sure that you and your guitar tech agree on the setup before work is done 9 Changing Strings on your Breedlove Acoustic Guitar It is always wise to put a polishing cloth over the body of an instrument while changing strings to protect the finish from scratches With pinless bridges use the provided string guard for removi
21. the wood of your guitar or mandolin and the atmosphere is actually a relatively slow process and this works in your favor When an instrument is kept in its case the process is slowed even further By keeping your instrument in suitable conditions most of the time you can take it on short trips to places with less desirable RH conditions without causing problems If you are taking a longer trip more than several days or are on a sustained tour you will definitely want to use some sort of in case humidity control and measurement Note When selecting an in case humidifier avoid designs that completely block the sound hole they can cause over humidification of the instrument body while doing little to maintain proper humidity for the neck We recommend and offer the Oasis Guitar Humidifier It has a unique design that maintains proper humidity without risk of leaks or dripping inside your guitar It also provides visual feedback when it is time to refill We offer the Oasis Guitar Humidifier in a kit that includes a filling syringe and an Oasis Digital Thermometer Hygrometer To order just ask for the Humidifier Hygrometer Combo Kit Before you take any steps to control humidity you should ensure you can accurately measure the humidity conditions inside your room or guitar case Humidity measurement is crucial if you can t measure RH accurately you won t know if you re helping matters or making them worse You will probably not
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