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Blueridge Historic Series Acoustic Guitars: Vintage Tone on a Budget

In my search for a competitively priced, all-around guitar, the Blueridge BR-160 consistently emerged as one of the best choices. The vintage styling, coupled with superior build materials, make this guitar an important consideration for any musician on a budget.

Blueridge BR-160 Sitka at a Glance:

(4.7 / 5)

Blueridge BR-160 Sitka Spruce Acoustic Guitar

The BR-160, part of the Historic Series, has most of the important features found on expensive vintage guitars, harkening back to the post WWII stylings.

Additionally, Canadian sourced woods allow a range of available tones, give these guitars a professional quality at an entry-level price certainly qualifying it as one of the best acoustic guitars deals.

Quality Construction

Starting with the top soundboard, the BR-160 has a solid Sitka Spruce top, giving it both strong and flexible qualities while being cost-effective. The premium Adirondack version of this same instrument also comes at a premium price due to the costly nature of the legendary tonewood.

Still, the Sitka version is no slouch when it comes to responsiveness which makes it suitable for flat picking and aggressive strumming techniques.

Likewise, the expressive dynamics of the Spruce allows it to articulate a broad tonal range of notes. Taking design cues from the prewar forward X-pattern, the hand-carved parabolic top braces.

What Are Blueridge BR-160 Owners Saying?

The sides and back of this guitar are made from solid Rosewood, which is rare, because instruments at this price level usually feature laminates or other lower-quality woods.

The Blueridge BR-160’s bridge is also made from Rosewood, helping to transfer the strumming energy of the strings to the soundboard without incurring inefficient energy losses. The Mahogany neck is strong and hard, but light enough to handle the tension of the strings without adding too much weight.

Another beautiful feature, impressive for the price range, is the saddle and nut bone composition. That being said, the ABS plastic bridge and end pins are arguably the most frugal element of this guitar, however they can be easily replaced if other materials are preferred.

Get the Best Deal on a Blueridge BR-160 at Reverb.com! >>

Vintage Voiced Features

• Select, solid Sitka spruce top with hand-carved parabolic top braces in authentic prewar forward-X pattern
• Solid Indian rosewood back and sides with centre strip of delicate wood marquetry
• Choice East Indian rosewood fingerboard ensures silky smooth playability
• Distinctive tortoise style pickguard recreates that 30’s vintage look
• White body binding with delicate herringbone inlay around top
• Slim mahogany neck with dovetail neck joint and adjustable truss rod
• Rosewood bridge and bridge plate
• Rosewood peghead overlay adorned with a unique M-O-P and Abalone design
• Saga’s exclusive Dalmatian style pickguard
• Natural high-gloss finish with aged toner
• Accurate Vintage-style 14:1 ratio nickel-plated open-back tuners with butterbean-style buttons
• Nut and saddle are made from bone
• Nut width: 1 11/16 inch
• Scale length: 25.6 inch (650 mm)

Read the Latest Blueridge BR-160 User Reviews! >>

How Does the Blueridge BR-160 Play?

Truly, the experience of playing a guitar is a personal one, however for me the action and playability of the BR-160 was great straight out of the beautifully designed case.

The narrowness of the neck will improve playability for those with smaller hands, but is suitable for everyone, as it is now becoming a standard for these dreadnought style guitars.

Some people may argue that the action needs to be adjusted for their playing style, but for me it seemed just right. Clearly with the size and volume, this guitar is less suited for classical or flamenco styles, and potentially better for country, rock, or pop music.

Compare Similar Acoustic Guitars:

Taylor 114ce 100 Series Acoustic Guitar, Sapele...

Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought...

Seagull Artist Mosaic Acoustic Guitar

How Does the BR-160 Sitka Version Sound?

Other online reviews compare the Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series to the Martin D28, which is reasonable since both guitars feature similar materials and construction.

I wouldn’t agree that the two guitars are exactly similar, but the overall sound quality compared to the price makes the BR-160 Sitka a serious contender. This guitar has an impressive volume, more than the Washburn D10 I usually sport, making it an ideal candidate for purely acoustic performance.

Should I Buy a Blueridge Historic Series Acoustic?

Certainly, choosing a guitar is a personal experience, and ultimately the instrument has to feel right to you. But for me, the Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Acoustic is one of the best instruments in its class.

The clear, bright sound, with impressive volume make it a suitable replacement for other dreadnought guitars well outside of its price range.

Likewise, the high-quality materials used, and vintage styling, make it a slick looking guitar worthy of any venue. Finally, the feel and weight of the guitar really demonstrate its value.

For these reasons, I’d say it is a great choice for either an emerging musician, or a well-seasoned professional.

Check Blueridge BR-160 Acoustic Availability! >>

The post Blueridge BR-160 Sitka Acoustic Guitar Review [Historic Series Dreadnought] first appeared on GuitarNiche.

The Martin DRS2: Amazing Acoustics Electrified

Legendary Martin tone and solid-wood construction are the hallmarks of this addition to the Martin Road Series line. The DRS2 Dreadnought acoustic electric guitar was designed specifically for the price sensitive player looking for a rich traditional Martin tone at an affordable price.

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The DRS2 at a Glance:

Martin DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar

The solid Sitka spruce top is carefully selected with a defined grain displaying proper silting to help ensure a traditional Martin signature sonic footprint. The sides and back are solid sapele, a relative in tone to mahogany’s rich mids, but more sustainable and cost effective. That’s very good news for your guitar budget.

The bridge and fingerboard are made of Black Richlite, similar to ebony but again, a consideration which is the result of cost effective construction. The top, back and sides are braced for maximum projection and resonance, and the DRS2’s smooth, modified low oval neck is built with select hardwood for extra rigidity and durability.

Fit and finish are of course excellent as with any Martin branded instrument at this level.

Martin Playability

The slim neck profile fits comfortably in your and the action is easy to manage throughout top to bottom ranges.

As an added feature, the DRS2’s frets were precision milled with a modern Plek machine. Martin uses the Plek to automate the labor intensive levelling process of a guitar setup.

To have an instrument “Pleked” would cost you anywhere from $250-$400 just for the service. Note: a good hands-on master guitar tech can do this for you after the fact for about $75.00 to $100.00 depending on the instrument.

Read More on Martin and Co Guitars Here >>

What Does the Martin DRS2 Sound Like?

The Martin DRS2 comes complete with the latest Fishman Sonitone electronics. This compact, plug and play electronics package makes dealing in a great tone that much easier.

There’s no need for you to spend hours fiddling around to get a great sound. The volume and tone controls are discretely located directly in the soundhole for ease of access. Once you get used to the control’s positioning, changes are made easily on the fly.

DRS2 Features

The Martin DRS2 Acoustic-Electric comes with a variety of features to meet your musical instrument needs. These features include:

• Dreadnought body style
• Solid Sitka spruce top
• “X-1” with A-frame bracing
• Sapele back and sides
• Dimensions: 9” x 20” x 48”
• Select hardwood neck with low oval shape
• Black Richlite fingerboard
• Fishman Sonitone Electronics
• Tuners are enclosed with chrome
• Comes with a modern belly bridge that includes a saddle with “white tusq”
• Comes with a hard-shell case

Read the Latest Martin DRS2 User Reviews Here

Martin DRS2 Pros and Cons

Martin DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar Review

View the Martin DRS2 Acoustic-Electric Here! >>

Compare Similar Manufacturer’s Guitars:

Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought...

Martin DRS2 Solid Spruce Top Solid Sapele Back...

Yamaha A3R A-Series Dreadnought Cutaway...

Final Thoughts: Is The Martin DRS2 Acoustic-Electric Worth The Money?

There are so many brands out there to choose from that can literally stretch in price from a mere $25 all the way up to thousands and thousands of dollars.

While Martins do have their own signature sound, other top brands such as Taylor offer a different flavor. Find out more on how they compare in our article here: Taylor vs Martin.

Buying online is definitely the way to go as it is much cheaper, but I always recommend going in person and testing it out for yourself.

Musical instruments are all about personal preference and what someone else might love, you might hate, never buy one online without at least holding the brand in a store.

That being said, I highly recommend the Martin DRS2 Dreadnought Acoustic-Electric Guitar as a trustworthy name-brand instrument. It is reasonably priced, but more importantly it sounds and plays fantastic.

Martin Guitars often have a nice full sound, and this one is no exception. It’s fun and includes everything you need in an all out acoustic package.

If you’re looking for a guitar that stands out a bit more on stage, this one might not be the one for you, as it has a typical “normal” guitar look. I actually prefer more plain guitars as I am all about quality of sound, much more than “bling”.

The price also includes a hard-shell carrying case as opposed to a gigbag, a must for anyone who travels extensively as it helps protect your investment.

Enjoy!

What Do Martin DRS2 Owners Think? >>

Manufacturer Info:

Website: https://www.martinguitar.com/

About: C.F. Martin & Co. ® has been creating the finest instruments in the world for over 180 years.

The post Martin DRS2 Acoustic Guitar [Complete Review] first appeared on GuitarNiche.