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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.

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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.

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Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic Guitar Review: Why Is It Rated 4.7/5?

Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium

When Taylors first went into production, the lowest price guitar was around $1000 for a straight acoustic instrument.

With the launch of the 100 and 200 series, including the Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic, a lower price-range expansion has allowed a lot more musicians to own one of these expertly crafted instruments.

As an avid acoustic Taylor supporter, my experience with the 100 series was an experiment in an affordable acoustic electric guitar. This instrument did not disappoint, providing the same great Taylor sound, with a dramatically reduced price tag.

Build Quality

One of my main concerns with this guitar was how the reduced price tag affected the basic construction. The solid Sitka Spruce soundboard is an impressive, expected feature. The laminate Sapele sides and back were a bit disappointing, but again, an expected tradeoff considering the price point.

That being said, the materials themselves are not necessarily a deal breaker, you should also consider how well it’s put together. In this regard, the 114CE meets all of the Taylor standards of uncompromising quality.

The finish of the 20 frets is consistent and expertly detailed. The strength, durability, and light weight of the Mahogany neck, with the classic bolt-on Taylor construction, adds a nice feel.

Inside the Sapele body is a forward-shifted bracing pattern, adding stability and strength to the instrument while shaping the full-bodied sound.

Another feature typical of Taylor’s forward-thinking is the unified jack, strap button, battery compartment at the bottom of the instrument which is cleanly incorporated into the instrument’s design.

Click Here to Check User Reviews >>

Taylor Playability

The 114CE is labeled such because of the grand auditorium body shape, and rounded Venetian cutaway design. The easily manageable profile, which is comfortable to play while sitting, and 55mm spacing of the bridge, give the user added precision and control.

Out of the box, the instrument needed very little in terms of a setup. A slight truss rod adjustment and minor nut re-cut did the trick.

The one thing you need to keep in mind, especially in northern regions, is that the guitar will shift a bit over seasonal changes. While this is normal, having it looked at periodically by your local guitar tech will make sure it stays in proper playing condition.

Of course, having the confidence of knowing how to set up a guitar yourself makes regular checkups much easier.

The model we examined needed some minor adjustments common to most production instruments.

The nut needed a slight recut, more due to many manufacturers logical thinking that there would be players that prefer a higher action for things like slide etc:

Plus the saddle had to be lowered a small amount to bring the string into a more comfortable action zone:

Regarding the body shape, the higher end of the guitar is easily accessed via the cutaway design. This can be an issue with dreadnought style guitars, and while the bottom of this instrument is realistically the same size as a dreadnought, the design seems more ergonomic.

Higher up on the instrument the neck is thick, but not so much so that it is awkward in the user’s hands. All in, the guitar is 21 by 43 inches in size and is extremely light at around 13 pounds.

However, for extended play a strap would still be a nice addition. That being said, the light weight adds to a crispy tone of the guitar.

What Do Taylor 114CE Users Think? >>

What Does the 114CE Sound Like?

Upon first playing the 114CE the most impressive element of the sound is the full-bodied tone of the notes, and the extended sustain. This is unique for such a small guitar, and in my experience, part of what makes it well worth the money.

At the same time, the tone is a little brighter than traditional instruments in the same class, partly due to the bracing system and the Spruce top.

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Acoustic also features the ES2 – Expression System 2 pickup system cleanly incorporated into the guitar. Though the controls are not obviously labeled, volume, tone and dynamic adjustments are easily made from a natural position located near the neck joint.

The sonic range of adjustability is broad as you’d expect from a refined system allowing the top end to shine and the midrange to shift as needed as you move through the controls.

The uniquely designed pressure adjustment screws situated just behind the bridge make dialling in an even output a breeze. But it does require a deft touch as over-torquing the small grub screws could easily become a problem without understanding their nature:

Read What Taylor 114ce Customers are Saying >>

Finally, open chords sound lofty and thick, while the lighter strings ring a little brighter as previously mentioned. Altogether, great qualities to have for a guitar under $1000.

As a comparison to more traditionally voiced instruments such as Martin acoustics, Taylor acoustic guitars have a sweet spot shifted more towards the upper mids and high end.

Features

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium comes with a variety of features to meet your musical instrument needs. These features include:

• A Taylor Grand Auditorium cutaway guitar
• The wood on the top is a single layer
• The back and sides are made out of a Solid Sitka Spruce
• The bracing pattern is a layered sapele
• Right handed guitar
• Standard bracing done by all Taylor guitars
• Finished with a matte 2.0
• Standard neck shape
• Nut width measures 42.8 mm
• Fingerboard is made out of a genuine African ebony
• Neck is made out of sapele
• 20 frets

Pros and Cons

Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Review

What Do Taylor 114ce Owners Think? >>

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Final Thoughts: Does the Taylor 114ce Deserve a High Rating?

The Taylor 114ce Grand Auditorium Natural is a great purchase for any newcomer to playing an instrument. It has a great sound, is easy to play, and has a really beautiful, warm tone.

Though the 100 series is on the lower price scale of the Taylor brand, the quality that has become well-known across the industry is not lost on this instrument. The expert craftsmanship and beautiful sound make this guitar a great addition to your repertoire.

The electronics, though sparse, are a great feature that are more icing on the cake than anything else. This guitar is well worth the money, and offers some of the best playability in the price range.

I recommend buying the Taylor 114ce, as it will save you money, especially if this is one of your first-time buys. It’s inexpensive, offers a great quality sound, and also has a unique look.

Even for more advanced players, this guitar will offer you a great back up in case you need it during a gig.

Although it comes with a branded case, it’s a gigbag. if you’re not moving it around so much, it should be fine but a gig bag does offer limited protection.

Dollar for dollar, I’d recommend buying a hard-shell case or a heavier padded bag in order to keep it safe, especially if your on the road.

Finally, musical instruments completely come down to personal preference. Even though I may recommend it to anyone from beginner to advanced players, it may not be the look or sound that you have in mind.

Buying a guitar also comes down to your size and shape, and you want to get one that is not too big or too small for you.

Read the Latest Taylor Customer Reviews Here! >>

Manufacturer Info:

Website: https://www.taylorguitars.com/

About: The acoustic guitar manufacturing pioneer has inspired many through a commitment to quality, innovation and customer satisfaction

The post Taylor 114CE Acoustic Guitar [Complete Review] first appeared on GuitarNiche.