Breedlove D20/R

The Breedlove D20/R dates back to Breedlove’s early high-quality “Made in the USA” production and was manufactured in Tumalo, Oregon, in 2002. This places it within an interesting phase of the company’s history, during which Breedlove developed its own unique interpretation of the American steel-string guitar and earned an outstanding reputation with high-quality instruments crafted in Oregon. These early American Breedlove guitars were produced in relatively small quantities and are now rarely found, especially on the European secondhand market.

The model designation D20/R refers to a classic dreadnought with a rosewood body, with the “R” standing for rosewood. For this guitar, Breedlove combines a solid Sitka spruce top with solid East Indian rosewood for the back and sides. The fingerboard and bridge are made of ebony. This makes the D20/R one of the most proven wood combinations in high-end steel-string guitar making.

The large Dreadnought body shape is a perfect match for this selection of woods. The solid rosewood body provides a robust foundation and a broad range of overtones, while the Sitka spruce top contributes dynamic response and a direct tone. Thanks to its all-solid construction, the instrument has also matured and broken in beautifully over more than two decades.

In terms of tone, this Breedlove is truly something special. It has a big, open, and very balanced sound with a powerful low end, beautiful overtones, and excellent string separation. Individual notes remain clearly defined even in more complex chords, giving the guitar impressive transparency.

The D20/R offers plenty of dynamic range and responds beautifully to different playing intensities. When picking, it impresses with its definition and clarity, while with more vigorous strumming, it produces a wide soundstage with plenty of volume. It is precisely this versatility that makes it an outstanding dreadnought for players looking for both a powerful rhythm guitar and an instrument with fine detail.

The 45 mm saddle width—which is comparatively comfortable—also provides plenty of room for the left hand and complements the guitar’s versatile character very well. The 648 mm scale length supports the clear response and powerful foundation of the large dreadnought.

The guitar is in very good to nearly like-new condition and has obviously been very well cared for over the years. The frets are also in very good to nearly like-new condition. For a guitar that is more than 20 years old, this one is exceptionally beautiful. The original Breedlove case is also included.

We carefully set up every guitar. We adjust the neck radius and string action to ensure that the guitar plays cleanly, comfortably, and without buzzing across the entire fretboard.

The string action is an excellent 2.4 mm on the low E string and 2.0 mm on the high e string, measured at the 12th fret.

Specifications:

Model: Breedlove D20/R
Year of manufacture: 2002
Body shape: Dreadnought
Construction: All-solid
Scale length: 648 mm
Nut width: 45 mm
Top: Solid Sitka spruce
Back and sides: Solid East Indian rosewood
Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Bridge: Ebony
Finish: Gloss
Case: Original case
Origin: Tumalo, Oregon, USA

Link to Breedlove

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