Breedlove King Koa Master Class

The Breedlove King Koa Master Class is one of the most extraordinary acoustic guitars ever produced by the American manufacturer based in Oregon. With its combination of exquisite Hawaiian koa, a solid Western red cedar top, and intricate inlays, it embodies Breedlove’s unique philosophy: innovative guitar craftsmanship, high-quality tonewoods, and a distinctive design.

The history of Breedlove began in 1990, when Larry Breedlove and Steve Henderson founded their own guitar workshop in Oregon. Their goal was to develop acoustic guitars that differed from traditional instruments in both sound and construction. With the later addition of Kim Breedlove, an exceptionally talented guitar maker and inlay artist, the brand also developed a distinctive visual style of its own.

The King Koa was first introduced in 2002 and is one of the most elaborately designed models in the Master Class series. It is considered one of the guitars that most impressively reflects Kim Breedlove’s creative style. Perhaps its most famous feature is the intricate mermaid-and-dolphin inlay on the ebony fingerboard, originally designed by Kim Breedlove himself.

The Breedlove King Koa Master Class offered here was built in 2010 and is an impressive example of this exceptional guitar craftsmanship.

The selection of tonewoods alone makes this instrument truly exceptional. The back and sides are crafted from beautifully grained Hawaiian koa of master-class quality. The wood captivates with its lively grain, warm hues, and remarkable visual depth. Combined with the solid Western red cedar top, this creates a truly captivating blend of two high-quality tonewoods.

In terms of tone, the King Koa impresses with a warm, open, and very direct response. The cedar top responds to even the lightest touch with remarkable richness, making the guitar particularly well-suited for dynamic fingerstyle playing. The Hawaiian koa complements these qualities with a clearly defined midrange, precise bass, and brilliant, finely detailed treble.

The result is an exceptionally balanced tone with outstanding string separation and a long, harmonious sustain. Individual notes can be brought out with wonderful clarity, while chords develop a beautiful warmth and tonal depth. Even with a stronger strum, the guitar remains controlled and transparent.

Another distinctive feature is the unique C25 body shape. The deep concert body, with its elegantly curved cutaway, combines exceptional playing comfort with a richness of tone that is impressive for this body style. The cutaway provides easy access to the higher frets on the fingerboard, while the carefully balanced design ensures a quick response and well-balanced resonance.

Another hallmark of the high-quality Breedlove guitars from this era is their innovative construction, featuring the distinctive pinless bridge design. Strings are changed without the bridge pins typically found on traditional acoustic guitars. This unique construction has been one of the manufacturer’s defining features for many years.

In terms of craftsmanship and appearance, this King Koa is in a class of its own. The extraordinary grain of the Hawaiian koa is beautifully complemented by the elegant bloodwood body inlays. The delicate abalone inlays along the top give the guitar an elegant yet distinctly unique look.

The absolute visual highlight, however, is the intricately designed ebony fingerboard. The detailed inlay featuring a mermaid and a dolphin is one of Kim Breedlove’s most famous artistic works. The delicate design gives this instrument an unmistakable character and underscores the exceptional quality of the Master Class series.

Other high-quality details, such as the gold-plated Gotoh 381 tuners with dark Ebanoid wings, the meticulously crafted headstock, and the bone inlays on the nut and bridge, round out the exclusive features.

The satin-finished neck feels comfortable in the hand and provides a particularly comfortable playing experience. With a nut width of 44.45 mm and a scale length of approximately 651 mm, the King Koa offers excellent conditions for sophisticated fingerpicking as well as versatile chord playing.

This Breedlove King Koa Master Class is an exceptional acoustic guitar that combines high-quality American guitar craftsmanship with a unique artistic design. It is an instrument for guitarists who, in addition to outstanding sound, place special value on individually selected tonewoods, superior craftsmanship, and a distinctive appearance.

Condition

The guitar was built in 2010 and is in nearly like-new condition. It has been treated with the utmost care and, even after more than 15 years, remains in exceptionally good condition.

The high-quality tonewoods, the elaborate inlays, and the glossy finish really stand out. Overall, this is an exceptionally well-maintained example of this special Master Class guitar.

A matching hard-shell case is included.

Setup & Playability

We carefully set up every guitar. The neck radius and string action are adjusted to perfection so that the guitar plays cleanly, comfortably, and without buzzing across the entire fretboard.

The pleasantly satin-finished neck and comfortable body shape ensure excellent playability. This guitar really shines during fingerpicking, thanks to its direct response and precise control over individual notes.

The string action is 2.7 mm on the low E string and 2.2 mm on the high e string, measured at the 12th fret.

Specifications

Model: Breedlove King Koa Master Class
Year of manufacture: 2010
Origin: USA, Oregon
Series: Master Class
Body shape: C25 Deep Concert with cutaway
Top: Solid Western Red Cedar
Back and sides: Hawaiian koa, Master Class quality
Body binding: Bloodwood
Top inlays: Abalone purfling
Fingerboard: Ebony
Fingerboard Inlays: Mermaid & Dolphin Inlay
Bridge: Pinless Bridge
Nut: Bone
Bridge Inlay: Bone
Nut Width: 44.45 mm
Scale Length: 650.8 mm
Neck Finish: Satin
Tuners: Gotoh 381 Gold with Ebanoid wings
Headstock: Master Class Peghead Details
Case: Cort hard-shell case

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