Blueridge BR-160 Historic Series Dreadnought Guitar

Update April 2017: I still have one of these (the louder one-mine), and we sold the other as my wife prefers to play smaller bodied guitars now. (two of the same guitars is silly, if someone isn't playing them, at least!) I still love it and it still sounds great! I attached some pix that I took of it recently. I decided to switch out the pickguard for a black one, not too hard to do, and I prefer it. I also, have shaped a compensated bone saddle for mine, and it has ebony end-pin and bridge pins. The neck profile on these is unique and smaller than many, have to try to see if it's for you. Nothing to complain about with the guitar, I love it!We have two BR-160's and both are fantastic guitars. I originally intended just to purchase one, and decided to have a replacement sent, because of a small issue with the fingerboard. The first guitar sounded awesome, very open, deep bass, crisp and loud! It has a wide grain spruce top with some heavy silking in the center. The fretboard and bridge were also very dark, almost like ebony. The second one sent was even nicer looking! The top is VERY tightly grained with heavy silking over the whole top (FWIW, the fingerboard is a more traditional shade). While the second sounded very nice as well, I preferred the first by a slight margin. I have a luthier across the street, so walked over and showed him the first guitar, and the issue I was concerned about. He told me not to worry about it, and agreed that it would be ok to keep the one I liked best. Decision made. Before shipping back the second, I showed it to my wife one more time, because it has such an amazing silked top, and she said she wanted to keep it for herself!Anyway, we now have two! Both sound great, the one with the wide grain is a bit louder, crisper, deeper bass, and a great tone. The tight grained top 160 also sounds very nice, with good volume, nice articulation and rich overtones. They are both strung with D'addario EJ-16's, the wide top now has ebony pins (Martin) and the tight topped one has bone pins. Its interesting to have two of the same model to compare! Both guitars have a very nice finish and sound great, very consistent. I also was able to spend some time with a BR-180 and was prepared to buy it if it sounded better, but with that particular guitar, at least, I preferred the tone from the 160. OTHER GUITARS FOR COMPARISON:I sold my Martin DX1AE, that I bought in February; I greatly prefer the Blueridge! We also have a Yamaha FG700 (wife's prior guitar), which is great for what we paid, but the tone, volume and beauty are not nearly as nice as either of 160's! I've spent time at guitar center with the D35s and D28s. Though I'll surely still own one of them one day, (craftsmanship is just so nice) , the Blueridge guitars hold up pretty well tone wise, and are put together well. I also briefly considered the Epiphone Masterbilt 500MCE, but it didn't do it for me.The Blueridge BR-160s are great guitars! I recommend them!

Before getting to the 160, just wanted to talk about the gig bag. It is one of the best I've ever been around. I'm an old fart and just do not feel right spending four bills on a guitar protected by a bag so I bought I mid grade hard case. This gig bag is a work of art. Anyway, to the guitar. The spruce top has a tinted finish to it that is fantastic. Doesn't have that bleached white top look. This guitar is setup nicely from the factory. The strings were slightly oxidized, but that is to be expected. Still plays and sounds like a million bucks. Am very happy with the bass and treble response. It is a wonderfully balanced and classic acoustic sound that will probably match the one you've been carrying around in your head.I would strongly suggest trying to buy one of these from a local shop. Why support big tech when your buddy down the street with a shop could use your business? Also, if you can afford it, buy a brand not made in China. Ethnic and religious persicution and slave labor is not acceptable.

Ordered a guitar w/ gig bag, and that's what came. No paperwork at all (e.g. what strings were installed, care and feeding... ). The action was very pleasant, a bit buzzy; relieving truss-rod tension a little solved that. The sounding board is light and active; it gives nice resonance and transmits harmonics to the other strings (something I like in the sound of higher end guitars). Nice and bright. It is not a D-28.

It’s a fine musical instrument and an awesome value for the sound and quality that you get. I would recommend this guitar to anyone wanting an acoustic guitar.

There's a lot of support out there on the forums for this guitar--and most of it is true:-awesome bass from the rosewood back and sides-forward x bracing lets the top sing--this dreadnought is a real cannon! harmonics seem to vibrate much longer, hammer-ons and pull-offs are easier. really in love with the sound...-poor man's Martin--i got mine for $600Stock setup was fine, no buzzing and low/medium action. The no-name open-back tuners look vintage and do their job--nothing special here.However, there are some things that I didn't care for:-neck feels too thin! it's a D-shape that's shallower than my Mexican Strat and Big Baby Taylor, but combined with the nut width and string spacing, everything feels a bit cramped. if possible, sample this guitar in a store first before buying.-the aesthetics: 'vintage' finish is too orange and looks like a fake tan. headstock inlay is way over the top. dalmatian pickguard seems tacky compared to the standard black/tortoise.Try the Silver Creek D-170 instead if these issues might be important to you. Because it doesn't have the fancy headstock and fretboard work, it's much cheaper ($250 now) and has the same deep rosewood sound. I have the T-170 (000 body version), and the neck is much more playable because it isn't as cramped. I suspect the D-170 will have the same neck and be just as playable.If you don't mind these issues/features of the BR-160, then this is a stupendously good sounding guitar for the money.

Nothing bad to say for this beauty except the tiny missing strap button on the heel.This guitar has an amazing tone and sustain, one of the best I ever heard.Beautiful solid Indian Rosewood and Spruce top.

Was iffy about ordering it online after reading a few reviews about theirs showing up broken. Mine showed up today well packaged in its soft case (which is really nice by the way) in 1 piece. Restrung it, replaced the bridge pins with tusk ivory, and lowered the action just a bit. This thing sounds amazing, I am definitely happy with the purchase so far

Top eingepackt kam die Gitarre bei mir an. Und was soll ich sagen - verwundert war ich nicht, da ich mich lange mit Recherche der Gitarre auseinandergesetzt hatte. Mein Fazit: es gibt wahrscheinlich kaum eine bessere Verarbeitung und ein besseres Klangbild für den Preis bis 1500,- EUR. Ähnlichkeiten zur Martin na klar. Jedoch ist der Klang im Vergleich tatsächlich noch einmal eine andere Hausnummer aber dafür gibt man ja auch nur die Hälfte des Geldes her.

Guitar back was very dark & ugly- didn't look like Rosewood. Tuners should be gold given high price & some nice abalone inlays... Didn't look like an expensive guitar but guitar top was very nice! Price should be much less for this model. Thanks- but Blueridge can do better in price & appearance! Update: Sound is much improving with age!!! Update Nov.- 22: Bought another BR-160, very nice Adirondack top. A few issues for NITPICKERS BUT this guitar is much better- louder, expressive! Beautiful classic looking Rosewood back & sides- arguably an alternative to fine U.S. traditional Dreadnought models. To conclude, first BR-160 was only a 3 at best; this 2nd BR-160A is a 5 STAR. Nice improvement Blueridge! Update Dec. 2022: Yes- this 2nd BR- 160A is as good as any factory made Dreadnought guitar in the World. If Blueridge made every guitar this well, you'd only need buy 1 Acoustic guitar Blueridge BR-160A!!!!

So impressed by this guitar, not keen on look but the sound is real quality. Found it a bit jangly but eventually put on d’addario EFT16 less bright string sounds great and balanced. This is awesome value in a classy instrument

Excellent buy!

I bought this a few months ago and could not be happier.Very well made instrument with the sound to match just can't fault it,the finish on these are excellent so pleased with it I have ordered a OM model