Breedlove atlas series AD20/SM.(Gear)

Kim Breedlove has built an enviable reputation for his innovative, snazzy-looking 6-and 12-string flat-tops, nylon-string concert guitars, and mandolins. His non-traditional body shapes--and penchant for exotic and alternative woods--attract progressive players, and his forward-thinking designs yield bold, punchy tones and massive sustain. A boutique Breedlove typically costs between $2,500 and $8,000, so, until recently, only the well-heeled could afford one.

But that has changed with the company's new Atlas Series--a line of Korean-made steel-strings. Boasting solid-wood construction, and featuring many of Breedlove's key designs, these guitars are priced within the grasp of working stiffs like you and me. To see how these imports perform, we tested an AD20/SM--a versatile, wide-body dread-nought that should have equal appeal to pickers and writers.

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With its solid Sitka spruce top and solid mahogany back and sides, the AD20/SM is made from the same materials as a venerable Martin D-18. However, the similarities end there. Measuring 4 3/4" deep, the body is a tad shallower than a typical dreadnought, but its lower bout stretches to a whopping 16 1/4"--definitely jumbo territory. The slope-shoulder design suggests a Gibson J-45 without being derivative. Even with its big body, the guitar balances well when you're seated.

The first thing you're likely to notice is the elongated headstock: Gracefully angled back from the mahogany neck, it pulls the strings across the nut at a steep angle. But because the "back" string length is so generous--the fourth and third strings stretch 5 1/2" from the nut--the string splay is subtle, which reduces tension in the nut slots. One immediate benefit of this harp-like arrangement is smooth tuning. The gold-plated, sealed Grover tuners and perfectly set mother-of-pearl logo add class to the asymmetrical headstock.

Sporting a satin finish and a slim, rounded profile, the neck feels inviting. The thick, gently radiused rosewood fretboard is adorned with carefully set abalone position dots. The fretwork is commendable. The ends of the medium fretwire are evenly trimmed and carefully beveled, and the crowns are rounded and polished, with no visible file marks or flat surfaces. The 20-fret neck joins the body at the 14th fret using a traditional glued dovetail joint.

The guitar's smoothly applied gloss finish is thinner than on most imports, allowing you to see the grain texture in the sitka spruce top. Very cool. Wood can vibrate more freely when it's not smothered in polyester, and this results in better tone and volume. The tortoise-colored body binding tastefully echoes the pickguard, and the slim faux-abalone rosette adds just a touch of flash. After looking hard for something to whine about--hey, it's my job--all I could find was occasional, subtle unevenness in the body binding.