While formulating ideas for this article, I realized that the Breedlove team shares a philosophy that goes beyond specifications and time-saving jigs to more of a concept and sensation of building heirloom-quality instruments and believing in the validity of our work. We are a diverse team of people that works together to accomplish a common mission through the belief that we all have something to contribute that will in turn benefit each of us in the future.

The top reasons that Breedlove quality is so high are: 1.) the influence of a shared vision, the Breedlove philosophy, 2.) Kim Breedlove's control and veto power over quality, and 3.) a direct flow of dialog between our clients and craftsman.

Team Breedlove is influenced by two people skilled in opposite crafts but with a common commitment to quality. Kim Breedlove serves as Master Luthier, designer and artisan, while I serve as company president, resident scientist, and (I like to think) visionary creator of opportunity. Kim's energy comes from creating, designing and building instruments. Mine comes from building ideas and intangibles, developing relationships, and trying to predict the future. For example:

In 2015 Breedlove Guitar Company will be celebrating its 25th anniversary and is likely to be hailed as the creator and builder of the highest-quality guitars and mandolins in the world. We will have built upon our strengths as acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, acoustic bass guitar, and mandolin builders to become a leader in both modern and traditional design of electric and acoustic instruments. I further anticipate that through the development of the Breedlove "Extraordinary Experience" we will be the industry's leading service provider, we will be voted one of the Top 200 Companies to work for in Oregon and, knowing how difficult a feat it is, we will be ranked number one in customer satisfaction in our industry.

Obviously, these are some rather broad assertions, but here's why I'm confident that they will come to pass:

The Breedlove Philosophy

Kim Breedlove and I are both musicians of different genres; this aspect further informs our designs and feeds our expectations of unparalleled quality. Perhaps we are complete opposites in terms of our energy sources but we have developed a synergistic ability to push Breedlove to the highest quality at each price point.

In Japan there is the concept of "Living National Treasures" wherein the masters of certain fields are greatly lauded. We have that same level of reverence for Kim Breedlove's contributions to our industry. As an artist, Kim's principles of originality and creativity guide our designs and efforts. As a production manager, his pragmatic sense of design imbues quality into each instrument.

I am keenly aware of Breedlove's competitive environment and its obligation to provide value for its clients. I am also committed to provide opportunities for dedicated Breedlove employees who work diligently toward improving quality with the knowledge that they are ensuring their own financial futures with the belief that what we do is inherently worthwhile. This interplay of energy sources- the influence of art, a belief in creativity, and a sense of individual responsibility- gives rise to the various styles of Breedlove instruments and the level of quality that each must achieve.

We are always seeking new ways to improve quality. We all believe that each instrument we make forms a part of our collective and individual futures. We firmly believe that if we steadily "invest" of ourselves and improve on quality, then the quality of our lives will increase as well. To challenge ourselves, we look outside our industry for sources of inspiration and ways to improve quality. We aspire to improve upon the responsibility of Patagonia (outdoor clothing and technical apparel), the quality of Lexus, the following of Harley-Davidson, the class of Cartier. We are inspired by Leonardo da Vinci, Benjamin Franklin and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to name a few, and by the way- we love what we do.

Breedlove & Quality Control

Kim Breedlove sets the standard for quality control, period. We work as a team when it comes to new designs and specifications or new series or genres of instruments, but the height of the quality control bar is set by Kim and he has veto power over all quality and design decisions. For example, bone nuts and saddles on Breedlove Master Class instruments must all satisfy design, fit and finish parameters, but each craftsman has the freedom to shape each nut or saddle with his or her personal style and aesthetic signature.

   

There are at least 27 miter joints on a Breedlove Master Class CM style guitar, with even more miters on customized versions. Each craftsman may approach the miter in a different fashion, but the completed result must be a seamless flow of binding and purfling through each transition of the instrument. This is our industry's most difficult to build, but also our most award-winning guitar.

The Revival Series created two years ago is Breedlove's tribute to great vintage-style instruments but features many improvements that Breedlove executes, such as voicing through graduated top thicknesses, increasing durability and adjustability with bolt-on necks, and supercharged bracing patterns unique to each style of guitar made by Breedlove. Breedlove has introduced a broad variety of specifications of bracing and wood thicknesses, all developed through the combined experience of its team.

What Happens to Instruments that Don't Make the Grade?

Kim may cut up a guitar or snap a top or back in half if we are certain that it will not be useful in the next stage of the building process. If a top gets too thin even in one area, then it is destroyed so it cannot be used by mistake in the future. In several instances a completed guitar has been cut in half. We still use all of the parts in some manner. Some become teaching tools after their sacrifice and others may become different parts of the guitar; for example, a back may become several peghead veneers, or smaller parts may be used for decoration of other instruments. We don't want to waste anything but we do wish to maximize quality and stay disciplined in that regard.

Feedback Through Client and Dealer Relationships

In staff meetings each Monday morning we review feedback from warranty cards, artist relations, dealer comments, and individual client letters as well as address company goals and quality initiatives. We also invite "Roses & Thorns" wherein every employee shares a facet of their work that is going really well and something that is going poorly. The Monday meetings help our staff develop relationships with each other and to hear directly how our instruments are received and reviewed, directing and reinforcing every improvement made.

Even more intimately, the company hosts the Breedlove Extraordinary Experience-the guitarist's dream vacation complete with the ultimate souvenir. The itinerary for the sold-out 2006 Breedlove Extraordinary Experience may be viewed at www.breedloveguitars.com. The Extraordinary Experience consists of a $5,000 vacation package that includes a $5,000 guitar allowance, so the vacation and all of its associated components is essentially free. During the experience, however, employees meet with present and future Breedlove owners and create a lifetime of memories through both musical and outdoor recreational activities. After four days of interaction, our guests select the materials and design elements for their instruments and our team begins building with intimate knowledge of the future owner's preferences and personality. There is no stronger connection between craftsman and client in our industry, and the impact on quality mirrors the strength of the relationship.

Conclusion

In summary, the impact of steady and interactive feedback, the stringent quality control standards established by Kim Breedlove, the flexibility allowed each Breedlove craftsman in achieving specifications, the philosophy of creative design, our sense of responsibility to clients, and the power of a unified vision are the ingredients of Breedlove's high-quality product and service level. We plan to steadily improve upon this philosophy and expect the results to be evident in every instrument we make.

Best wishes,
Peter Newport, President

Breedlove Guitar Company
19885 Eighth Street
Bend, Oregon 97701

Phone: 541-385-8339
Fax: 541-385-8183

To learn more about the Breedlove Guitar Company and the Breedlove Extraordinary Experience, please see the company's website at: http://www.breedloveguitars.com