BEST SUSTAINABLE ACOUSTIC GUITARS SPOTLIGHT:Breedlove Organic Wildwood Series CE Blackbird Acoustic Electric

The Wood:
​In the world of sustainable tonewood guitars the Breedlove Organic Wildwood Series is well known among folk, americana, and blues guitarists who want to have as little impact on the environment as possible. Founded in Bend Oregon, in 1990 Breedlove has set out on a mission to provide sustainably sourced acoustic guitars at an affordable price point. The company even went so far as to start the Tonewood Certification Program in which the company personally visits the sight where all of their sustainable tonewoods are harvested to ensure the company’s sustainability standards are met. The Organic Wildwood Series of acoustic guitars from Breedlove features all solid-wood, sustainably sourced FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified woods. This means that the guitar is made from only non clear-cut timber, in other words each tree is individually harvested at maturity to conserve forest acreage for coming generations of growth. The Breedlove Organic Wildwood Series Blackbird CE top, back, and sides are made from solid sustainably sourced African mahogany. The neck is also mahogany with a laurel fingerboard.


The Sound:As with any high performance acoustic guitar sound is everything, and the Breedlove Wildwood Series Blackbird does not disappoint in this category. Solid Mahogany has been a sought after by country, and americana guitar players for generations due to its rich tone and warm mid-range, (no overly-bright or “tinny” sounding mids here).
One of the most impressive characteristics I noticed about this guitar is its ability to thrive in multiple style of acoustic playing. Finger-picking/bluegrass style of play, warm beautiful strumming, as well as percussive strumming (which we do a lot of in my band), all sound exceptional on the Breedlove Wildwood Blackbird. This guitar has been long touted as excelling in bluegrass finger-picking, and slow and lush rhythm guitar playing. However in my experience a lot of acoustic guitars that are great in those areas, have a hard time not sounding “tinny” or thin when I start hammering away on them during really percussive rhythm guitar parts. That was NOT the case with this guitar. Percussive rhythm with this guitar had tons of brilliance and clarity, and did not sacrifice individual note articulation which is a characteristic I’m always looking for in an acoustic guitar.
The Build:If you’re familiar with Breedlove, you’ll know that their build quality is something the company prides itself in, and is consistently exceptional. As pictured the Wildwood Series Blackbird features a single cutaway body style, which I really liked because this is definitely a guitar that’s fun to get down on those high notes with. Another selling point with this guitar has to be the Breedlove proprietary tuners, I’m not sure if Breedlove outsources the build of these or makes them themselves but they are fantastic. These tuners feel super tight with zero wiggle, and stay in tune long term under stable temperature environments. They also feature an embossed Breedlove “B” logo on each housing back and black faux-woodgrain buttons that look and feel great. The headstock is rounded out with a beautiful asymmetrical shape, bone nut, and mother of pearl inlayed cursive logo.
Moving South from the headstock the Breedlove Wildwood Series Blackbird has one of the most playable necks I’ve ever played on an acoustic. The fingerboard is made of Laurel which has similarly satin feel as the satin finished neck itself. The fretwork is top notch, and the ends nicely dressed, no sharp ends to speak of. The body is double bound in a very nice double pin-striped black binding that contrasts really nicely with the finish. Speaking of the finish, it really is the star of the show with this guitar. Call it a “black to dark natural burst” call it a “charcoal burst” or just call it the Blackbird finish, it is truly an exceptional finish. The one-piece compensated saddle is also bone and leads me to one of the nicest features of this guitar which is the pin-less bridge setup. This guitar has no pins, the strings are strung through the bottom of the bridge (like a top-loader telecaster).


Overall a great mid-level guitar your inner hippy can feel good about. Rich tones, some unique finishing touches, and best of all a brand not every Tom, Dick and Barry will be playing. Nice job Breedlove.
Build Specs:
-Solid African Mahogany top, sides, back, and neck
-Laurel fingerboard
-Breedlove custom tuning machines
-Bone nut/saddle
-Pin-less bridge
-Double pinstripe binding on front and back
-20 frets