Blueridge BR-140/140A/160 VS. Martin D-28 75th Anniversary
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- Опубліковано 23 сер 2017
- Store: store.banjobenclark.com
I'm proud to be a Blueridge dealer! These are great guitars and here's an opportunity to hear an unbiased comparison between some models.
The BR160 is the one for me.Well balanced sound . I must say I am biased because I own one and it has got better with age.
Hey GREAT video. First time I’ve seen one of your reviews and it was fantastic. I liked how you played short locks back to back. VERY VERY helpful.
Glad you did this, I've had this 160 for a few years, to me the Martin was more balanced sound hearing low and high strings more evenly.
I think the Br-160 tops them ALL. Nice sweet tone and projection.
Hey Ben,
I just got a BR-142 on 8/26/17. I'm really loving it so far. Its a 000 size body and 12 fret. Thanks for the comparison. Didn't realize you were a dealer!
Cool! Yeah, just got my first shipment in.
It is the only 12 fret I've ever played and its taking a little getting used to the shorter neck, not a cut away either, I really like the way it sounds and its playability though. I'll buy my next one from you.
To me they all sounded exactly the same JUST BEAUTIFUL!
I just got a 140 last week so I'm glad it gets good reviews.
Mr. Clark, thank you for this comparison. This video definitely illustrates the value in the Blueridges. My preference was the Martin D-28 but the Blueridges are not that far away IMO. I currently own a BR-160 and it continues to grow on me. Another comparable instrument that I own is an Eastman E20D and it is growing on me more and more as well.
Great comparison between all 4! I was surprised by the 140 sound! That would be my first choice for a budget purchase. If I had to decide between the 3? The 140A!! 160 projects very well but the 140A sounds overall more robust. And with that top it will only get better with time!
Thank you for A/B/C/D test! Merry Christmas!!
They all sounded great. I found that for me the 140 and the D28 seemed to have a bit more presence with the highs..Thanks for the comparison..
I too am a dealer and a player. For me the BR 160-A is great. They all have a wonderful quality at a reasonable price. Love what you do, Ben. I am a lifetime member and recommend you to others.
Tom Estes -- I have one of the older 160A's - the ones with the 1 11/16" nut, and the ornate peghead. I think it's an '06 model -- not entirely sure. The Adi top has a beautiful skunk stripe, and it's the loudest "bluegrass" guitar I've ever heard, just an amazing box. /// Banjo Ben says the 1 3/4" nuts on the BR guitars are _narrower_ than the nut on his Martin. Wow - is this true? I didn't know they made a dreadnought with that wide a nut. It must feel like a classical guitar!
Hello , I have a Martin HD 28 - CTB for decades but I changed playing my Martin to play my Blueridge BG-160 just for fun . Used to play my Martin , I was supprised by the sound of the Blueride. So now I am still playing my Blueridge for as long it may take. Regards , Herman , the Netherlands.
I own a BR160 & a BR180 they are great guitars & have a very big sound tho for mine they project so well on the high end range tho don't seem to have as much definition in the bass tones.. Really good comparison demo from Banjo Ben here .. very cool mate ! From the demos offered here I liked the BR 140A w the Adirondack top best.. so articulate w lovely low end projection & shimmer in the mids & highs. I was amazed w the quite drastic tonal differences on offer w each when so neatly edited for the video... Congrats & cheers for a great demo rundown Ben - Matt
The 140 was the best sounding guitar out of the three blueridges, followed by the 160, then the 140A. I think the 140A sounded the way it did because Adi tops take a year or two to open up and that 140A was a new guitar. As for the Martin, I really think it sounded great, but the 140 still had some clarity over the martin due to the mahogany back in MHO. Thanks for taking the time to do this demo.
Ive had one for 20 years. Great sounding guitar.
Wow - thank you for posting this, very helpful!
Grate video brother and I like how you played the same thing on all guitars for it makes it easier to compare. I thought the Blueridge 160 had the best overall sound and as I play different genres of music I am really liking that 160 and that one seems to be topping my list for my next guitar. Thanks
Thanks for demo. I had a br-140 and sold it because of what I hear in these demos, the Blueridges are well made, but they just sound too open to me. Makes a mush of sound with chords. Same goes for the Eastmans for me. For same price range I prefer the Guild Westerly series (China made like Blueridge and Eastman) guitars. The Martin kills all of them for warmth, separation and clarity. Everyone’s ears are different. Thanks again for your efforts here. Nice playing.
Hi Ben! Great arsenal there! Congrats! I think the more balanced overall is the Martin...and the closest to the D-28 in my opinion was the BR160, but also loved the sound of the BR140A...Cheers!
In this test, I honestly felt the BR140A was the best of the bunch in each example, until your last example. The Martin won that one for me, more articulate. Just the same, overall I would take the BR140A. I was surprised how much the 140 and 140A differed, and it makes me wish I had a Blueridge with an Adirondack top. I have had a BR160 for several years, so I know the sound, and it has a sweet high end, perfect for rhythm guitar tracks in a mix, not always as articulate in the low end. Lots of overtones. Good news is that over time it has gotten more rich and balanced, and I consider it a very nice guitar that with age sounds a lot better than the new one you demo'd. Thanks for the demo. I just came across it tonight. I agree about the nut width. The Blueridge is a little more narrow than my preference.
Hello Ben, Love your site, i am a Lifetime member. I think those Blueridges sound pretty dog gone good compared to the Martin especially for the difference in price! When i get ready i will hook up with you, thinking the 160. Thanks for all that you do!
Sounds good! Thanks!
I liked the 160 myself but all in all they were amazingly close.
I finger pick. And. I used to own a Martin but let it get away from me. But I purchased a blue ridge. And man. I'm sold on it. Maybe I just got lucky but wow. It has great tone. Sustain. And it booms loud. Very clear and distinct tone bright and. Very good for country and bluegrass and the action is low and smooth. Its a joy to play it easy on the fingers,,. I have several guitars but this might turn out to be my favorite. Wow amazing how good they sound. Well worth the money. You can keep your Martin I'm not letting any body have blue ridge. God bless take care,,,
Of the 3 Blue Ridge models, I liked the 140A the best. While there was nothing wrong with the other two and they rang beautifully on the high end, I felt that the new strings were carrying them just a bit. The 140A had more depth by my ear. But,, we all have different ears and that's what makes music great!! Thanks for the demonstration!!
140A
I thought it was a little tinny up top, especially playing up high on the e string.... Compared to the regular 160... It the 140a Maybe it is just set up
Wow. All sounded great. Thought I would like the 160 best. but actually the 140's stole the show. The 140A seems a tad warmer than the 140, but not necessarily better. Clear yet warm. The 160 sounded best at around 9:30, even better than the D28- just on that piece. Otherwise the 140's ruled.
The Martin was better overall. No surprise. The big surprise is how close the Blueridge models came. And they are not even broken in!
Thank you. Great playing by the way, made for a truly awesome comparison test.
Excellent, well recorded review.
Thanks!
Great review! Thanks!
the 140 sounded best- through ALL the pieces you played- Thanks
The 140a took it man....absolutely destroyed the D28....*running away at top speed*
The 140A rang out on the highs and overall sustain. The 160 and 28 had positive nuances, but I'd take either one... The 28 was a hair better overall: More depth, More sustain...hardly noticeable, tho.... I have a BR160 Historical Series and an HD28 Custom Grand Marquis.... Paradise...
The Blueridge BR-140 would be my pick. It is the most balanced. It also seems like it mics really well!
By far the best side by side I've heard for any comparison! The Martin of course makes me want to jump up and dance; I had one from 1979 with the old neck and high action that just wasn't playable, but now wished I hadn't parted with it in 1988. Everyone is right; 140 is crisp and balanced, but I have enough Mahogany guitars. I love how the BR-160 sings, and though it lacks some of Martin's depth in the lows, and articulation, it held up remarkably well in the last riff. Just ordered mine! It is going to compete with this new extraordinarily playable Epiphone DR-500 Mahogany I recently got. And the Seagull S-6 is a sweet guitar. Got one for a song from an older gent with arthritis. Somehow my 25 year old Martin M-36 just never completely seduced me. Might have to sell that. As for the Chinese, well, them's gotta eat too, and between us, we've made it so only the wealthy can afford solid Martins and Taylors. Glad some North Americans are making some money from the Blueridges. Again, an awesome comparison. Thanks. Wish you had thrown in a 160A but Maury has a good comparison, and I'm with the folks who like the slimmer necks. PS The Martin was louder and just a few times seemed to overpower the mic, and like you said, I wonder how the BRs will sound in a few years.
Great comparison video thank you very much! All the guitars sound very good to my ear and no brainer if you can’t afford the legend to go for one of the Blueridges. One thing that surprised me though with a br160 I owned was the very low bridge height. That combined with low saddle on mine meant the height of the strings off the body was a lot less than 1/2 inch which is optimal for golden era style guitars. That said it still produced a big warm sound. I reviewed it on my UA-cam channel.
I recently purchased a new Taylor 314ce which I love, but now I feel myself wanting to become somewhat of a collector of various types of guitars. Always fascinated with Blueridge. This was an excellent review. The 140A definitely had a deeper tone than the 140 and the 160 honestly sounded throatier than your Martin. Very impressed with that model and may look to purchase one if I can't find a Dowina 12-string first! Definitely will be looking to play one if I can get one at a Sam Ash or some such sometime soon. Thanks again and great playing! I'm a 57-yo beginner when it comes to pickin, but can bar cord and rhythm pretty well. Here's to catching up!
Hey Mike! Have fun on your journey! I'd sure be honored to have your business and I'd make it worth your while to purchase from me...check out the new site: banjobenclark.com
Thanks Ben! I sure will revisit your site when I get ready to pull trigger on my next. I'd like to have one I travel with (ie, affordable so I don't cry if I bang it up a bit!). Looks like you've got them priced very well and competitively and other than that Aggie helmet in your videos, you're a really great guy! LOL!
Have you tried the diadario ej19's bluegrass split set 13/12s . My new favourite strings now. The exp version are not too shabby either . Less string changing
Man that 140 sounds SWEET! I have several Martins and I'm kinda partial to them. But recently I went to my local music store looking for a D-35 12 string. There was only one 12 string in the store at the time and when I strummed it I thought the guy handed me a Martin. Turned out it was a Takamine lawsuit era guitar. It had that Martin "boom" to it. The bridge was pulling up a little on the corner and I got it for a steal. I glued and clamped the bridge back down and 24 hours later it was like new! I think my next purchase will be a 140 though. From what I just heard I was really impressed. Would like to see some close to home so I can take my pick of the lot! Thanks for the comparison!
Sitka spruce goes very well with mahogany. I love my BR-341 parlor guitar.
Thanks for this vidéo Ben !
To my ear, I choose the BR140 : more complexity and ´´zing’’ in the sound. More open and clear too.
Your D28 is amazing when strumming ; very full sound but with a lot of clarity. The best in arpegio demo too.
I had a BR40 that I sold. Since I had 2 luthier guitars of 4000 Euros, some Martin and Gibson ... but till today, my BR40 miss me. It was a splash of sound from low to High end ; very responsive and lively. I still hunt for another Blueridge keeper since.
Absolutely, the Martín has the best sound, I think it's stronger...
Thanks for sharing! Greetings from Chile ;)
I actually like the 140 the best, and this is coming from a guy that currently owns a Taylor 224 cek, 65 Gibson hummingbird, and a Martin d41.
That d41 is a tank man, I like the 140 as well but i love those d18 models
I believe the BR160 had a very good tone and sounding, but they all sounded somewhat similar.
I have several Martin guitars, such as the D41 and the D18, but wouldn't mind adding another one to my repertoire like the BR160. Thanks for the demonstration!
I've had a 160 for about 8 years and sounds awesome. Sounds better the older it gets.
Since you sell both, I would love to see you compare the BlueRidge BR-160 with the Recording King equivalent. Or the mahogany versions. THey are all often compared to the Martins, which makes sense, but for the $1000 or less crowd, the BR and Recording King comparison would be awesome. Thanks!
I have the BR-160A and I'd put it up with any instrument and FOR the Money, it can't be beat. In the vid I did like the Br-140A the best of the Blueridge and it actually held it's own with the Martin imho.
One note...I bought the PrimeVibe and used it on my 160A for 80 -hrs and it was UNBELIEVABLE how much it opened it up....
BLUERIDGE and PrimeVibe....Great job!!
Ben the BR 160 is Blueridges HD 28 v it has pre war forward shifted bracing
I couldn't tell a lot of difference in any of them. I did feel like the BR 160 and the D-28 were very similiar and they had a slightly deeper tone. They all sound great. All I have is a BR-43, but I love it. Thanks for the video. I actually had a Martin and sold it and bought the Blueridge. The neck width and guitar size was the reason.
Thanks Ben, great comparison. What pick are you using in this video? Thanks
Are the necks on the the Blueridge a soft v or the low profile crap like Martin is using, I love the new D18’s with the scalloped bracing but I hate the neck profile. I like the old Martin soft v.
I'm been thinking about getting the historic BR 160 / it has pre war bracing. I don't think for the price you can beat them.
I love the sound of all of them, but I think I'm going to lean towards the BR 1-40👌
Great demonstration on all the guitars I loved it.
Just my opinion but the BR-160 was the best. Rich lows and highs. Very loud and clear.
What strings do you recommend for BR-160? Thank you for your video.
Definitely the BR140 for an all rounder, sweet sound.
Greetings from Scotland, following religiously on UA-cam 👍
Hope to come your way someday soon! Thanks!
Banjo Ben Clark
I'll be first in the queue for tickets Ben, wonderfully uplifting music
I like the 140A sound the best. It just sounds the most solid out of all of them. However, I do think the Martin edges them all out. Still...great guitars!
I gotta tell you Ben, no offense, but the D28 was my 3rd favorite. I liked the clarity and complexity of the 140A and the 160 better. I found the D28 to be both scooped and a bit muddy. Perhaps it was the mic position and I would have liked the D28 had you backed the mic off a bit. Not sure, but I heard what I heard.
That D28 sounds awesome! But I love Martins and Blueridge guitars and have several of them both. Out of these three Blueridges, the BR-140A is more balanced to my ears. And the D28 is louder and balanced. I’d own and play any of these 4. Thanks Ben for posting!
To my ear BR140 and D28 very close-- what strings, gauge, age were on each?
Great comparison Ben and playing short bursts with each one after the other I could appreciate the different tonal qualities of each guitar. Each guitar has it's own qualities and it's not which one is better or best. For a singer/songwriter the 140A would fit my voice and be my gig guitar. The "Adi" top gives the mahogany body more headroom here. For playing solo guitar the 160A is simply wonderful. You gotta pick the one that plays on your heartstrings. Now, about that Martin $$$$$$. Yikes.
Amazing how much more powerful and balanced the Martin is but the BR 140A sounded great for its price. I’m looking for a nice guitar as a backup to my Martin HD-28 that I can take to parties, campfires, etc..and not worry about. The BR 140A looks like a good option.
It is a hoss...I love these guitars. Give Jake a call at 833-BANJOBEN and we'll do a pro set-up and get it in your hands!
This is the best comparison in between Martin and Blueridge guitars by far , thanks 🙏 Martin sounded slightly better than Blueridge Br-160 but definitely can’t justify the price so I’ll go with Blueridge for beat value for the money
the d28 is my favorite, but they all sounded great I liked the 140a and the 160 a lot I owned a
blueridge 280, [Brazilian rosewood], for a few years. that was a nice guitar. I had a martin d35
at the same time they both were great sounding guitars
Well done!
I felt the 140 was clearly superior to the 140A in tone. Surprised.
@yumpladukfoo The 140 has a very thin neck while the 140a has a wider/fatter one.
I heard some say Adirondack takes time to open up and if so this might probably be the case. But I usually like sitka over adi anyway.
@@pplareppl that is correct, about 18 month of playing to open up
In my opinion the D28 definitely has the edge. Somewhat fuller sound although the Blueridge guitars are very sweet. Hard to beat the Martin Quality and it is obvious. Thank you for your great talent and video.
Very useful comparison, great playing. I liked the Martin better, then the BR-140.
The mahogany on both 140 are very clarify, Thank you.
Both the Martin and Blueridge that have the Adirondack tops sounded the best to me on single note picking and rhythm. Better sustain and volume .
Of the blueridge guitars, I really liked the BR140. It seemed to have more clarity about it.
I thought the Martin sounded best, but great comparison. Thanks.
I felt they increased in tonal quality as you played them in this sequence. 140, 140A, 160, and D 28. There were no losers here. They all would sound great on their own!!!
how do you think the martin d-35 compares to the Blueridge BR-160? I like the bass of the martin, but not looking to spend any more money that on another martin. I own 3 already.
The 140 A had a very bright and very present tone I would like to here what a 160 A sounds like I’m thinking that will be my next purchase
I have a BG 60 I would put up against any of these. It has aged nicely. Fine player.
Blue Ridge is an excellent choice as a modestly priced, well made, excellent sounding and playing alternative.
I have owned 15 Martin guitars since 1961 to include D-18GE, several D-18V variants, and two top of the line customs. Because of declining product quality and diminished customer service I now buy only used Martins and look elsewhere such as Santa Cruz and Collings for premium brands. I will keep my 2015 00-18V and my 1997 0000-1
(one of 370). Both bought used and mint.
Are your thoughts still the same on these guitars after a few years? I’m torn between the BR-140 and 160, as well as their A counterparts. I saw a nice looking BR-140A for sale online, but I’m slightly worried that the 140A might be lacking a little in the low end. It is a few years old though, so maybe it’s opened up more. Then there’s a 160A that I’m also looking at, but the 160/160A seem less balanced maybe? The 140/140A also just fits my current budget better. Lastly, which one is more versatile would you say? I play a mix of Americana rock, folk, blues and I want to get more into bluegrass. Cheers!
I thought the br-140a, which is will surely be my next purchase, held it's own very well, and was almost the best of the guitar's in the flat picking section. It's got a little bit of the extra warmth that the martin has, but the bottom string runs are easier to hear, and clearer than even the martin. All great guitars though...
I did a side by side and found the 140A sounded more like the D28 even though it has a mahogany back and sides.
I agree. IMO those two sound a fair amount alike. My take is that the Adirondack spruce top contributes more to the overall sound than the difference between mahogany and rosewood for the body. It would be interesting to hear the Martin compared to a BR160A to see if they are even more alike. But as a matter of personal taste, I preferred the BR140A over the Martin, straight up regardless of price. I think the combo of Adirondack spruce and mahogany is a more balanced sound. The Martin projects well but is somewhat bright / thin. The mahogany has more midrange and works well with the adirondack spruce. Just my taste.
I agree, probably the Adirondack top, it gave the guitar a more focused sound, and his d-28 had an Adirondack top as well. The other two blueridges were Sitka Spruce
Yeah I agree. I like that 140A. Authentic Martin sound, very warm and bright when necessary, at the same time. I do like the looks of the 160.
agreed. I am not a fan of the modern D28 sound in general, unless prewar. ... owned one, sold it, got a David Russell Young 1971 IR/Cedar, and that is my preferred Dread sound. My preference of the four you demo'd was the 160. If a guitar doesn't have at least a teeny bit of Olson chime, and sounds very woody, I just think it's missing something.
When my daughter in college wanted a guitar, I looked for an older 000-18, but then realized the BR143 sounds so great for so little money that's what she got.
I thought the same thing! Interesting. I'd be curious to hear the 160A alongside these.
Hard to say which Blueridge is best . Thought I like BR-140A best but they all sounded a little different depending on whether you were picking or strumming. At end of comparison I liked 160 better .
Great video. Are dreadnoughts the ideal model for bluegrass?
Yep, according to most folks :) I like variety, though.
Hi. I would love to know what song that was you were playing at/about 9 minutes. Thanks, thinking about buying the Blueridge as my next level up guitar. Thanks!
He was playing "Jesus Loves Me".
I liked the 140A and the Martin. But... and there is always something. The overall sound of the Martin was less muddy on the strumming and midrange. I think the D28 is played in. You may not have heard the slight tuning issues that developed but it made choosing harder. Be blessed!
Thanks for the video my friend, it's incredible and you also play a lot...
well I have a Blueridge br160 and I was always curious to know a D28.... here in Brazil they say that blueridge was founded by luthiers who worked at Martim and until then I don't know if it's a myth or truth... if anyone can help me clarify..
but the fact is that, regardless of that, they are really incredible guitars... surely anyone who has any of them will be happy..
thanks again for your video friend .. success
To me it varies a bit between phrases, but I tend to like the 140
I'd like to see them after a couple years of steady playing
Anyone know if they make a br160 or br180 electric?
Just got the BR-140A and so far it’s the best sounding guitar I’ve owned. Hardly put it down
They're incredible! I get a bunch more in in a couple weeks for Black Friday.
@@BanjoBen they really are. I’ve played a ton of guitars and they just have a special sound and can’t beat the price
Of the Blueridge guitars, the BR-140 sounds the best. In my opinion, the Martin beats all of these by far, but for beginner guitarists, you won't be able to find a better guitar for a good price than the BR-140.
Awesome video thanks for sharing. Do you sell these guitars? If so, Could you please send me a prices? Thank you, Thomas.
Honestly, I like the BR-140; it has a nice blend of lows/mids/highs; the BR-140A has very little low/ a big mid range/ lacking in the highs; the BR-160 has very little low end/ good mids/ heavy on the highs. I know this is subjective, nut that's what I hear. I would purchase the BR-140 over the other two. Your 75th Anniversary Martin D-28, well it speaks for itself! Thanks for the comparison. Dean
These are very similar to my thoughts. Thanks!
Loved the Jesus Loves me fingerpicking!💕
Man, all that pickin has given you Hulk arms, lol! Seriously, great comparison! I can't afford a Blue ridge, let alone a Martin, but my Seagull gets a lot of love.
I picked up a used one great price great guitar. look for use one you’ll love it .Seagull are good to
I've heard some great sounding Gulls..
160 sounded great.
I have had my br160 at the 2 year mark Love it I even prefer it over my Martian it has an awesome tone
I'm glad you love your 160! Please keep the anti-Martian rhetoric to a minimum, though.
That 140A kinda stood out to me. Fuller sound. Mahogany. Rather have a wider nut myself. Great comparison.
what should I choose btw br140a and br160?
Man, tough call. I think for me the 140a has the wider nut, which I prefer, and the adi top will open up even more over time.
mahogany is my normal choice for personal use I hear it project on your 140 even my custom Martin is Moahogany its my favorite...I do have an Alvarez MD90 WITH SOLID ROSEWOOD i picked up for 200 with case then had bridge work and custom pickguard installed. Its worth 900 now and sounds perfect also for mic work.
Nice. I'd buy one if they came with a pickup. Found a used one for $480 but to put pickup in it would cost more than half as much as the guitar itself.
I have a blueridge br63. My son loves it. I also have a Martin D1. I would love to have a D28 and a D18 but they are a lot of $$. How is the quality of the Blueridge these days? I really like the 140 and the 160 you did in the video. I played a brand new D28 and the quality and feel were amazing.
They're as good as ever!
I have a bunch of Martins 6 i think, D18 -69 D-20 HD 1976 a jumbo mahogany and 0015M. I like them all but the blueridge i bought today at the Stockholm Guitar show is fronm 2004 BR160 really opened up and still very straigt neck, some people say they are built like Martin used to build them pre war era, with thinner brasing and dove tail neck assembly.....well if you can't afford a really old and nice Martin....go for the Blueridge. You just cant go wrong ! Hakan in Sweden
Banjo Ben,
I Just bought a 2007 lefthanded Blueridge Br 140a wide.
Can you remember what strings you used during this session?
One love!
The Netherlands 🇱🇺
Great guitar, congrats! I believe they are D'Addario EJ17.
@@BanjoBen Thank you very much sir, i putted the Ernie Balls 2868 aluminium bronze on it right now, but I will give those a flatpick to, when these needs to be changed✌🏼
Ben do you like that shure sm 7 mic ?
Yep, love it and use it for most everything.
How is the playability (action height)?
They are all outstanding, usually like that from the factory. If not, we set them up perfectly before we ship them out.