Breedlove Guitars Review – AC25 SR Plus and AC25 CM Plus "Black magic"

Two of the most popular Breedlove guitars in the Atlas series are the AC25/SR Plus and AC25/CM Plus, also known as “Black Magic”. The two share many similar characteristics. Both are concert bodies with smooth cutaways. Both include a JLD Bridge Truss Systems, pinless bridges, Grover tuners, and Breedlove’s Plus package, which includes abalone ellipse marker positions, abalone rosette, and electronics that upgrade to the Fishman Classic 4t.

However, the two Breedloves are very different guitars. First, consider the top woods. The AC25/SR Plus has a solid sitka spruce top and therefore a clearer, brighter and more powerful sound; while Black Magic has a cedar top, which produces a warmer sound. Next, the back and side woods. The AC25/SR Plus has rosewood back and sides, which complement the sitka top to produce a bright tone and a powerful, punchy bass; Black Magic, on the other hand, has mahogany back and sides, resulting in bright highs but deep, warm lows.

Of course, the two are very different in appearance, and those appearances reflect the different sounds of the guitars. The AC25/SR Plus has a gloss natural finish, paired with shiny gold Grover machine heads – a bright, shiny guitar with a complementary sound. Black Magic has a gloss black finish along with subtle gray Grover tuners, but has a shiny, purfling abalone rosette – a soft, smooth guitar with a bit of shine.

Both guitars are great for fingerpickers and finger stylists, and contain many of the same features found in Breedlove’s custom guitars, but at a great value. However, even though these are not custom guitars, they are high quality guitars made with excellent materials and workmanship. In fact, both guitars come with the same hardshell cases used for Breedlove’s custom shop instruments.