Blueridge BR-371 Historic Series Parlor Guitar

First off, I am not a professional musician. I have been playing classical guitar for my own entertainment/hobby for 40 years. It's something I have done to relax, focus on something unrelated to my profession, and enjoy myself after a hard day's work. That said, I became interested in playing acoustic guitar when I retired a little while ago. I started researching acoustic guitars.I went around to guitar shops trying out guitars. I am fortunate to be at a place in my life where I can afford a nice Martin, but I kept running into this Blueridge BR 371. Even though it was less expensive, it always sounded better to me. Then I saw it on amazon, and decided to take the plunge.I absolutely love this guitar. Buying it online seemed a bit iffy, but it arrive beautifully packaged, and in perfect condition. I unpacked it and observed all of the things I had been told about it. Perfect Sitka Spruce top. Deeply stained Indian Rosewood back and sides. Ebony bridge and fret board with Mother-of-Pearl inlays, bone nut and saddle, quality tuners on the Mahogany head stock. Mahogany neck with a modified V at the lower end. Even the pegs holding the strings have a little bit of Mother-of-Pearl inlay in them. And the gorgeous Abalone trim around the top and the fret board and the sound hole is so tastefully done. Narrow, and could never be called "gaudy." This guitar is so beautiful that I want to pick it up every time I walk by it!And we haven't even gotten to the sound. I play at home, for my own entertainment. Sometimes I will practice a piece to play at a family gathering or a party or a church event. I don't need a guitar with a big sound, but I am thinking if I did, this little parlor girl could deliver. I am calling it "girl" because from my research this size guitar was originally designed for ladies to play in their parlors long ago. I think the size is just convenient now, regardless of the player's gender..Anyway, I am thrilled with this purchase. My local luthier has checked it out, and it has needed little to no "set up." The action was perfect on delivery. Very low, which made this guitar so easy to play right out of the box. I also like the case very much. It's well padded on all sides, and fits the guitar perfectly. Perhaps I could have found a cheaper one, but for me that was not a consideration.This is a high quality guitar at a great price.

Twice I have returned the BR-371 because this last batch's top finish is scratched, and orange peel bumps have not been sanded smooth.Also, divots in the top from oversanding.Now the tell me I will not get my money back for thirty days, even though I return shipped it.

I expected a lot after reading the specs and reviews and I was not disappointed. The guitar is not perfect as delivered but represents an amazing value for the money. The materials and workmanship are first rate and the sound and balance are remarkable. The action on my guitar was a little high and the string spacing on the nut was off on the low E and A. I replaced the bone saddle with a compensated Tusq and replaced the nut with a Tusq one and lowered the action. It also had two frets slightly high causing a buzz at the 13th fret so I went ahead and did a fret leveling and polishing while I had the nut removed. After all the work, I can honestly say this is now my favorite guitar of the six currently owned. I love the size and the tone and volume continue to astound me. Bottom line: if you can do a little work yourself, or can afford to have it done, you will not be disappointed. The fit and finish is gorgeous and the wood is fantastic. This thing is not really inexpensive, but is worth far more in my estimation.

If You get a guitar anything like mine, you will be elated. This is a fairly wide nut and string spacing so take that into mind if you don’t like those features. It’s really about as loud and bassy as my hd-28. The actual amount you might lose from the much smaller body is made up by how hard it “projects”. This guitar “projects” and fights way, way outside it’s weight class. And price class. I’m a guitar hog, unashamed of it, and have owned and almost unknown amount. This is one of the best acoustic guitar bargains a man can get, pound for pound.It’s worthy of a much better hardshell case, but the soft shell padded gig bag kinda thing would maybe keep one safe if you’re real mindful and don’t treat it like luggage. I’m sure that’s one reason it’s in the price point, no factory hardshell case. I don’t believe you can even buy one if you wanted.Great guitar, plays like butter, needs zero setup work, just a Dream. One of the greatest new guitars out of the box I’ve ever bought and brother, I’ve bought more than my share. You will be thrilled with this guitar, as long as you have larger stretch in your left hand, which I do. If you have small hands and cannot stretch much, you have no business buying a large nut semi v shaped neck, which this guitar features. I like a large neck and it enables my fingerpicking more room. Don’t let the small size fool you in this small body guitar, it more than holds its own.

My first guitar was a beat-up old parlor guitar a relative gave me. I learnt to play Peter, Paul & Mary, and other folk singers' fingerpicking style on it. So parlor guitar always have a certain nostalgic value on me.This guitar is a very well-built guitar. Except the action is a little high and needs some set-up work done, I do not see any flaws or imperfection in its construction or craftsmanship. The case is also very nice, and fit the guitar perfectly. Then, why I didn't garnered it with a 5-Star rating!?Well, about 5 months earlier, I bought a Martin Junior Dreadnought guitar for a little over $500 at a local chain store. Although the size of this guitar is slightly a little bit wider than the BR-371, the sound of this guitar is a lot more beefier, and more balanced. It may not have the warmth of a rosewood guitar, but pricewise, the Junior Martin is definitely a better buy, even if it comes with a soft gig bag. Below is a picture of the two guitars placed side by side for size comparison.