The classic vintage style and modern improvements in playability and construction of Blueridge guitars that make up the Historic Series have all the traditional features usually found on pricey vintage guitars, but at amazingly affordable prices! Taking cues from guitars produced in the years after WWII to present, the Historic Series combines more readily available tone woods from Canada for an already broken-in, vintage flavored tone. The slim, fast-playing necks and easy action makes these guitars truly professional-quality instruments - although they are priced within the reach of students and amateurs! Elegant pearl and abalone inlay on the peghead, fingerboard and all borders characterize our top models as well as the finest solid East Indian rosewood and solid Sitka spruce. All tops are carefully braced with the same forward-X bracing found on costly Prewar originals and the tone of our new guitars greatly resembles those old masterpieces. Our mid-line models feature traditional herringbone binding on top and back strip, and tasteful pearl inlay on fingerboard and peghead. The mahogany series is noted for its power and clarity, making these guitars equally suited for lead and rhythm playing. Every Historic Series guitar features a slim mahogany neck with an adjustable truss rod to maintain perfect alignment.
Body Wood Selections
After WWII tone woods like Adirondack and high-end Brazilian rosewood became less and less available to use for the production of acoustic instruments. Over-forestation and other factors encouraged guitar makers to find more abundantly available tonewoods that would perform just as well. In the Historic Series we use Sitka spruce for the top to impart an already aged sound that has made it the most popular top wood used to date by any maker. For the backs and sides, Indian rosewood was selected to replace South American varieties and more readily available species of mahogany were also substituted.
Fingerboards and Fittings
In more modern acoustic guitars made by the best traditional American makers, Indian rosewood is the most common fingerboard and bridge material used. Its characteristics are perfect for use in these applications because it is very durable, looks great and adds to the desirable, yet complex tone of any instrument.
Construction
It goes without saying that traditional construction techniques used in the making of vintage instruments during the Golden Era of instrument production continue to stand the test of time. Therefore, Blueridge holds fast to traditional construction methods that incorporate features like the legendary forward shifted X-brace pattern used for the top. Additionally, this series also uses the more modern nut width of 1 11/16 for easier fingering for modern players.
The Details
With every Blueridge guitar, what really makes each one of them special can be found in the details. In this series, we combine rosewood backs and sides with traditional white binding and delicate herringbone or exotic abalone purfling, while other the guitars with mahogany backs and sides will have black ABS binding. The signature Dalmatian tortoise pickguard is also used for that look of distinction.
