FAQ
General Guitar Care and Maintenance
Q: What is the proper climate to keep my guitar in?
The proper temperature and humidity are critical factors in the life and playability of any acoustic guitar. Maintaining the humidity level of your instrument will help prevent cracks, ballooning, and warping. Humidity levels are considered optimum between 45% and 55%. Along with humidity, keeping your guitar at the proper temperature is also key to a long life. Your instrument should sit around 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
It is recommended to store your instrument inside of a case when you are not playing. Never store your guitar near a fireplace, heater, oven, in a car, in direct sunlight, or near any heat source. If you live in a very dry, or overly humid environment, it is even more important to keep your instrument in its case along with some sort of humidity control such as a humidifier or dehumidifier.
Q: What can I do daily to keep my instrument in great condition?
Be sure to wipe down the guitar with a microfiber cloth, after every use. Cleaning will remove sweat and dust, both of which will corrode your instrument’s polish and wood. Polishing your guitar every month can also be beneficial. Make sure to use non-corrosive materials and products that are designed for the specific parts and/or materials of your guitar. Never use rough cloths or household cleaners.
Q: What do you recommend for polishing scratches?
We do not recommend any specific brands, but many products can help with surface-level scratches. Deeper scratches may need to be worked on by a guitar technician. If you have a satin or semi-gloss finished guitar, do not use polish as it can create a permanent change in appearance. The proper way to take care of a satin finish or semi-gloss is to simply use a moist rag. For the best results, it is always recommended to consult your local luthier or guitar shop.
Q: What is the best way to store my guitar?
It is always best to keep your guitar in a case. While in the case, it is still necessary to have it properly humidified and temperature controlled. If you would like to keep your guitar out of its case, be sure to have the room properly climate controlled. This can be done with an air conditioner/heater and a humidifier/dehumidifier depending on your climate and needs.
Q: What is the best way to maintain the fretboard?
The best way to maintain the fretboard is to clean it regularly after playing by wiping it down with a microfiber cloth. For long-term maintenance, we recommend creating a mixture of 90% mineral oil and 10% lemon oil. Place a dab of the mixture on each fret and rub it in with a microfiber cloth. Clean up any extra oil afterward.
Q: How do I change the strings with a pinless bridge?
Please watch this video to learn about changing strings with a pinless bridge.
Q: Is it okay if I change the string gauge?
Instruments are designed and built to perform the best under a certain amount of tension and therefore it is best to stick to the string gauge that is recommended for the guitar. We would recommend taking your guitar to a local qualified luthier or guitar tech to set up the guitar when using different gauge strings.
Q: Do you sell parts?
We sell a selection of guitar accessories on our website; you can find those items here. If you need replacement parts for your Breedlove guitar, please contact us using the Contact form.
Q: How do I get repair work done?
Please contact us using the contact form. Explain the issue with the guitar, and include photos of the problem area. We must issue a Return Authorization (RA) before you return your instrument to us. To find out more about our warranty, please visit our Support page.
Warranty / Registration
Q: Is the warranty transferable?
No, the warranty is not transferable and only applies to the original owner of the instrument.
Q: How do I register my new instrument?
Please look over the warranty information, then register your new Breedlove instrument by completing the form found at the bottom of our Support page.
Instrument Specs
Q: What finish do you use?
We use catalyzed polyurethane finish.
Q: What kind of strings does my Breedlove guitar need?
Our guitars are stocked with Elixir PB Nanoweb Light gauge (12-53) and we recommend using these on the guitar for the best overall sound. If you want to switch to another kind of string, be sure to stick with the same light gauge.
Q: What is the recommended string height for my guitar?
Our guitars are set with a string height of 2/32nd inch on the treble side and 3/32nd inch on the bass side. This is measured at the 12th fret while also fretting the 1st. We recommend this string height for the best overall playing experience and sound.
Q: What are the specs on tuning machines for my guitar?
Collector Series: Waverly Relic Nickel with an 18:1 tuning ratio
Artisan Series: Gotoh SE 780 Nickel with a 15:1 tuning ratio.
Roots Series: Breedlove logo’d tuners with an 18:1 tuning ratio.
Q: What pickup system is in my guitar?
Collector Series: LR Baggs HiFi Duet
Artisan Series: LR Baggs Anthem
Roots Series: LR Baggs HiFi
For more information on these, visit the LR Baggs website https://www.lrbaggs.com/acoustic-guitar-pickup-systems.
Miscellaneous FAQ's
Q: Are custom options available?
Yes! Feel free to reach out to us about custom options by using our contact form here.
Q: Do you offer factory tours? Do you have a showroom?
We are currently closed to the public to remodel our interior, but once we are opened back up, we will have a showroom and tours available to the public. To find out more, please contact us at 877-800-4848, our Contact Form, or by email at info@breedloveguitars.com.
Q: How do I become a Breedlove artist?
Please contact us at social@Breedloveguitars.com to find out more about our endorsement program.
Q: Are you hiring?
Please email us at info@Breedloveguitars.com to find out more about employment opportunities.
Past Models
Refer to the questions and information here to get specs and repair help on past Breedlove models made prior to 2026.
Q: What are the measurements for the old body shapes?
Q: What strings were previously used?
Previous Breedlove models used D’Addario XS PB strings in either the light gauge or medium gauge. You can still use these, or switch to our current strings which are Elixir PB Nanoweb Light. If you have a 12-string model, it used D’Addario EXP38s. If you want to swap, we recommend the Elixir PB Nanoweb 12 String Light.
Old bass models used the D’Addario EXP170 and old Nylons used the EJ44s.
Q: What is the ratio of the past tuning machines?
Past import models such as Organics, Discoveries, Pursuits, and Rainforests have a tuning ratio of 15:1 and have tuning machines with the same footprint as Gotoh SG510s and Gotoh SG381s. However, be sure to confirm that the screw placement is the same.
Most US made models like the Oregon, Premier, and Legacy Series have tuners with a ratio of 18:1 and can be swapped for Gotoh SG510s.
Q: How does my Fishman pickup system work on my Organic Pro guitar?
Your side-mounted electronics on your Organic Pro guitar is designed for great sound and easy and convenient use. The battery compartment is located on the bottom of the guitar. Please make sure your battery is inserted correctly if you are not seeing power to the unit.
The onboard tuner is activated by holding down the upper right tuning knob marked with a “V.” The electronics will not send an audio out when the tuner is activated.
If pressing that button does not engage the tuner, then verify that it is clicking when being pressed. If it is not, the internal carriage may not be seated properly against the outer bushing. At that point, remove the outer button to tighten the bushing down. This should alleviate this issue.
Q: My Fishman Presys or Fishman Isys pickup system is having issues. What can I do?
Be sure to test typical troubleshooting solutions like replacing the battery with a brand-new fresh battery, or test out multiple amps and multiple cables to isolate the issue to the preamp/pickup system itself. If this does not fix any issues, it is possible the system needs to be replaced.
Both of these pickup systems have the same footprint on the side of the guitar and use the same plastic output jack/battery housing. If they need to be replaced, and you believe it to fall under our 2-year warranty on electronics, please contact Customer Service to make a claim. If it is not a warranty covered unit, then we would recommend replacing the system with an internal pickup system like most LR Baggs products. Or, replace it with another side mounted preamp system. In this case, make sure to
Q: Do you have replacement parts for other past pickup systems like the Passport VTC or the LR-TCV?
No, we no longer have replacement parts for these pickup systems. If you have the LR-TCV pickup system, you can replace it with the LR Baggs Stagepro Element pickup system as it fits the same cut-out on the side of the guitar. It will still require a slight modification on the way the output jack is installed. Aside from this, the best option for either old pickup is to replace it with an all internal system to avoid any need with widening or covering holes on the guitar.