Spruce on mahogany is to the trendy acoustic guitar what peanut butter and grape jelly is to highschool lunch – easy, acquainted, and seemingly proof against the whims of fashion. However ask any choosy eater they usually’ll inform you that not all PB&Js are created equal. The identical is true for mahogany guitars.

The Bristol BL-140 is a brand new entry into the economic system/import market from the makers of Blueridge guitars, and it’s exactly what a participant may anticipate from a dreadnought mahogany field – a straight-on homage to the originals constructed practically a century in the past. However in contrast to a lot of its imported contemporaries, the BL-140 is an all-solid construct with some noteworthy options.

The BL-140 sports activities a torrefied stable spruce high that’s gloss completed in a tint to make it look aged. The bookmatched spruce could be very sharp, with straight, even grain and modest silking. The tinted end pairs properly with the deep chestnut mahogany again and sides – additionally with a gloss end. There have been no corners minimize on aesthetics with this guitar. The ornate abalone and mom of pearl headstock inlay is engaging and distinctive. Rounding out the construct are a stable mahogany neck and rosewood board and bridge. The nut width is 111/16″, scale size is 25.4, and each nut and saddle are bone.

Sonically, there’s nothing groundbreaking about this guitar – which might be the purpose. It sounds and feels acquainted. Weighing in at a feathery 3.7 kilos, it’s resonant and well-balanced. There isn’t a roaring bass and the mids don’t pop an excessive amount of, making it a improbable strummer. The setup on the tester was good out of the field and it
performed comfortably.

The BL-140 is priced someplace close to the center of the import pack, however there’s actual worth right here; the all-solid development is properly executed with flawless match and end, the included gig bag is bound to be sufficient for many gamers, and the general takeaway from this guitar is that it performs properly, sounds nice, and feels prefer it could possibly be a longstanding companion to a participant trying to get in at a modest value. – Michael Shirek

This text initially appeared in VG’s October 2025 challenge. All copyrights are by the writer and Classic Guitar journal. Unauthorized replication or use is strictly prohibited.