2006 Breedlove Calendar XII Myrtlewood/Myrtlewood

In the eleventh hour, Breedlove built this 2006 Calendar XII, ushering in the midnight capstone to a series of twelve guitars they built, each following their own peculiar design. Those built in 2006, like this Calendar XII, were part of a limited production run of ten guitars for each calendar month, making them extra collectable and significant. What sets this one apart from its other monthly cousins is the use of extremely lightweight Myrtlewood for the back, sides, and top of the instrument. Similar in tone to Maple, Myrtlewood has an acutely focused tone which is dry and responsive. Unlike Maple, which can be so bright and in-your-face as to be blinding, this Myrtlewood has an even, controlled voice that really lends itself to flatpicking. Breedlove’s designs are always bombproof but agile, and the Calendar XII is no exception. Fingerstylists can also benefit greatly from the clean drive and string-to-string articulation that define this one’s voice. This guitar sings like a soft, cool breeze; soothing, rather than freezing.