Quick Hit: Breedlove Pursuit Bass Review

Breedlove instruments are known for their distinctive yet classy designs, and the new Pursuit acoustic bass guitar follows suit. The 32"-scale Pursuit streets just under $600, but given its DNA and build quality, you might not guess that at first hold or glance. Its comfortable concert-shaped body consists of a solid Sitka spruce top that’s dressed with a pinless bridge, along with sapele laminate back and sides adorned with attractive tortoise binding on both the top and bottom. The Pursuit is outfitted with a Fishman ISYS+ electronics system that includes a 2-band EQ, phase switch, and onboard tuner, and a built-in USB for direct interface with a variety of recording software. Tonally, the bass delivers good acoustic volume and sustain (especially for a non-jumbo body), but like many acoustic bass guitars, it’ll still have trouble keeping up with dread-wielding guitarists at an acoustic jam. Plugged in, the Pursuit brings a warm and woody blanket of low end that’ll serve both fingerstyle and pick players well, be it a jazz, bluegrass, or a pop application. If you’ve been considering bringing a nice sounding and well-constructed acoustic bass guitar into your 4-string family—without spending a ton of dough doing so—the Pursuit may have you covered.

Test Gear: Gallien-Krueger 800RB head, TC Electronic RS410 cab.