Breedlove Orca

[Ancient]

Does anyone play a Breedlove Orca mandolin?

[phynie]

I have never played one. But, there has been one on ebay for months now. I think the seller claims it is the first orca too.

[Ancient]

Yes, it is the first Orca and has a letter from Breedlove stating that it is. I just bought it and it is a fantastic playing and sounding mando.

[atetone]

I have listened several times to Mickey Cochrane playing his on the video soundbites on the Folk of The Woods website.
Even with the poor sound quality it is my favourite sounding mando of all of the clips. I would love to try one out.
Big bucks though. Out of my league right now.

[Elliot Luber]

I was listening to the varous F.O.W. samples, and the Orca really caught my ear too. Don't know if it's a fair comparison because of the difference in microphone setting and tecniques employed, but the sound definitely caught my attention. I don't have a lot of experience on old F5 Lohrs or new Collings mandos, but I once played a Stradivarius violin and I know that inner-voice sound when I hear it... over the Web at least.

[Linda Binder]

Well, I am very fond of my Orca. I've had it for about a year. Apart from the sound, I really like the feel of it. The neck, frets, board---there are pieces I can play cleanly on the Orca that I can't on anything else. It seems very dependable as well--it doesn't seem fussy. It stays in tune very well. I haven't had any mysterious buzzing problems...nothing weird. It's just a really good mandolin.
Linda