Made in Central Oregon: Inside the Bend shop behind Breedlove Guitars

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Inside a Bend manufacturing facility, thousands of guitars are handcrafted each year. They're played on stages around the world, but built from the ground up in Central Oregon.

At Breedlove Guitars, the process is equal parts precision and artistry. The sounds of sawing and sanding fill the workshop as raw wood is cut, shaped, and assembled into finished instruments.

“We started in Tumalo in 1990,” said Angela Christensen, Breedlove’s Vice President of Operations.

What began as a small shop has grown into a globally recognized brand. Christensen joined the company in 2002, when the operation was still based in Tumalo.

“I want to say it was around 20 employees,” she said. “It was a small, tight-knit community. We just had this old building that felt like a barn, and we were building incredible guitars out of it.”

Today, Breedlove is headquartered in Bend, with a larger team, but the company says its original culture remains intact.

“Working at Breedlove Guitars, it’s a family,” Christensen said. “There’s a culture here that is unlike any other place I’ve worked. I love living in Bend, the outdoors, and having a workplace that’s creative and fun, building instruments that inspire others.”

That connection to Central Oregon extends beyond lifestyle. The region’s high desert climate plays a role in the instruments themselves.

“It’s a little on the drier side, not too humid,” Christensen said. “That’s actually a really great place to build guitars.”

Breedlove also incorporates locally sourced materials, including Myrtlewood; an Oregon-grown tonewood not commonly found elsewhere.

From regional forests to finished instruments, the company emphasizes its ties to the community.

“There’s just a pride in building in Bend,” Christensen said. “We love being involved with local events and connecting with people here.”

That connection is expected to grow. Breedlove plans to expand its presence in Bend with public tours and a new retail store. The company also hopes to create more opportunities to work with local and visiting artists.

“We can bring artists in to play and spend time with us before shows,” Christensen said.

Breedlove guitars have been played by musicians worldwide, including Grammy-winning artists. The company has also collaborated with actor and musician Jeff Bridges on a line of sustainably sourced guitars.

Those instruments often find their way into the hands of local players, including at shops like Brian’s House of Music in Bend.

From Oregon forests to global stages, each guitar built at Breedlove carries both a distinct sound and a story rooted in Central Oregon.

Next, Breedlove Guitars is celebrating a grand opening for a new retail space at its Bend facility.

The company will mark the occasion with a warehouse sale on June 13, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature discounts of up to 50 percent on select guitars, along with giveaways, free food and beer.

The new space gives Central Oregonians a chance to shop Breedlove guitars directly from the source.