Designing with Nature (RA Beattie from Breedlove Guitars)
In this special interview filmed at The NAMM Show, creative director RA Beattie shares his path from film production and web development to having a key role at Breedlove Guitars. We also discuss adventures in sustainable sourcing and RA shows off one of their 12-strings featured at the convention.
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Transcript:
Mike: So I’m here with RA. How’s it going?
RA Beattie: Good! Thank you so much for coming by and seeing us.
Mike: Thank you. I really appreciate that you reached out on behalf of the brand. I’ve known your brand for many years now. We were just talking about how you’ve leveled up the business. You started in the basement, which everyone at NAMM knows is where the humble beginnings are. And now, you’re on the main level and even the second level in this gorgeous space. You also built a studio in the back—it’s so nice, quiet, and it looks amazing.
RA Beattie: Thank you so much. Yeah, it’s a great space. We all want to have meaningful conversations and good interaction at NAMM, but it’s obviously a very loud place. So this really made a lot of sense—to have a place where you can actually talk.
Mike: Of course. And you have a background in production, right? But how did you get involved with Breedlove?
RA Beattie: Good question. If you had asked me 20 years ago what I’d be doing at this age, I definitely wouldn’t have said I’d be working in the guitar industry. But I’m really happy I am—very fortunate. I have a background in production—I went to school for film and TV—and that’s what I did for most of my life. I started working for Bedell Guitars when they were in Colorado, where I’m from. Then when we acquired Breedlove, I started going up to Bend, Oregon and working there. I kind of just fell into it, and 15 years later, here I am.
Mike: That’s incredible. Did you find that even with Bedell, there was a connection to your love of the outdoors and adventure?
RA Beattie: Totally. There’s a deep connection between wild places, outdoor recreation, and the core values of the company. What’s really cool is that both Bedell and Breedlove are the only fully sustainable guitar companies—no clear-cut tonewoods. Everything is sustainably sourced. And we don’t just say that—we go to every forest where the wood comes from, do our due diligence, and ensure the sourcing is legitimate.
Mike: Wow. So you literally venture into the forest to not only find the right quality wood for the guitars, but also to make sure it’s sustainable?
RA Beattie: Totally. You have to go to the source and do the homework. It’s a complicated system. Just because something has paperwork doesn’t mean it’s valid. We’ve had situations where the paperwork says the wood is from one country, but in reality, it’s from a neighboring one. You really have to be careful.
Mike: I appreciate the level of attention to detail you all put into sourcing.
RA Beattie: Thank you. It’s really important to us. These forests and tonewoods are precious, finite resources. We have to take care of them.
Mike: You mentioned going to school for film and TV, and now you’re in this role with the company. But you were also doing IT and design before that, right?
RA Beattie: Yeah, totally. To answer your first question more clearly, what got me into the guitar industry more directly was my IT background. When I first started, I did a lot of web work for the brand. That was my gateway into the world of guitars, and from there, it just grew—learning new skills, growing with the company.
Mike: Are you a guitarist yourself?
RA Beattie: I am. I should be a lot better for how long I’ve been playing—I think it’s been 20 years. I wish I was better, but I love to play.
Mike: At least you can speak the language. You can talk to players about what makes a guitar special, how it feels, how it sounds.
RA Beattie: For sure. If you want to have a real conversation with a player about tone and feel, it helps to be able to play. You can study and learn, but to really communicate that feel—it helps to have the experience.
Mike: Funny enough, when I first came here, you asked if I wanted to play. I actually took guitar lessons for six months but discovered it wasn’t quite for me. I enjoyed it, but I picked it up later in life. I was originally trained on piano and trumpet.
RA Beattie: That’s awesome.
Mike: Piano helped me translate to guitar since it gave me a foundation in music. And even though I didn’t stick with guitar, I’ve always appreciated it. My background is in the music industry—I ran a record label for years—so I wanted to understand the instrument most of my artists were playing.
RA Beattie: It’s such a universal instrument. And there’s so much creativity in it. I always keep one around the studio. If I’m stuck on an edit or something, picking up a guitar helps clear my mind. It’s great for your mental health.
Mike: Especially acoustic. Just pick it up and play. No setup. Very soothing.
RA Beattie: Totally. I love electrics too, but there’s something special about grabbing an acoustic and just playing.
Mike: So yeah, I played piano from about age five. My parents both played instruments, so when I had to choose one in school, I picked trumpet. I studied jazz, played through college, and really loved music. But eventually, I realized I wanted to be on the business side—helping represent artists instead of performing.
RA Beattie: Just having that foundation makes a big difference. Even if you’re not a professional player, understanding the language and the process helps so much in this industry.
Mike: Totally. It gives me so much respect for the craft and what artists put into their work.
RA Beattie: It’s a huge commitment. If you want to be at the top, it has to be your number one. It takes years of dedication.
Mike: So for someone listening, who do you think Breedlove guitars are best suited for?
RA Beattie: Great question. Breedlove is an innovative, modern company. While traditional players love the sound, this isn’t a traditional brand. Everything is about innovation—unique woods like Myrtlewood, original body shapes, and constantly pushing the limits. We never settle. We’re always asking why and how we can do better. That’s the core of Breedlove.
Mike: And this guitar you brought is absolutely beautiful.
RA Beattie: Thanks. It’s Myrtlewood from the Oregon coast. We’ve been using it for about 30 years, and it’s still a relatively new tonewood. It has the most uniform cellular structure, so it’s really balanced across the frequency spectrum. It records beautifully—engineers love it. Plus, it’s sustainable and close to our factory, which keeps the footprint low.
Mike: Are you showcasing anything else new at NAMM?
RA Beattie: Yeah, our 12-strings. I can confidently say we make the best 12-string in the industry. It’s not just marketing—we use something called a Breedlove Bridge Truss, which reduces the massive tension on the top of the guitar. That means we don’t have to overbuild them, so they’re lighter and more responsive.
Mike: That’s amazing.
RA Beattie: Thanks. People love them. Also, our custom shop is doing incredible color work. Our team takes inspiration from Oregon’s landscape—lakes, mountains—and turns those colors into stunning finishes. It really reflects where we’re from.
Mike: That’s so cool. Thank you again for taking the time to chat. This was fantastic. Honestly, it kind of makes me want to start playing guitar again.
RA Beattie: I think we’ve gotta send you one!
Mike: I’d love that. Thank you again. You were fantastic.
RA Beattie: Thanks, I appreciate it.