Breedlove Guitar Company in Tumalo is on track to bring in more than $3 million in revenue this year, according to company President Peter Newport. That would be a 37 percent increase from 2003 revenues and a 600 percent increase from 1999 when Newport took over the company.

”We’ve diversified our product and service offerings to include a larger client base,” Newport said.

By 2005, the company hopes to increase revenue by another 30 percent. The company, which builds custom acoustic guitars and mandolins, has stepped up its market research and consumer surveys to find out what dealers and customers want. The effort has translated into higher demand, Newport said. Breedlove offers a variety of guitars including the Atlas Series which sells for between $399 and $1,149.

The Atlas Series is targeted toward the mainstream acoustic guitar buyer, according to Newport. Newport said the company will produce approximately 5,000 of the Atlas Series guitars this year at its factory in Korea.

Breedlove also offers higher-end, custom guitars and mandolins that sell for as much as $22,000 and are made in Central Oregon. Breedlove builds 400 Master Class Custom Shop guitars, 300 of the vintage-style Revival Series guitars and about 300 mandolins per year.

The company has built guitars for musicians like Madonna, Irish alt-rocker The Edge, and fingerstyle virtuoso Ed Gerhard.

Breedlove guitars were also featured on stage during the 2004 American Music Awards Nov. 14.

Two members of Jessica Simpson’s backup band played Breedlove Custom Shop guitars.

In addition to growing sales, the company also has plans to expand its product line and is considering building a new location. In 2005, Newport said the company plans to introduce a series of high-tech electric guitars and re-introduce acoustic basses and a smaller, travel guitar. The company, which had 20 employees earlier this year, has added three people and is expecting to add another employee next year.

”We are growing slow and steady,” Newport said.

Newport said he is also looking at possible locations to build a new building. Some of the locations under consideration are in Sisters, Tumalo or near the Les Schwab Amphitheater in the Old Mill District.

Newport said a move probably wouldn’t take place until 2007.

”It would help us streamline our custom shop production and internal communication to have a much more efficient facility,” Newport said.

Those interested in Breedlove can schedule a tour of the Custom Shop in Tumalo by calling Noah Langley at 385-8339.

Kristy Hessman can be reached at 541-383-0350 or khessman@bendbulletin.com.