A Bridge to the Past
Stonebridge Guitars
In the year 1357 construction began on a bridge that would allow for
passage over the river Vltava. The bridge would go on to become to one
of the most recognized landmarks in Prague and one of most beautiful
landmarks in all of Europe. It is known today as the Charles Bridge,
you may have seen Tom Cruise running across the bridge, only as Tom
Cruise can, in Mission Impossible. During its construction and after it
was completed, it was simply known as the “Stone Bridge.” It marvels
ones mind to think that one of the most well constructed and monumental
landmarks in Europe was once upon a time inelegantly referred to in its
simplest level, the sum of its part, a bridge made of stone.
In 1981 Frantisek Furch began to build acoustic guitars and mandolins
in the Czech Republic. His company would go on to be named in reference
to that stone bridge built so many years ago in Prague. Stonebridge
Guitars set out to build instruments that would pay homage to the
amazing beauty and culture that their country is know for and in
particular the city of Prague.
Frantisek Furch came up as a Bluegrass musician, performing in and
around his country but finding a hard time being able to obtain high
quality instruments. Like most men of his origins, his frustrations
turned into the will to act. Thus begin Furch’s journey down the road
to becoming a luthier. A figurative bridge was being built, from player
to builder.
Under communism, Furch had to work in secret, as private enterprise was
not allowed, and it was through 1989 that Furch honed his craft and
mastered his skills building instruments for himself and others who had
heard of his work as it circulated amongst musicians. In 1989,
communism fell and Furch could share his talents with the world and
Furch Musical Instruments began taking on employees as demand was
beginning to out weigh supply. In 1999 Furch introduced his Millennium
Series of acoustic guitars, completing 30 guitars a week with a shop of
20. In 2002 guitar 150,000 was built. In 2003 their Durango and
Bluegrass series of acoustics where launched. In 2005 the full circle
of combing the beauty of the past with the needs of the modern would be
complete when the company officially adopted the Stonebridge name.
Now we build the bridge of the history of Stonebridge Guitars to there
line as it exists today.
Stonebridge produces two lines of acoustic guitars today, the more
modern Millennium Series, which features four body sizes and two top
options, cedar or spruce and the Bluegrass Series.
With his roots in Bluegrass it is no surprise that Furch would have a
line named after the music that helped to build his bridge from player
to builder. The Bluegrass line consists of three body types, D, OM and
OOM. The series is designated by a numerical code, followed by the top
wood, wood type for the back and sides and body size. The numerical
value establishes the level of trim.
So the 32 SMD model would be a 32 level trim with a spruce top and
mahogany back and sides in a dreadnaught body. The 33SROM-DB would be a
33 level trim with spruce top, rosewood back and sides in a deep body
OM.
All of the guitars in the Bluegrass series feature solid woods all
around, a mahogany neck, ebony fret board, headstock overlay and
bridge, and Tusq saddle and nut, herringbone inlay, gloss lacquer
finish, Gotoh vintage tuners and a Vintage Aged spruce top. Options
include a cutaway, 12 string, left hand, slotted headstock, sunburst
finish, satin finish and electronics. No matter your playing style the
Bluegrass series offers a configuration that will meet your needs.
A unique element to Stonebridge Guitars and included in all Bluegrass
series guitars is the Vintage Aged top. Furch has partnered with a
Swiss company that has developed a new patent pending drying process
using micro-enzymes to eat the pulp out of the wood cells. The tops are
“vintage aged” to the equivalent of 80 plus years old using this new
drying process. The sound is much more open and resonant. The wood also
becomes non-hydroscopic, that is, it won’t take on moisture and is
unaffected by changes in humidity, rendering the guitar incredibly
stable.
This is not the only call back to the past with the Bluegrass series of
guitars. Their style and simplicity mirror guitars of a time gone by
that we all seek out today as vintage guitar players wanting to step
away from the assembly line production of most modern guitars, and be
reminded of a period in history where guitar building was an art and
instruments where intended as the voice of the player and not a
quantity to be measured by a bean counters in meeting a massive
production total. The art and beauty and craftsmanship of Stonebridge
Guitars certainly are an interpretation of the art and the beauty and
craftsmanship of the bridge that inspired a country, a world and a
Bluegrass player from the Czech Republic.
Stonebridge Guitars have gathered a rather long list of professional
artists who play their Stonebridge’s proudly. Guitar Adoptions is
pleased to introduce you to Stonebridge Guitars with the hopes that you
too can experience that look into the past and the European sense of
art and beauty and craftsmanship that comes when handed a Stonebridge
Guitar.
We hope by helping to introduce the Stonebridge line on this side of
the pond, that we can help you to facilitate the building of your own
bridge as a player to whatever lay on the other side.
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History of Stonebridge Guitars
