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Guitar Adoptions 
Acoustics Stonebridge Acoustic Guitars
Frantisek Furch is a builder of very high quality acoustic guitars and mandolins, who is located in the Czech Republic. His company has been in existence since 1981. While his instruments are highly acclaimed in Europe and Japan, he has yet to be discoverd in North America and other parts of the world. Furch Guitars are now finally being introduced to the Western world as Stonebridge, with the UK, US and Canada leading the way. Frantisek has chosen a theme built around the amazing beauty and high degree of culture that their country, and in particular the city of Prague is so well renowned for. The name of Stonebridge is inspired from the Charles Bridge in Prague, built in the 1300’s and considered to be one of the most beautiful landmarks in all of Europe. Before it was officially named , in honor of their beloved king who had commissioned it’s construction, it was simply known as the “Stone bridge”.
Stonebridge Guitars “Vintage Aged” Tops
That "pre-war" guitar sound! It is the Holy Grail for many guitarists. However, few players can afford a decent “pre-war” guitar. That being the case, the next best thing is to find a new guitar that produces the very same characteristics. There are dozens of guitar builders trying to do this. However, try as they might, the one element that cannot really be duplicated is the age of the wood. Over the years builders have tried everything from using old pieces of wood of various kinds, to using heat to dry wood, to exposing wood to various sonic vibrations to "pre-age" it. All of these "aging" methods have helped to some degree, but there is still nothing like the sound of a well-crafted 80-year old guitar. Until now!
Unique to Stonebridge Guitars “Vintage Aged” tops are now here! Builder Frantisek Furch has partnered with a team of European biologists who have developed a new patent pending process to truly age soundboard woods to the equivalent of 80 plus years. With our “Vintage Aged” tops the sound is much more open and resonant. No longer will you have to settle for a new guitar with a ‘tight’ sounding top. It is warm and ringing right out of the box; brand new yet open and mature from the very first strum.
Natural Aging in a Nutshell
Over time the soft tissues in wood (Hemicellulose) break down and decay. These tissues are what absorbs moisture in wood and why it is so sensitive to humidity levels. These soft tissues are also what absorbs sound waves and stop the wood from resonating fully. As these tissues decay the wood absorbs less moisture and becomes more stable. It also becomes lighter and less dense as the tissues disappear allowing it to resonate for a longer period of time and more freely than a new piece of wood with all the soft tissues still in tact. Structurally the wood, although lighter and not as dense, is still very strong because the cellulose (or the structural framing of the wood per se) does not decay.
The “Vintage Aging” Process
While this is heavily guarded here is what we can divulge regarding this breakthrough technology. A special organic culture is created and allowed to interact with the wood which breaks down only the soft tissues within the cells. This genuinely duplicates the natural aging process mentioned above but at a highly accelerated rate. Once this process is complete the wood is free and clear of all the soft tissues and allowed to resonate without any hindrance so all the woods tone and warmth come out in full. But wait...there is more! The wood becomes non-hygroscopic, which means it won’t take on moisture and is unaffected by changes in relative humidity; therefore enhancing its stability. As well this process darkens the patina just like a naturally aged piece of wood. So not only does it sound vintage it looks it too!
With Stonebridge “Vintage Aged” tops you can now have that ‘old time’ tone so many guitar players long for. An affordable, world class instrument that can actually be played and taken to gigs and not stored in a glass case.
Acoustics Stonebridge Acoustic Guitars
Frantisek Furch is a builder of very high quality acoustic guitars and mandolins, who is located in the Czech Republic. His company has been in existence since 1981. While his instruments are highly acclaimed in Europe and Japan, he has yet to be discoverd in North America and other parts of the world. Furch Guitars are now finally being introduced to the Western world as Stonebridge, with the UK, US and Canada leading the way. Frantisek has chosen a theme built around the amazing beauty and high degree of culture that their country, and in particular the city of Prague is so well renowned for. The name of Stonebridge is inspired from the Charles Bridge in Prague, built in the 1300’s and considered to be one of the most beautiful landmarks in all of Europe. Before it was officially named , in honor of their beloved king who had commissioned it’s construction, it was simply known as the “Stone bridge”.
Stonebridge Guitars “Vintage Aged” Tops
That "pre-war" guitar sound! It is the Holy Grail for many guitarists. However, few players can afford a decent “pre-war” guitar. That being the case, the next best thing is to find a new guitar that produces the very same characteristics. There are dozens of guitar builders trying to do this. However, try as they might, the one element that cannot really be duplicated is the age of the wood. Over the years builders have tried everything from using old pieces of wood of various kinds, to using heat to dry wood, to exposing wood to various sonic vibrations to "pre-age" it. All of these "aging" methods have helped to some degree, but there is still nothing like the sound of a well-crafted 80-year old guitar. Until now!
Unique to Stonebridge Guitars “Vintage Aged” tops are now here! Builder Frantisek Furch has partnered with a team of European biologists who have developed a new patent pending process to truly age soundboard woods to the equivalent of 80 plus years. With our “Vintage Aged” tops the sound is much more open and resonant. No longer will you have to settle for a new guitar with a ‘tight’ sounding top. It is warm and ringing right out of the box; brand new yet open and mature from the very first strum.
Natural Aging in a Nutshell
Over time the soft tissues in wood (Hemicellulose) break down and decay. These tissues are what absorbs moisture in wood and why it is so sensitive to humidity levels. These soft tissues are also what absorbs sound waves and stop the wood from resonating fully. As these tissues decay the wood absorbs less moisture and becomes more stable. It also becomes lighter and less dense as the tissues disappear allowing it to resonate for a longer period of time and more freely than a new piece of wood with all the soft tissues still in tact. Structurally the wood, although lighter and not as dense, is still very strong because the cellulose (or the structural framing of the wood per se) does not decay.
The “Vintage Aging” Process
While this is heavily guarded here is what we can divulge regarding this breakthrough technology. A special organic culture is created and allowed to interact with the wood which breaks down only the soft tissues within the cells. This genuinely duplicates the natural aging process mentioned above but at a highly accelerated rate. Once this process is complete the wood is free and clear of all the soft tissues and allowed to resonate without any hindrance so all the woods tone and warmth come out in full. But wait...there is more! The wood becomes non-hygroscopic, which means it won’t take on moisture and is unaffected by changes in relative humidity; therefore enhancing its stability. As well this process darkens the patina just like a naturally aged piece of wood. So not only does it sound vintage it looks it too!
With Stonebridge “Vintage Aged” tops you can now have that ‘old time’ tone so many guitar players long for. An affordable, world class instrument that can actually be played and taken to gigs and not stored in a glass case.
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