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-   -   Stonebridge guitars (https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100115)

audiophil 04-28-2007 05:28 PM

Stonebridge guitars
 
Anybody knows about them ? Today i went in a music shop and while trying some guitars i saw a "Stonebridge" guitar (can't recall the model name - but it was OM size and sitka/mahogany body) hanging on the wall. I was really surprised by the quality of the instrument. Beautiful woods (all solid) and meticulous craftmanship. And the tone was simply GREAT! Very focused, dry, and balanced tone, in a lovely way, a delight for fingerpicking. I couldn't put it down, but had to leave because the store closed. I wish i could bring it home but it's too much money for now.

These guitars are crafted in Czech Republic.

Any stonebridge owners here? Thoughts?

Phil

daretobesane 04-28-2007 05:40 PM

I own a Stonebridge D40-CM dreadnaught (cedar/mahogany) and I love it.
Earlier this year I was shopping around and the D40-CM stood out for me and I am very happy I chose it.
Mine is one of the lower end models they make and I find it great for fingerpicking.
Here's a review of one of the higher end models the G23-CR, from AG magazine (its a PDF file)
http://www.stonebridgeguitars.com/AG...dge_Review.pdf

I would definitely buy another Stonebridge in the future, I think of them very highly.

Marccd 04-28-2007 05:58 PM

Considering there initial challenge making guitars behind the Iron Curtain, it's amazing to watch their growth as a company. They are building over 3000 guitars a year. That's approx. 10 times more than Goodall. And what I find so interesting is the influence of and homage to American traditional instruments all the way across the world in the Czech Republic.

audiophil 06-04-2007 08:19 PM

Sorry to bring up an old post but i wanted to let you know i finally pulled the trigger on my first OM guitar, a really great sounding Stonebridge guitar, made in Czech Republic by Furch guitars, one ot the most respected European luthier.

Two days ago i went to the same music shop (mentionned in the first post of this thread), and there was a week-end sale, and this lovely little Stonebridge guitar i really enjoyed playing a few weeks ago had a xx% off rebate.

It was waiting for me!!!

I couldn't resist since the guitar is so lovely and the price was so interesting.

Just to let you know the exact model : OM32-SM - actually pretty much similar to a Martin OM-18V. It has a sitka top over solid mahogany back and sides with scalloped bracing, vintage toner, and pretty nice and classy looking satin-gloss finish. The body contour and rosette is a herringbone inlay. 25.8 scale lenght, ebony fingerboard and bridge. The woods are nicely bookmatched and the grain is even with some nice silking (perfect cut), no runout. The craftmanship is immaculate: no glue residue inside, perfectly cut braces, and nice attention to details. It looks great!

The tone is clear and crisp, direct and woody, but very deep and throaty at the same time, with amazing projection and volume, and the note separation is very well defined. Overall a great balanced sound. Of course, you don't expect a dread-boomy bass in a such a small body, but there is still plenty of thight resonnant bass. I really like this guitar for fingerpicking and flatpicking. Cuts anything in a mix.

It makes a nice complement to my Gibson J50 which is a strummers' delight with its darker and mellower sound, and deep bass.

I will post pictures soon...

Thanks for reading!

Phil

audiophil 06-05-2007 07:00 AM

Some pictures :)

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/001.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/002.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/003.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/004.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/005.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/006.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/007.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/008.jpg

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l3/audio-phil/009.jpg



Phil

craigster59 06-05-2007 09:48 AM

That's a beautiful guitar. I own 3, a Furch D-40 Durango (cedar/rosewood) amazing tone for the money, a Stonebridge D34-CR and a G23-CR. They are great guitars, meticulously built as you know. I get nothing but compliments from amatures and professionals alike. The D34 is a "tobacco sunburst" which aren't easy to find. I have a video on my computer from the Namm show w/ Tom Bresch (son of Merle Travis) playing at the Stonebridge booth. I'll post it if I can figure out how. Congratulations!

Mike23 06-05-2007 10:19 AM

I dunno. I've heard of people having problems with theirs due to their use of green wood. People who bought theirs raving about it's awesome tone and playablility and then a year later complaining about warped tops etc.
I've never tried one myself and my lineage is Czech so I hope it's not true!

craigster59 06-05-2007 10:25 AM

Well, here's my try at the video link. Hope it works.
http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o...idge-wnamm.flv

craigster59 06-05-2007 10:42 AM

Here's the D34 on the left.

http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o...9/D34CR001.jpg

Kabeer 06-05-2007 11:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike23 (Post 1196159)
I dunno. I've heard of people having problems with theirs due to their use of green wood. People who bought theirs raving about it's awesome tone and playablility and then a year later complaining about warped tops etc.
I've never tried one myself and my lineage is Czech so I hope it's not true!

Green wood?

nelly green 06-05-2007 12:15 PM

Still enjoying the Stonebridge
 
Hi
Hope you all don't mind me adding my experience, most of it already said but I hope it's of some benefit to you all by me adding it to this post. I've had the 22CM since November and before purchasing I sought lots of advice from Forums and in general. I still am amazed at it's value and depth and as someone earlier mentioned it does attract a lot of positive comments. It looks as plain as anything so it can only be the tone their commenting on (can't be my playing!!)

I know in the UK it carries a lifetime waranty and if you search the furch website http://www.furch.cz/eng/historie.php there are numerous testimonies to it's build and craftmanship.

One happy player
neal

cotten 06-05-2007 01:06 PM

Thanks for the update, Neal. I've not had opportunity to audition a Stonebridge, but it sounds like something I would enjoy. How would you compare yours to other less expensive, Martinesque guitars, such as Blueridge?

cotten

kitsinni 06-05-2007 01:21 PM

If that D-34 sounds as good as it looks it is one nice guitar!

Kabeer 06-05-2007 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cotten (Post 1196326)
Thanks for the update, Neal. I've not had opportunity to audition a Stonebridge, but it sounds like something I would enjoy. How would you compare yours to other less expensive, Martinesque guitars, such as Blueridge?

cotten

I also havent auditioned them. But word from everyone (including a lot of guitar shops) is they are at the same build quality as Taylor and Martin.

Celtic Johnny 06-05-2007 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kabeer (Post 1196235)
Green wood?

Most fine wood is left to dry. Whether for instruments or furniture you never build with wood that hasn't dried all the sap and moisture out of it. You may have heard of kiln dried lumber. As wood dries it shrinks somewhat and may warp or crack so builders wait until it stabilizes. Wet wood is referred to as green.


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