Post by bobcarter on Jun 16, 2013 17:58:20 GMT
Just got this last week, and Keith asked me to post something about it, so here goes:
Had been looking for another decent quality but not too pricey guitar to complement my other decent guitar, a Larrivee L-03R (spruce/Indian Rosewood). Being cedar/mahogany, this does the job beautifully, a very different sound and feel from the Larrivee.
I've uploaded a couple of tunes to try and show how it sounds:
soundcloud.com/bob-carter-2/the-netsman-and-the-laird
soundcloud.com/bob-carter-2/superstition
I'd originally been thinking of getting one of the Faith Neptune series (exactly which one I hadn't decided), as although maybe not an obvious fingerstyle player's guitar, I'd played a few and thought they sounded lovely and resonant and you got a lot for the money (nice looks, good pickup system and a hard case). But I was using the online chat facility at Richard's Guitars (rguitars.co.uk) talking about the Faiths and in the discussion Richard recommended I think about the Stonebridge as an alternative.
Since Richard's Guitars in Stratford is quite a way from me in Dorset, I ended up instead at Guitar Village in Farnham, where I happened to be passing anyway. I lined up the Stonebridge (£749) + three of the Faith Neptune series (Natural, Trembesi and High Gloss, £600-£719) and spent the next 2.5 hours in the shop fiddling about endlessly between them. The High Gloss quickly got dropped as it had a dodgy pickup and unexplained rattle (though this was the model I'd originally intended to buy). The two other Faiths sounded great for what they were, were very playable and sounded lovely plugged in, but in the end it just didn't feel like you were getting the same quality of guitar. I didn't need a hard case anyway (I have a spare), though the electrics would have been nice.
Anyway, to the Stonebridge:
Very light, very responsive, and quite punchy and loud. It took a few minutes to get used to the top end, which is much zingier than my Larrivee, but it has a solid bottom end to complement it and is beautifully rich in harmonics. Shipping with medium gauge strings (13s, Elixir) I expected it to feel a bit heavier than the 12s I'm used to, but the guitar has a very loose feel and is easy to play. The 45mm nut gives generous string spacing while not being quite such a stretch as the 46mm on my Larrivee.
I'm no expert on woods and craftsmanship, but it seems very tidy, lovingly made and the wood looks gorgeous. A satin finish, so maybe will be a little prone to dings, but I'll look after it!
Machine heads are smooth, higher geared (or is that lower? I never know - fewer turns to make a change anyway) I think than the Larrivee's (which are 18:1) but stay in tune nicely. Intonation seems pretty much spot on.
Guitar Village were helpful and patient (though there's a few things they seemed unsure of - they said it was strung with D'Addario 12s, but the Furch info sheet that it comes with states Elixir 13s and that's what they feel like) and have a great selection of guitars. They wouldn't move on the price, though, despite me putting on my best friendly-haggling smile, but did throw in a spare set of Elixir strings.
Still getting used to my new toy of course, but so far very pleased. Would recommend anyone considering a fingerpicking guitar around this price range to take a look.
Had been looking for another decent quality but not too pricey guitar to complement my other decent guitar, a Larrivee L-03R (spruce/Indian Rosewood). Being cedar/mahogany, this does the job beautifully, a very different sound and feel from the Larrivee.
I've uploaded a couple of tunes to try and show how it sounds:
soundcloud.com/bob-carter-2/the-netsman-and-the-laird
soundcloud.com/bob-carter-2/superstition
I'd originally been thinking of getting one of the Faith Neptune series (exactly which one I hadn't decided), as although maybe not an obvious fingerstyle player's guitar, I'd played a few and thought they sounded lovely and resonant and you got a lot for the money (nice looks, good pickup system and a hard case). But I was using the online chat facility at Richard's Guitars (rguitars.co.uk) talking about the Faiths and in the discussion Richard recommended I think about the Stonebridge as an alternative.
Since Richard's Guitars in Stratford is quite a way from me in Dorset, I ended up instead at Guitar Village in Farnham, where I happened to be passing anyway. I lined up the Stonebridge (£749) + three of the Faith Neptune series (Natural, Trembesi and High Gloss, £600-£719) and spent the next 2.5 hours in the shop fiddling about endlessly between them. The High Gloss quickly got dropped as it had a dodgy pickup and unexplained rattle (though this was the model I'd originally intended to buy). The two other Faiths sounded great for what they were, were very playable and sounded lovely plugged in, but in the end it just didn't feel like you were getting the same quality of guitar. I didn't need a hard case anyway (I have a spare), though the electrics would have been nice.
Anyway, to the Stonebridge:
Very light, very responsive, and quite punchy and loud. It took a few minutes to get used to the top end, which is much zingier than my Larrivee, but it has a solid bottom end to complement it and is beautifully rich in harmonics. Shipping with medium gauge strings (13s, Elixir) I expected it to feel a bit heavier than the 12s I'm used to, but the guitar has a very loose feel and is easy to play. The 45mm nut gives generous string spacing while not being quite such a stretch as the 46mm on my Larrivee.
I'm no expert on woods and craftsmanship, but it seems very tidy, lovingly made and the wood looks gorgeous. A satin finish, so maybe will be a little prone to dings, but I'll look after it!
Machine heads are smooth, higher geared (or is that lower? I never know - fewer turns to make a change anyway) I think than the Larrivee's (which are 18:1) but stay in tune nicely. Intonation seems pretty much spot on.
Guitar Village were helpful and patient (though there's a few things they seemed unsure of - they said it was strung with D'Addario 12s, but the Furch info sheet that it comes with states Elixir 13s and that's what they feel like) and have a great selection of guitars. They wouldn't move on the price, though, despite me putting on my best friendly-haggling smile, but did throw in a spare set of Elixir strings.
Still getting used to my new toy of course, but so far very pleased. Would recommend anyone considering a fingerpicking guitar around this price range to take a look.
wish I could get 'the groove' going like that!!
Jo whoever he is.
