Latest squeeze

[andrew Ivimey]

I tried a couple of Martin's but they didn't impress; one felt 'too tight'. The other, the sound was lifeless. But I did drive over to Stratford on Shakespeare and bought a Furch. -Glorious sound and so smooth to play. £1700 well spent. Apparently they are made in the Czech Republic.

[Dave the bass]

It was called a Road Series I think, I was too busy plucking away to take much notice TBH! It had a little digital tuner tucked away in the bottom of the sound hole that's only viewable by the player, clever stuff.

[The Stratmangler]

Mmmmmm!
There are loads of guitars in the Road Series.

Was it one of these?

[Dave the bass]

Aah!

No it wasn't that one in the video, it was a standard non-cutaway acoustic shape, and dark brown in colour.

Looked like this -> https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/ro ... lor=sapele

...but that says its a dreadnought. I play an Epiphone Hummingbird dreadnought and it feels huge compared to the Bruv in laws Martin.

I'll try and find out what it is from him.

[andrew Ivimey]

I prefer 'parlor'. The Furch is concert.

[The Stratmangler]

Aah!

No it wasn't that one in the video, it was a standard non-cutaway acoustic shape, and dark brown in colour.

Looked like this -> https://www.martinguitar.com/guitars/ro ... lor=sapele

...but that says its a dreadnought. I play an Epiphone Hummingbird dreadnought and it feels huge compared to the Bruv in laws Martin.

I'll try and find out what it is from him.

Could be a 000-10E - that's the body size that EC settled on for his signature guitar, and it's the same body used for the OM guitars - slightly smaller than a Dreadnought, the difference between the models being the scale length.
The 000 has a scale length of 24.9 inches, and the OM has a 25.4 inch scale length. The scale length affects the string tension, and the 000 are a tad easier to bend strings on.

[Dave the bass]

I've heard back from him, he says....
The guitar is a D12e dreadnought.

It feels much more manageable to me than my Epiphone dreadnought, since PMR I'm not as flexible as I used to be and really noticed how easier it was to play the Martin.

[The Stratmangler]

Maybe the body is a touch slimmer - there won't be much in it, but it'll be something you'd notice.

[Dave the bass]

I looked online at some pictures of the model he says it is but none are in the really dark wood that his are made from.

Most odd!

[The Stratmangler]

I looked online at some pictures of the model he says it is but none are in the really dark wood that his are made from.

Most odd!

I looked too, and couldn't find any on Martin's site.
Could be that it's an older variant that's no longer made.

The dark ones are normally all mahogany, and the ones on Martin's site have spruce or koa tops.

[The Stratmangler]

I was bored yesterday, and having found out that they have Furch guitars in stock I went to my favourite music shop in Morecambe to have a play.
This was the only one I played https://www.promenademusic.co.uk/furch- ... ic-guitar/, and it has come home with me.
A tune up, and one chord, and the decision was made.

Alex and I were there for a few hours trying out a few of the Martins (D-28, D-18, 000-18) which were all lovely too, but funds wouldn't allow.

The Furch also has what they call the CNR System, which effectively means that the action is adjustable by turning the allen bolt low down in the guitar, so I'm going to have a play today, as it's a hair too high for my taste.

[The Stratmangler]

Rain stopped play - my gooseneck is too stiff
Play shall resume tomorrow when I will have a bendier one

[andrew Ivimey]

Sorry to hear that! Great guitars! I'm totally pleased with mine. I've never seen an advert for them. Fu'ch Guitars doesn't work. Twas a friend of a friend who strongly recommended. I drove over to Richard's Guitars in Stratford upon Shakespeare and here I am ... on the next level!
Enjoy.

[The Stratmangler]

The guitar is playable enough as is - I'd prefer the action to be a tad lower, but that's splitting hairs.
I don't like struggling with higher than necessary actions.
It will be sorted tomorrow.

One thing that really hit me is how loud the instrument is - I don't play hard, and this guitar really projects sound well.
It doesn't have the recent port development (the stealth slots that are nigh on invisible on a dark wood back). I'll check and see if they have any with that port next time I go up to Morecambe.

[andrew Ivimey]

Yes, mine plays loud too. At first it was a bit disconcerting then I found other guitars a bit woody or dead or erm, quieter.
I don't think this one has any new exciting technology; just very well made.