Crafted in the Czech Republic, you might think that Furch Guitars is a newcomer on the scene. In fact, their history dates back to the ‘70s when František Furch found a lack of high-quality musical instruments in Czechoslovakia. Importing instruments was too complicated and costly, so Furch turned to his metalworking skills, crafting his first banjo from an old drum. In ‘81, he built his first acoustic guitar with a spruce top sourced from an old piano. Positive responses from fellow musicians were immediate, sparking a wave of interest and commissions from friends. Furch's early guitars became highly sought after. He continued to make guitars for decades, including his son in his process, and now Furch has a full line of premium guitars that are worth a serious look.
Their series categories are organized by colors with the Blue Series second in ascending quality and price echelons of six model lines. We tried a Blue Performance EM and found it bright, responsive, and easy to play. Dreadnought-sized with a cutaway, every aspect of the guitar feels high quality. The fingerboard is ebony, the soundboard is Engelmann spruce, and back and sides are African mahogany. Most guitar players are familiar with Sitka spruce. Sourced from Western North America, Engelmann spruce offers a warm, delicate sound and Sitka a brighter, louder tone. But the loudness is made up for by six slots in the top bout they call a Booster Soundport resonator. Promising enhanced sound projection, the Booster Soundport design is immediately apparent—it’s louder than most acoustic guitars. The styling of the guitar is also unique, with oblong pearl fret position markers that are unusual, functional with increased visibility, and attractive. A beveled top and back add to the ergonomics, making the guitar feel sleek and comfortable against your body. The feel of the neck is what we would describe as ‘60s, meaning that it is slim and fast with a nice, soft V contour.
Furch also has a neck stability technology called the CNR System. This design adapts to changes in humidity and features a dual-action truss rod encased in a rigid carbon structure. The system has a solid-wood expansion element that automatically adjusts the neck angle to maintain consistent string action over time.
The Blue comes with a soft case that is the nicest MC has seen. Supplied with light coated strings, we suspect this guitar would really open up with non-coated strings, as most guitars do. If the idea of a premium guitar that is a bit different than the usual suspects appeals to you, Furch Guitars are well worth looking at. $1,810
