So here we are for a little review of a Furch Blue Gc SW... Since 2018, Furch guitars have been classified according to colours from their most affordable models (Violet) up to most expensive ones (Red [and Vintage]), shapes (D, OM, G, OO ...) and woods (the last two features already existed I believe)...A little 'C' goes for cutaway
I've known the make for quite some time, as an ex band mate had one for many years already. They have been distributed through little good shops in smaller towns for quite some time here... I had never played one though (my friend having bought his own after I stopped playing with the band [in a different town])... But I knew they were good.
The guitar I now own is a rather affordable one, but it seems to be genuinely serious and good ; not much compromise on quality. SW in the name goes for a Sitka top and Walnut back and sides (my first Walnut guitar ever). Open pore finish...
The guitar rings well, with a clear voice, but surprisingly powerful bass notes for the size I found. I like its tone, and it has a capacity to be used for a more classical.like type of playing which is rare on steel strings guitars...
It also sounds excellent when doing 'folkish' finger picking, and is not any weaker on the strumming part... I can't really tell about bluegrass playing as I don't do much of it, but it should be okay (possibly not it's best quality I'd suspect though)...
One of the things I like the most possibly about this guitar is the neck ; it fits the shape of my left hand well...It's a rather chunky neck, with a 'soft V' profile, they call it; I had to read the specs file on Furch's website to acknowledge it, as it doesn't show much it's a V neck. It starts as a soft V and becomes rounder when going upwards... So maybe it's the shape of my hand, and of my thumb especially (the type whose last phalanx bends towards its back), but it works really well for me ; I usually don't have that much strength in the thumb, as the space.contact ain't so wide, but the way this neck is, helps me pretty well here...Makes it one of the three favourite ones I ever came across (and the 1st I own).
The neck is 1" 3/4 wide, and is made of "African Mahogany" they call it, not 'genuine mahogany' (Swietania mahagoni I believe), but Khaya ivorensis I think, a tree from that same family. It has a dual action truss rod with a CNR system (witch means "it's fixed in a highly rigid carbon casing" according to Furch website). Ebony fingerboard and bridge...
The guitar goes with an LR Baggs Element pick up (with volume and tone controls inside the soundhole), which has quite a natural sound, and leaves it light enough to feel comfortable (and almost forget about it)...
It looks very much like my Taylor from the shape (Grand Auditorium), and reminds me a bit of Martins from 15 series by its finish, but otherwise feels and sounds very different, which I like... It has become my favourite guitar for now.
