The PARIS Forums


Home » The PARIS Forums » PARIS: Main » Stonebridge guitars?
Stonebridge guitars? [message #98845] Tue, 20 May 2008 07:39 Go to previous message
guitar.ottawa is currently offline  guitar.ottawa   CANADA
Messages: 7
Registered: May 2008
Junior Member
Note: is this an appropriate post for this section of the forum? I honestly
don't even know what the "general" area is (I only get IDEA.EMUEnsoniqPARIS,
whatever that is)... apologies if I should have posted to a different
area...

I went out last week to try a Larrivee acoustic at the local shop. The
salesguy asked me a few questions about what I was looking for,
pointed out a nice Larrivee LV-09E, but also invited me to try this
Stonebridge 23CR.

I didn't know much about Stonebridge, but he told me a bit about them,
and a later search on the web revealed a few things. Made in the Czech
Republic (well known for luthiers making other stringed instruments
like violins and cellos, but a relatively new comer to the world of
acoustic guitars). The 23CR is solid rosewood back/sides, a very nice
cedar top, ebony fingerboard, tusq saddle and nut. No electronics at
all, so you have to account for the addition of <whatever> if you're
going to compare it with the Larrive LV-09E.


First chord I strummed was stunning on the Stonebridge. Chimes like a
piano. Just unbelievable. In comparison, the Larrivee sounded muffled
(note that the Larrivee has a spruce top, which takes a bit longer to
open up than the Stonebridge's cedar top, if I recall?).


Since I know little about acoustic guitars, and also since I don't
have such good ears, I wanted to ask around and see what others know
about Stonebridge. I'm sure its resale value would be a lot less than
a Larrivee or a Taylor (can hardly find any on eBay or Craigslist).
But "investment value" aside, and just for the sake of its quality and
sound, any opinions out there?


I did find a few flaws with it: (1) When bending strings, the
Stonebridge goes out of tune (whereas the Larrive staid perfectly in
tune). Is there a nut-tweaking approach to solving this? (2) No
electronics at all, though many here would consider this an advantage,
i.e. get the guitar you want, then add the electronics you want; (3)
Very strong mids, which might be considered an advantage, I'm just not
sure... sometimes it sounded a little nasal, but I wasn't playing my
best, was in the middle of a showroom, and didn't spend much time.


Anyhow, if any of you out there have played a Stonebridge, I'd like to
hear your opinions.


For the record, the 23CR's cost is $1900, while the Larrivee LV-09E
was $2500. Once you add the electronics into the Stonebridge, you're
about at the same cost (or close enough) to a sure-valued Larrivee.


Any input much appreciated...
Dan

Report message to a moderator

[Message index]
 
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Read Message
Previous Topic: Last version of Waves with Paris Mac OS9?
Next Topic: Clapton rocks !!!
Goto Forum:
  

[ Syndicate this forum (XML) ] [ RSS ] [ PDF ]

Current Time: Sun Dec 15 16:19:23 PST 2024

Total time taken to generate the page: 0.00814 seconds
.:: Contact :: Home ::.

Powered by: FUDforum 3.1.3.
Copyright ©2001-2023 FUDforum Bulletin Board Software