 |
Stonebridge OM-34-SR
|
This one is a bit of a surprise guitar. I was in a music store in Fredericton NB last December (06) looking to purchase a guitar cable, when I noticed a Stonebridge guitar hanging on the wall. I hadn’t heard of Stonebridge guitars and so naturally I was curious. I took the first one off the wall and sat down to play - immediately I knew there was something special about the guitar. It was an OM-34-SR which has a smallish, thin body (spruce top, rosewood sides and back). Usually I don’t like these guitars as they don’t produce a lot of sound they often sound, well smallish and thin. This one, however, was so lively and responsive that I couldn’t put it down. My manager Dave came in, listened for about a minute and said, “We have to buy that!” And we did. I’ve never made a spontaneous purchase like that ever. I took it home and haven’t had a moment of buyer’s remorse. The guitar itself lacks a little in the bottom end, but over-all it’s just a perky little thing that just makes you want to play.
 |
 |
 |
A couple months later, after a concert in southern Ontario, a fellow named Roger Schmidt walked up to me and informed me he was the owner of Stonebridge Guitars. Needless to say, I was quick to inform him I had just purchased one of his instruments and eagerly conveyed my enthusiasm for the instruments. It turns out that Roger is an accomplished finger-stylist himself. He has made his living in the wholesale music instrument business and recently had secured the rights to a Czech Republic handmade guitar and re-branded it as Stonebridge for the North American market. I ended up spending a good part of a day at his house trying many of these wonderful instruments. Remarkably, they are consistently wonderful; all have that immediacy and lively response that I appreciate in Darryl Perry guitars but surprisingly, they are rather inexpensive compared to the boutique luthier prices we are accustomed to in North America. I would classify the Stonebridge guitars to be in the same league as the boutique luthier guitars but with a price range of $1,700 to $2,200 rather than the $4,000 to $10,000 range one expects to pay for a comparable high-end instrument.
Check out www.stonebridgeguitars.com
Posted on September 2nd
I’ve got a story that is very similar, although I was somewhat in the market to buy a new guitar. I was pretty well set on buying a Larrivee, and when I came across the only Stonebridge at the L&M in Halifax, played a few chords and it totally blew me away! It sounded better, to me, than the J45, the Larrivees, and the Taylors. At a fraction of the cost, I came away with a better sounding instrument and something that not everyone else has. I also spoke to Roger on the phone after purchasing the guitar and really appreciated his courtesy and information about the instrument, he also invited me to his guitar shop in Waterloo, which I haven’t made it to yet, partly because I’m afraid I’d buy a second one! Thanks Stonebridge, and thanks, Steve, for sharing.
Cheers!