Local pawn shop has a nice Larrivee dreadnaught lefty in the window, and something I don't recognize.
I usually go there to look at tools, rarely guitars.

I don't know the brand Stonebridge, with apologies to those who might think that's absurd. ( there are many guitar brands I don't know).
Anyways, I ask to see/play this nice looking (rosewood/cedar/mini jumbo/sorta) guitar.

It was a pretty spectacular sounding instrument with sustain that didn't seem to quit.
label says hand made in Check republic, very well built, careful attention to details, lovely to hold and play.
but at 3k, I was a tad surprised.

Also, the "apparent" ebony fingerboard was way too porous compared to the ebony I am used to, making me wonder if it's possibly a dyed wood to look like ebony?

Anyways, I always know folks around this place can set me straight on stuff I don't know.......

Stonebridge is the name Furch guitars uses in the US.... they are a small shop in The Check Republic...

I have not seen one but there are many reports of them being quite nice....  usually in the $2-3,000 range used.... 

Is that $3K cad or american???

Yeah, they're not bad. Czech guitars, I believe. I'd still buy a Larrivée.  :cheers

These are great guitars.

A few years ago I attended a performance  by Richard Smith, a Brit who had been a world fingerpicking champion.  He was then living in Nashville.    I was right next to the stage and I was eyeing the guitar he played, trying to figure out what it was..  During the break I asked him about it.  he told me it was a Stonebridge, made in he Check Republic.  But he also told me that he was playing a Larrivee L-10 when he won the world fingerpicking championship.   Not sure why he went to the Stonebridge.  But he was an incredible player

My "collection" and gigging guitars are a testement to my loyalty.
That being said, walking in to a pawn shop and being broad sided litterally by a guitar i had never heard of, and, even with dead strings, thumb flesh pluck on the open A string seemed to fill the room with sonic vibration, I was certainly intrigued to noodle a bit.

Luckily for me, my noodling isn't bad, so the young, attractive sales woman had no problems saying the guitar could do well in my hands as a new home.
Luckily for me, my wife, not falling for the sales girls charm, said, "Nah, wrong brand", and dragged me out of the shop.

I might sneak in another day to see if i was dreaming, (about the guitar that is).....

The Furch/Stonebridge history is an interesting one to read.

http://stonebridgeguitars.com/factory-tour/

     I saw a live performance with a Stonebridge not too long ago. Fine looking and sounding instrument.

They had these at the Ottawa Folkjlore Centre before they closed their doors.  I've tried a few and they were excellent.  A few years back, they had a mahogany/cedar dread with a 1 3/4" nut.  Made me weak in the knees. 

stonebridge are wonderful guitars.