Furch MC Orange OMC

first play
19
october 2019 Guitarist
FURCH MC BLUE GC-CM & MC ORANGE OMC-SR
FURCH
MC BLUE GC-CM & MC ORANGE OMC-SR
At this point we should pause to consider
something not visible to the naked eye
but a thing that Furch takes great pains
to point out: the neck joint and truss-rod
assembly. In our travels we’ve seen all
kinds of theories from a whole assortment
of lone builders and major manufacturers
regarding this essential part of the luthier’s
art. In the case of Furch, the brand has
developed what it calls its CNR Dual Action
system. Basically, this means the truss
rod is capable of adjusting both concave
and convex neck problems – nothing
particularly new there, but the way the neck
is attached to the body internally differs
slightly from the norm.
The joint employs a rigid carbon casing
that “maintains the neck in the set position
over a period much longer than is the case
with standard neck-joint designs and, at
the same time, facilitates a gradual bow in
the neck, a factor of essential importance
for playability”. There’s also a special alloy
casting located in the neck heel to make
sure the neck angle maintains its position.
From the look of the exploded diagram on
the Furch website, this is quite a chunky
piece of metal that sits on top of – and
extends well into – the guitar’s heel and
could explain the slightly surprising weight
factor we noticed earlier. It’s an interesting
The transparent
pickguard means the
OMC’s good looks
aren’t interrupted
in any way
idea and one that can only be proven over
the course of time. For now, though, it
remains sight unseen, albeit a slightly
weighty reminder that new approaches
are at work here.
Moving on, the MC Blue GC-CM’s
fretboard is ebony with a Tusq nut and
string saddle, that latter sitting atop an
ebony bridge.
Looking at the MC Orange OMC-SR now
and we notice an upgrade in terms of body
woods and finish – for some reason high
gloss always looks a little more classy than a
matt finish. If a duet of cedar and mahogany
is one staple of the acoustic guitar top-and-
back world, then spruce and rosewood is
almost certainly the other. The AAA Sitka
top looks superb and Furch has sensibly
employed a transparent pickguard so that
the timber’s good looks aren’t interrupted
in any way. The Indian rosewood is that
thick chocolate colour, with a strikingly
4
4. Furch guitars began
back in the 1970s when
metalworker Frantisek
Furch started building
instruments to supply
local musicians in his
native Czechoslovakia
GIT451.rev_furch.indd 19 05/09/2019 15:53