Our Story

The Furch Guitars journey began well before the company was officially founded. In the 1970s, František Furch, a metalworker by day and a musician by night, faced a familiar challenge: the lack of high-quality musical instruments in socialist Czechoslovakia. With importing instruments from abroad too complicated and costly, František turned to his metalworking skills, crafting his first banjo from an old drum. A few years later, in 1981, he built his first acoustic guitar, a roundback model with a spruce top sourced from an old piano. The positive response from fellow musicians was immediate, sparking a wave of interest and commissions from friends. František’s early prototypes of roundback guitars, highly sought after at the time, cemented his reputation for innovation.

Despite the communist regime’s strict prohibition on private business, František’s passion for craftsmanship and musicians’ growing demand for custom instruments prevailed. He defied the authorities and began producing guitars in his garage, marking each one with the iconic “F” trademark—a symbol that continues to grace Furch guitars today. Throughout the 1980s, František handcrafted over 100 instruments, mainly roundback guitars with composite parabolic bodies, and several mandolins. His commitment to quality earned him a reputation as a top-tier guitar builder in the Czech music scene, and his instruments quickly became the preferred choice of leading musicians. Despite the constraints of the regime, František’s guitar-making business flourished.

A pivotal moment for Furch Guitars came in 1989, with the Velvet Revolution and the fall of communism in Czechoslovakia. Freed from previous restrictions, František moved his workshop in 1990 from the family garage to a 20-square-meter factory space and hired his first employee. Initially, Furch guitars were sold exclusively in the Czech market, but František continued to push the envelope with bold designs, including the introduction of the Silueton model—an unconventional guitar that reinforced his commitment to originality.

As demand grew, so did the company. In 1992, Furch Guitars moved to a larger facility in a 16th-century mill in Velké Němčice. By 2000, the company had purchased the entire property, relocating all production there. The 1990s saw Furch pivot towards the rising demand for all-solid-wood guitars, offering new body shapes like dreadnought, small jumbo, and super jumbo. The decade also introduced the avant-garde Silueton Drive and a range of innovative models like the Blueshand, Rockhand, and Jazzhand, featuring a non-braced arched back—an element that became central to Furch’s future designs. As international demand surged, Furch expanded its workforce to 25 employees by 1999 and opened its first brand-name store in Brno.

Furch entered the new millennium with a fresh approach. The company introduced the Millennium and Vintage series, the former showcasing a modern aesthetic, while the latter embraced classic designs. These model lines have remained central to Furch’s portfolio to this day. In 2003, Furch acquired the remaining portion of the Velké Němčice mill and embarked on extensive renovations to accommodate both current and future production needs. This development also enabled the creation of the Research and Development Division, which played a pivotal role in Furch’s technological advancements. In 2005, the R&D team’s research led to a breakthrough in optimizing the bracing patterns and sound characteristics of the guitar’s top plate, which went into serial production in 2008. These innovations have helped elevate Furch guitars to the highest ranks of the world’s premium instruments.

In 2006, František’s son, Petr Furch, joined the company, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology. He introduced cutting-edge CNC production techniques and spearheaded advancements in guitar design, including a lightweight bracing pattern, a composite neck design, and a unique UV finish that enhances the instrument’s sound quality by reducing lacquer thickness while increasing hardness. 

By 2011, as Furch Guitars celebrated its 30th anniversary, the company employed 40 highly skilled craftsmen. The brand’s product lines underwent further optimization, culminating in the launch of the Color Series in 2018—seven model lines named Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, and Violet, reflecting Furch’s technological evolution. As of 2021, the Indigo series is no longer part of the lineup. All Furch guitars now feature an all-solid wood construction, with the top plate, back, and sides made entirely of solid wood, underscoring the company’s commitment to exceptional sound and craftsmanship. All guitars are still meticulously crafted in the Czech Republic, ensuring consistent quality and precision.

Today, with over 70 employees, Furch Guitars produces around 9,000 high-quality instruments each year, sold on five continents and backed by a three-year warranty. Under the leadership of Petr Furch, the company remains at the forefront of guitar innovation, continually refining its designs and acoustic qualities through state-of-the-art technology, proprietary research, and robotic processes. The production of Furch guitars is best characterized as a harmonious symbiosis of meticulous handcrafting and cutting-edge precision technology, including the use of collaborative robotics, ensuring unparalleled craftsmanship and consistency in every instrument. As of 2020, 100% of the electricity used in Furch’s production is sourced from renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass, water, and biogas, underscoring our commitment to environmental sustainability. The exceptional craftsmanship of Furch guitars is endorsed by world-renowned musicians such as Al di Meola, Suzanne Vega, Per Gessle, Glen Hansard, Calum Graham, and more.

At Furch Guitars, our mission remains clear: to empower musicians to express their creativity through instruments that embody the highest standards of quality, innovation, and artistry.