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#1
11-06-2014, 11:50 AM
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2014 Founder's Choice Award - Bruce Sexauer
  2014 Founder's Choice Award - Guitar of the Year Sexauer FT-000 "The Pear" Specifications: European Pear/German spruce Amazon Rosewood trim Cutaway and Wedge Ebony Fingerboard Madagascar RW Bridge Flamed/Quartered Maple/Mexican Abalone top purfling Maple and Burl rosette 25 11/16" scale 1 99/128" nut and 2 5/16" bridge pin spacing Oil Varnish Hot Hide Glue construction Schaller GrandTune "Gold" machines Each year I give this award to the acoustic guitar that stood out to me the most. My choice for Guitar of the Year 2014 happened when I played this unusual beauty at the Woodstock festival. Made of European Pear wood and German spruce, this guitar has a unique and beautiful tone that truly surprised me. Perhaps in his many years of building, Bruce has learned a few things that can bring a guitar to life. This was my first ever experience with a Sexauer instrument, and possibly the only time the beauty of the sound of a guitar has brought me to tears. This guitar has a longer scale than normal at 25 11/16" and this may be part of the tonal magic. It was extremely playable with the unusual 1 99/128" neck, which translates into a slightly wider neck than the common 1 3/4", while the bridge pin spacing sits at 2 5/16". I found this configuration very comfortable for fingerstyle playing, and the action was perfect on this guitar - or as close as I imagine you could get. The beautiful tone was not isolated to the "G" chord, but carried over the entire neck. I think that's one of the things that made this guitar stand out so much to me. It really plays and sounds nice on every chord and every note on the neck. No dead spots or wolf tones - just pure, true sound throughout the instrument.. Visually, the guitar has a beautiful aesthetic to match the tone, with an abalone edged top and maple/burl rosette and the almost pumpkin hues of the finished pear wood. But I think the true magic in this an all of Bruce's guitars is the tone that he builds into each one. It's kind of like having someone take the nicest acoustic tone that you can imagine and then making it a few notches better. I wont try to describe what I heard because tone is such a subjective thing, but I probably did play hundreds of extremely nice guitars this year from many different manufacturers and independent builders and this is the instrument that stands out the most in my mind. I don't own this guitar but I really wish that I did, and I hope to someday have one of Bruce's guitars in my own collection. A sound clip is available on his site here: http://mojoluthier.com/ThePear.html Details of his latest builds can be seen here: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f...d.php?t=335992 and here: http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/f....php?p=4149180    [IMG]]http://www.acousticguitarforum.com/images/2014/donefron1.jpg[/IMG]    J.R. Rogers AGF Owner and Founder 
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#2
11-06-2014, 11:54 AM
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Fun to read about this guitar and "The Pear" has been alluded to, on some other threads by folks who have played it, as having some mojo. Congrats, Bruce!
Best, Jayne Last edited by jaymarsch; 11-06-2014 at 11:54 AM. Reason: Clarity
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#4
11-06-2014, 01:13 PM
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What a pleasant surprise! I have received emails and phone calls this morning of congratulations, and really had no inkling that this was in the works.
I felt a very good connection with you, JR, at Woodstock, and though you told me how much you liked the Pear, I have to admit I attributed more to mere good manners than appears to be the case. I know, I tend to talk too much, but I am saying: Thank You Very Much!!!
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#5
11-06-2014, 01:20 PM
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Very well deserved! Lovely aesthetic to your guitars...
__________________
Sakazo Nakade Flamenco 1964 Bourgeois D Adi Tasmanian Blackwood 2011 Tom Anderson Strat 1990s Schecter California Classic Strat 1990s
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#6
11-06-2014, 01:34 PM
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Bruce,
Congrats on this well deserved honor. John
__________________
12 Fret Tinker Dread 12 Fret EJ Henderson Dread 12 Fret Hotrod Tricone 13 Fret Charis SJ Martin D-41 Halcyon 12 Fret 000 A&L Ami McIlroy A30c Taylor 610 LTD Martin DCPA1 Seagull Original Gretsch White Falcon Epi LP 60's Tribute Plus (Ebony) Epi LP 60's Tribute Plus (HC Burst) Epi Swingster Royale Gibson LP Trad Pro II Godin Exit 22
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#7
11-06-2014, 01:58 PM
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2014 Founder's Choice Award - Bruce Sexauer
Congratulations Bruce- I saw that guitar at Woodstock and was mightily impressed, but being a southpaw I couldn't play it. Well deserved honor to you!
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#8
11-06-2014, 02:00 PM
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Congrats, looks beautiful, and I bet it sounds even better!
__________________
Emerald X20 woody (Pao Ferro), Journey OF660, RainSong APLE, Martin 0-15sm - LA Guitar custom, Recording King RO-06M, Gretsch 5422TG, Epiphone Elitist Casino, G&L ASAT Tribute, Pono cedar/macassar tenor uke, Lanikai SMP-TC tenor uke - and a level of ability that lets each of these down oh so often... but loving it every time I play!
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#9
11-06-2014, 02:29 PM
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Congrats Bruce...... a 40+ year overnight success!
As an owner of multiple Bruce guitars, I know exactly what JR felt when he picked up one of Bruce's guitars for the 1st time. Although JR's bank account be lightened by the Sexauer experience, his soul will be enlightened! Warm Regards, Mick
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#10
11-06-2014, 02:34 PM
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Congrats and all the best to Bruce.
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#11
11-06-2014, 02:45 PM
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Wow, that is just a beautiful guitar. It also sounds really good on that recording. Congratulations to Bruce Sexauer!
- Glenn
__________________
My You Tube Channel
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#13
11-06-2014, 03:12 PM
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Congratulations Bruce!!!
Lovely guitar, as well...
__________________
"Home is where I hang my hat, but home is so much more than that. Home is where the ones and the things I hold dear are near... And I always find my way back home." "Home" (working title) J.S, Sherman
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#15
11-06-2014, 03:42 PM
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Quote:
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| award, founder's choice award, guitar of the year |
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