Sexauer '18

[Bruce Sexauer]

Here is a picture of the "good" tuc that better represents my memory (getting worse) of the actual color under finish:



And here is the back of Tim's JB with the braces on:

[Bruce Sexauer]

And here is Tim's JB top bracing:

[cigarfan]

Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of the strap above the tonebar. (Small flat piece)

[jmat]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of the strap above the tonebar. (Small flat piece)

Believe that is a Thønebåar

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Out of curiosity, what is the purpose of the strap above the tonebar. (Small flat piece)

Probably you mean the piece above the upper transverse brace, which in Martin-speak is often referred to as the "Popsicle brace". Mine is beefier than Martins, and has a purpose quite other than I have ever heard the folk over in the other forum mention. I have to wonder whether "they" have perhaps lost touch with the founding father's original intention. I use it to dampen the upper bout with the goal of a more balanced response. And, secondarily, it facilitates the clamping of the fingerboard.

FYI, "tonebar" refers to the two short and cleverly finessed braces in the belly of the lower bout between the X braces. In a more traditional Martin-esque guitar such as the Koa ES-15 I am also building at the moment, the tonebar braces are parallel. I call this guitar's interpretation "the Sexauer Tonebar Variation". A bit tongue in cheek, as I am by no means the first luthier to employ something along these lines. I believe the STV does a better job of covering the structural bases while as the same time dropping several grams of weight from the middle of the top (about three inches of brace, in an OM), which is where it makes the most difference.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I spent most of the day bending the sides and sticking them on to the top:



The rest of the day I spent playing standards with my bassist pal, Larry Mersereau.

[cigarfan]

Thanks for the explanation Bruce. Makes perfect sense. Appreciate you setting me straight.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Thanks for the explanation Bruce. Makes perfect sense. Appreciate you setting me straight.

I hope you are not feeling "disciplined"! I had been building for many years before I was confident that I knew the names of all the parts. A rose by any other name is still a rose . . . I'm pretty sure.

The JB's box is ready to close once I get the back out of the go bar deck where the center seam reinforcements are going in.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Closed the JB-15 last night, and took the clamps off this morning. Here's the back before trimming to fit, and after:





And some shots after cleaning it up:







Now I have 2 hours of classical violin duets!

[cigarfan]

I am enlightened and that’s always a good thing.

Tim, this box looks awesome. You must be pleased.

[Jamiejoon]

Originally Posted by TomB'sox

That is a beautiful piece of wood! Too bad for some of us that it is gone...

Indeed! Too bad for me!

[LouieAtienza]

This is going to be a beauty!

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Jamiejoon

Indeed! Too bad for me!

Were I to invite you by yet again it would feel like harassment, to me.

[Tim Porter]

Originally Posted by cigarfan

I am enlightened and that’s always a good thing.

Tim, this box looks awesome. You must be pleased.

For sure! Incredibly pleased with how both are looking. Thanks, Tim

[Bruce Sexauer]

Here's the first quarter on the binding going on. While I have watched another luthier put all the binding on at once with the rope method, I can't handle the stress level, and question whether it is actually as good as far as joinery is concerned.