Sexauer '23 (Chapter 2)

[Haasome]

I have no experience or understanding of tenor guitars. When & how would you choose to use this variety. I get the qualities & utility of a bass guitar, the baritone guitar a little less, but the concept of tenor guitar is unfamiliar to me. Can you enlighten my ignorance is short form?

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Haasome

I have no experience or understanding of tenor guitars. When & how would you choose to use this variety. I get the qualities & utility of a bass guitar, the baritone guitar a little less, but the concept of tenor guitar is unfamiliar to me. Can you enlighten my ignorance is short form?

The tenor guitar has four strings, traditionally tuned in 5ths (though not always), and is often in the size range of Martin’s size 5. String length on this one will be 22”, and the body is 12” x 17” and 4” at the tail block. Because the neck is too narrow for my standard dovetail system I lost some sleep last night engineering a workable neck attachment system. Probably I’ll hand cut a dovetail, which is what I’ve done many times for my violins. Probably take some pictures.

[BlueBowman]

Bruce, the “X” bracing appears to have a different profile shape than your usual guitar bracing, particularly in the lower bout. I assume this is due to the nature of a tenor guitar? Or did this customer request a specific tonal profile? Or something else? Thanks!

Chris

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by BlueBowman

Bruce, the “X” bracing appears to have a different profile shape than your usual guitar bracing, particularly in the lower bout. I assume this is due to the nature of a tenor guitar? Or did this customer request a specific tonal profile? Or something else? Thanks!

Chris

Being my first tenor, there’s not likely to be too much tonal tweaking done on this piece. I did allow a narrower divergence in the X and also I chose to use straight tapered bracing, both of these because there seems little point in pursuing a full bass response as the instrument isn’t about that.

The customer knows my work well, having visited the shop hundreds of times, and has good reason to believe the outcome will exceed expectations.

[BlueBowman]

Many thanks, Bruce. Looking forward to The Book!

[Bruce Sexauer]

Here are yesterday's pics of the closed tenor box. Tomorrows will show it bound!

[Treenewt]

Lovely stuff Bruce.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I do love the way the binding frames the plates. This is ebony binding with maple top purfling and koa side purfling. Although this instrument is technically my simplified WRX line, I've had the ebony w/koa binding strips laying around for a forgotten number of years, so what the hey. Looks great to me.

[Haasome]

Looking good!

[Treenewt]

The binding really does make everything pop. The walnut is beautiful.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Because I may never again build a similar instrument (it's largely up to y'all), I saw no point in making a dovetail cutting router jig for this skinny little neck, and am instead cutting it with a handsaw and chisels. I have just completed the rough cuts and excavations, and don't yet know if it is going to work flawlessly . . . little does, actually. Once I get the clamps that holding the headstock veneer off, I'll be able to see what I have done.

[BradHall]

Bruce, I really like the back plates joined without a backstrip. Simple elegance. The end join of the sides is about as good as it gets.

[SColumbusSt]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

The binding really does make everything pop. The walnut is beautiful.

Agreed! Can't wait to see that walnut under finish.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Walnut is a softer and more compliant material than many of our favorite tonewood choices, and so does not require the back strip function, especially on a smaller instrument, IMO.

[Treenewt]

Bruce, I always enjoy seeing your skills on display, but hand cutting the dovetail might be my favorite example yet.