BRUCE SEXAUER: FT-000-C [Red Spruce | Oregon Myrtle]

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by blindboyjimi

Well Bruce keeps getting better and better with every guitar. My 000-12c is Italian over Cocobolo and an astonishing 185 guitars and 15 years earlier than this 300th. Mine is in the top 2 guitars I’ve ever played. I can’t imagine one better. I just re-strung it yesterday and it still makes my jaw drop and just gives me a grin knowing how lucky I am to have one these 300 incredible guitars. Bruce says his current ones are the best he’s ever made. I’m certain this one will sing. Play it in good health.

Thank you Jim...

I own a number of Bruce's guitars (this is actually my 5th) and frequently after a playing session, I also shake my head with disbelief as to just how good they are. They don't get in the way when I play and feel "alive". That is why I have returned again and again to commission guitars with Bruce.

[Treenewt]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I plan to get around to final pictures later today and will make a page for my website, and let you readers know too. Meanwhile, on the third day of the guitar's existance, I do have a good idea how it came out.

I have had an upsurge run on my results starting with Rob Pierce's Pernambuco L00 a few months ago, and this Myrtle guitar continues the trend. I do not know what changed. The results have been outstanding (IMO) for many years, and every now and again they bump up noticeably. I make incremental changes all the time, rarely anything major, yet somehow when improvement happens, it seems to stick.

I did not know what to expect from the Myrtle, but being one of my guitars, and the wood all being of the highest caliber, I certainly had high expectations. I did not expect the sheer volume of this guitar, nor the breadth of its tonal envelope. I usually string starting with the low E, but on this one I put the high e on first. With the one string on I plucked it alone, and immediately knew I had something special.

The guitar is still "in process" so sitting on my bench on its back. When I walk by it I often pluck the low E and it stops me in my tracks, the sound is so huge and so surpassingly beautiful, and lacking in no way . . . on the third day!!!

Pictures soon.

If that doesn’t excite ya, you might not be breathing

[cigarfan]

Sounds like I need to get on the schedule again. Congrats Bob.

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

If that doesn’t excite ya, you might not be breathing

Originally Posted by cigarfan

Sounds like I need to get on the schedule again. Congrats Bob.

Thanks gents.....

I have about a week until I can play it (heck, I haven’t even seen shots of the completed instrument yet!). In the meantime some AGF members may schedule a visit to audition it at Bruce’s shop. Perhap’s they will be kind enough to share their playing impressions?

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

Thanks gents.....

I have about a week until I can play it (heck, I haven’t even seen shots of the completed instrument yet!). In the meantime some AGF members may schedule a visit to audition it at Bruce’s shop. Perhap’s they will be kind enough to share their playing impressions?

That would be a LOT of FUN. So kind of you to offer! Hope some folks can take you up on it...

You will be playing it soon! Woohoo

Enjoy it

Paul

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

That would be a LOT of FUN. So kind of you to offer! Hope some folks can take you up on it...

You will be playing it soon! Woohoo

Enjoy it

Paul

I hope so as well....

I believe that Jamiejoon (forum name) will swing by Bruce's shop to audition it. Since Tad Laird seem's to drive by Bruce's shop on his way to the beach, one never knows if he will as well (hope he does). Obviously, given the pandemic one needs to call Bruce in advance to arrange the logistics around a visit to his shop, but the guitar should be there through Monday.

[Jamiejoon]

YES I want to play this gorgeous guitar! Will coordinate with Bruce. Jamie

[Bruce Sexauer]

Bob is so much better at creative captions than I am! I'll let him put up individual pictures if he likes. Meanwhile, here is the Guitar's new page on my website.

Okay, one:

[Ovation1]

Yeah, it’s off quarter. Of well

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Ovation1

Yeah, it’s off quarter. Oh well

I did my best. the headstock surface is only visible from the back, so I made that the most quartered side, and to have only half of that surface perfect is something I'm just going to have to learn to live with. I do hope Bob will not refuse it on delivery.

[iim7V7IM7]

There’s nothing wrong with Bruce’s wonderful shots of my Red Spruce | Oregon Myrtle FT-000-C. I simply organized them.

It certainly is a beautiful evolved traditional guitar. At first blush, very much derivative of a 000 from the Nazareth mothership (e.g. diamond & squares, slothead etc.). But look a bit closer and you’ll see subtle differences (e.g. a belly bridge, wedged body, sound port & a pickguard) married with traditions (e.g. bird’s beak bridle joint). The colors of the body, neck and pickguard integrate masterfully.



Non traditional woods (aside from the Red Spruce top) with chatoyant golden figure of the Oregon Myrtle, Amazon Rosewood bindings, contrasting curly Bigleaf Maple purflings and rosette elegantly appoint the guitar.



The small elliptical sound port enhances the player’s sonic experience. The curly Bigleaf Maple purflings sparkle against the back, sides and bindings.



The slothead headstock has a Cocobolo headstock veneer, and the Schaller GrandTune machines have Rosewood buttons. The true sign of the birds beak bridle jount (lower right) can be seen in the shot on the top. The end shot shows how on quarter the piece of Honduran Mahogany used to make the headstock is.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Yeah, but how’s it SOUND?

[Treenewt]

That is a stunningly beautiful instrument! Well done Bruce! And congrats Bob!

[iim7V7IM7]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Yeah, but how’s it SOUND?

It makes you wonder, why did you leave that set of Oregon Myrtle in your wood locker for 12 years and a 140 guitars off your bench?

Originally Posted by Treenewt

That is a stunningly beautiful instrument! Well done Bruce! And congrats Bob!

Indeed, kudos to Bruce...

[Bruce Sexauer]

I had to wait for someone with “vision” to ask me to build with it. That, and the fact that I have around 500 sets of many other species that I have had for as much as 35 years, rarely less than 10 years.