Sexauer '21

[Bruce Sexauer]

I am about to hear Jmat's new 000 for the first time, probably tomorrow. Here are the frets and the bridge, which I will glue on right after I post this:

[Calves2997]

Well I’ve received the guitar and it’s beyond my wildest expectations.
It’s hard to describe. Very light, incredibly responsive, long sustain, very clear and loud harmonics. Loud fat trebles and well defined bass. Each string has an enormous complement of overtones, and it feels incredibly rich.
Ergonomics are very good although the extra half an inch took a couple of hours to get used to.
It’s an exacting tool, brilliant like a diamond, but with sharp edges. It is meant for a far better player than I am. I think it’s in a different realm of good thank any guitar I’ve ever played or heard. It’s the most responsive guitar I’ve ever played. It’s most similar to my Sobell Steinbeck, but louder even, with a more enveloping and 3 dimensional sound.

Gosh what an unbelievable instrument!

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I plan to ship the new FT-15.5-C to Carlos tomorrow. I'll let him tell you what he thinks once he has recovered. I have made a page on my site for it HERE.

And here is a picture:

[iim7V7IM7]

Congrats Carlos….

[jmat]

Wow, what a review! Congratulations!

[Rwpierce]

Let me join in. That looks and no doubt sounds spectacular. Bruce does some amazing things as your ownership level is a testament too. Would love to hear a sound sample at some point.

[Bebo]

Congratulations! What a beautiful instrument!

[Bruce Sexauer]

I strung Jmat's FT-000-C today, as expected. We had a completely different tonal target than on Carlos' FT-15.5, and believe I have hit it. This guitar replaces the Mahogany FT-000-C I built for Jmat last year, and we are after similar dry separation, but since using Myrtle instead of mahogany, knew to expect a richer tone. Relatively mildly figured, this myrtle was chosen for its technical excellence. Jmat will be the judge, of course.

I am certain that this neck is big enough for him, which is where the shortfall was on the predecessor. The first effort is here in my shop and available. It is 99+% and a fine example of my current work. The neck is normal in bulk and has a 1 13/16" nut width.

Still have the PG and the truss rod cover to go on this one.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I have ordered some PG material for Jmat's guitar. Up till now I have used John Greven's Tortis starting about 25 years ago. It looks like that era is closing, and I am trying a new supplier, Mario Proulx.

So, on to Jamiejoon's JB-15. I suspect all these Myrtle guitars look much the same to the casual observer, but I assure you they are actually all quite different from one another. This one is fully asymmetrical and takes advantage of aspects of the pre-war 000 mixed with same era's OM, and also with some of the advantages of the post war 000 thrown in.

I closed it a couple of days ago, and completed the binding yesterday:

[Treenewt]

Bruce, these Myrtle builds all look outstanding. I never cease to be amazed and inspired by your work.

[Jamiejoon]

To me, it looks gorgeous. Such a beautiful set of Myrtle, and really fine work.

[Bruce Sexauer]

The reader is probably aware that I am a sucker for interesting wood, particularly if it was well cut and properly cared for. When my friend and peer Michael Hemken passed a few moths ago I made my assistance available to his widow, Revelee, and also bought some of his violin wood and a few tools. He also had a few interesting chunks of this and that, one of which Revelee gave me. I got around to milling it this morning.

It is air dried Olive, probably domestic, and was in Michael's possession for quite some time. I have worked olive before, using it for sculpture and also a beautiful 3 legged stool. This stuff is far drier than my previous material, and sawed exceptionally well. The billet pictured was about 10 degrees off-quarter, so I sawed it down the middle exactly on quarter at one end. It then yielded 3 sets barely big enough for an OM/000, which is the template you can probably make out on the 3rd picture. I am thinking CN#5, but we'll see what really happens.

Rough billet:


Resawn billet:


Matched back:


Naptha on side off-cuts (sides behind):

[Steve Kinnaird]

Whoa, that’s beautiful. And a few pics upstream, I should add, I really like your “S” logo in the rear of that headstock. Kudos!

[jmat]

That olive looks great Bruce

[Bruce Sexauer]

I expect to shape the neck on my latest JamieJoon build tomorrow.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Still waiting for PG material for Jmat's 000.

JamieJoon's JB-15 has gone into finish. I continue to experiment with various P juice concoctions, and this variation seem to be working: