Sexauer/‘21 (chapter 2)

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by Haasome

Could you remind me? I’ve always thought the rosette helps reduce the loss of vibrational energy around the sound hole and helps reduce the potential for wood splitting at this area too. But I really have no idea if that is correct. What say Ye?

Yes, the rosette stiffens the sound hole lip, and also serves to seal the end grain. I try to bury it 4/5ths of the way through the top, or a little more. I’d go for 9/10ths, but when I put it in I do not yet know the thickness of the top, and would not like to actually end up having penetrated.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Today I am making the neck for the Mini-D.

Also, the fourth coat of varnish is on the CN-WRX all-Catalpa. Here is the neck color under the 3rd coat, just before I sanded off the gloss:



And more, the Pernambuco L00 is assembled and I hope to hear it tomorrow.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Pick guard and Truss rod cover still to come, then cleaning and shipping. My latest FT-L00 in Pernambuco and Hampton Adi:

[iim7V7IM7]

Another beauty Bruce…

[Jamiejoon]

Now THAT is some proper Pernambuco.

[Bruce Sexauer]

The latest Pernambuco wonder went out today via UPS 3 day. I can't get over how strong this guitar is, making mincemeat of my current D18ish, which doesn't even seem possible. My current 18 is a fine instrument, and I suppose that when I play it I will always doubt the L00 was as good as my memory. Maybe Barry won't like it and I'll get it back . . . a man can dream.

Here is the page I just made for it on my site.

And a teaser pic:

[godfreydaniel]

Beautiful and intriguing.

I may have mentioned this before, but I really like that pickguard design you came up with.

[Bruce Sexauer]

My PG concept was originally dictated by my cutaway on my asymmetric designs, and then I found it looked good to me on most of my work. And thank you!

I put the 7th coat on the all catalpa today, and it looks like it will be done at 9 coats. The wood is very 3D for a well prepared surface, sort of like ash. And I chose not to use porefiller, so one more coat than typical is very acceptable.

I am about to start a 000C in EuroSpruce over Pear. That’ll be my 4th pear, I believe, and my last one, most likely, as I have no more Pear to use and don’t see good examples on the market often.

[Bruce Sexauer]

The 42/45 fingerboard surround is one of the more challenging tasks in lutherie, for me. This one took me over 5 hours, and the rosette and binding are not included in that time.That's less than 2" an hour. There's no mulligan if a mistake is made.

Ideally, the surround's miters are supposed to exactly bisect the outer b/w/b of the middle rosette ring, but this guitar has a side port, so the rosette's diameter is less than standard.

[Treenewt]

Sheeesh Bruce….that is seriously fine work!

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Sheeesh Bruce….that is seriously fine work!

I second Treenewt! Looking mighty fancy.

Cheers

Paul

[Bruce Sexauer]

Thanks for the strokes, folks.

Here are some details of the Mini-D's neck:

[Bruce Sexauer]

#318, an Adi/BRW Mini-D, has its first coat of varnish on:

[Bebo]

I am the fortunate owner of Bruce’s recently built Adi/Pernambuco L-00, and I thought it was time to post my early impressions. There seems to be nothing about this guitar that holds the sound back. The tone from top to bottom has serious depth. It is so lively, wide open, and balanced in it’s infancy, it’s hard to believe that it will get better. It doesn’t need to.

I started the conversation of my second build with Bruce with the idea of a 000 BRW in the traditional (Martin) style. But somewhere early in the discussion, I decided to let Bruce take the lead, and my L-00 is the result. To say that I am happy about it would be an understatement. I must also say, however, that my Sexauer FT-0C (Adi/Mahogany) from 2020 is, although different from the L-00, as good (at least to me) in its own right. They compliment each other.

One last thoughtful note – I know that I am merely the first owner/custodian of these instruments. They should last for many, many years after I’m gone to be played by others down the chain (hopefully by one or more of my descendants). While I can, I will play them a lot and take care of them for the next generation of players. Thanks Bruce.

[iim7V7IM7]

Congrats on your new guitar....

Originally Posted by Bebo

I am the fortunate owner of Bruce’s recently built Adi/Pernambuco L-00, and I thought it was time to post my early impressions. There seems to be nothing about this guitar that holds the sound back. The tone from top to bottom has serious depth. It is so lively, wide open, and balanced in it’s infancy, it’s hard to believe that it will get better. It doesn’t need to.

I started the conversation of my second build with Bruce with the idea of a 000 BRW in the traditional (Martin) style. But somewhere early in the discussion, I decided to let Bruce take the lead, and my L-00 is the result. To say that I am happy about it would be an understatement. I must also say, however, that my Sexauer FT-0C (Adi/Mahogany) from 2020 is, although different from the L-00, as good (at least to me) in its own right. They compliment each other.

One last thoughtful note – I know that I am merely the first owner/custodian of these instruments. They should last for many, many years after I’m gone to be played by others down the chain (hopefully by one or more of my descendants). While I can, I will play them a lot and take care of them for the next generation of players. Thanks Bruce.