Sexauer '24

[Treenewt]

Bruce, I really hope the book is able to be completed. I have read and re-read your build threads here, and I find my self revisiting them often. I know a book is a massive undertaking, as well!

Glad you're doing well.

[hubcapsc]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

Bruce, I really hope the book is able to be completed. I have read and re-read your build threads here, and I find my self revisiting them often. I know a book is a massive undertaking, as well!

Glad you're doing well.

I look forward to the book as well... besides the threads here, there's cool
videos on vimeo... there's one where Bruce carves a guitar neck sort of
freehand while a roomful of other luthiers watch...

-Mike

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by hubcapsc

I look forward to the book as well... besides the threads here, there's cool
videos on vimeo... there's one where Bruce carves a guitar neck sort of
freehand while a roomful of other luthiers watch.
-Mike

That video documented an NCAL meeting a couple of years ago. There are about 225 people in the group, and a number of us have shops big enough to host meetings. Information is shared freely and there is little to no self-promotion. I have been called upon to host a meeting once a year or so for over 20 years now! The next meeting, after this Sunday’s in my shop, will be in August and hosted by Richard Hoover at SCGC.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Yesterday’s NCAL meeting in my shop went very well! There were between 30 and 40 attendees, which was all that could really fit, and meant the less aggressive folks could hear but not see what was happening. Usually there is a pro luthier presentation, but due to have only 2 days notice of a venue change (the original host had family issues), none was prepared. Instead, I got out about 40 sets of my Tonewood hoard, put reasonable prices on each set, and introduced about a dozen species to the group. I was surprised at how many of the luthiers were carrying serious cash!

Having finally decided it is time to divest of a large part of my wood locker, I do plan to photograph and list it here as well as in the AGF Marketplace nearby. As you are well aware, I have about 400 sets of many species, all hand picked by myself for the qualities I deem important. Most of the wood has been here for between 15 and 30 years, which old school folks will recognize as a serious value added.

I’m in no hurry, so far, but I have made the decision.

[Treenewt]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Yesterday’s NCAL meeting in my shop went very well! There were between 30 and 40 attendees, which was all that could really fit, and meant the less aggressive folks could hear but not see what was happening. Usually there is a pro luthier presentation, but due to have only 2 days notice of a venue change (the original host had family issues), none was prepared. Instead, I got out about 40 sets of my Tonewood hoard, put reasonable prices on each set, and introduced about a dozen species to the group. I was surprised at how many of the luthiers were carrying serious cash!

Having finally decided it is time to divest of a large part of my wood locker, I do plan to photograph and list it here as well as in the AGF Marketplace nearby. As you are well aware, I have about 400 sets of many species, all hand picked by myself for the qualities I deem important. Most of the wood has been here for between 15 and 30 years, which old school folks will recognize as a serious value added.


I’m in no hurry, so far, but I have made the decision.

Bruce, I'm glad it went well! I'm torn with how I feel about you opening up your wood locker...but I wish you all the best as you go down this next road!

[Bruce Sexauer]

I started a pointless guitar today, and am feeling better about myself already! Adi/BRW L00.

[Berf]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I started a pointless guitar today, and am feeling better about myself already! Adi/BRW L00.

"pointless guitar"... by this I imagine you mean it's cutaway-less with no hard edges? Looking forward to following along Bruce... always enjoyable to see your builds here.

[hubcapsc]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I started a pointless guitar today, and am feeling better about myself already! Adi/BRW L00.

I traded my L00 for a Schoenberg that you made ...



I appreciate both guitars a whole lot. But I've learned that I
really like to play my J-sized guitars with medium strings.

A Sexauer version of a J-35... yeah... that's the ticket...

-Mike

[Treenewt]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

I started a pointless guitar today, and am feeling better about myself already! Adi/BRW L00.

This makes me happy

[BrunoBlack]

I look forward to watching this one Bruce!

[Bruce Sexauer]

This guitar will have a cutaway. By "Pointless", I meant no one has asked for it, and I need another guitar like a hole in the head!

At last Sunday's NCAL meeting one of the attendees showed off an L00 that looked and played great, but I was reminded of how much lighter in weight my guitars are compared to most I see, and not coincidentally how relatively responsive my work usually is than most others I handle. This observation prodded me to recall that 45 years ago my guitars were actually quite a bit more lightly built yet, as I was then building specifically for the Thomastik Medium Plectrum strings, which I now think of as extra light gauge silk and steel. They were an interesting string, using a seemingly different technology on each of the four wound strings, and have long ago been replaced in the Thomastik line-up AFAIK. there are similar strings still available from them, however, and I do have a set laying around the shop, unused as they don't quite have the power for the guitars I have been building for the last 30 years or more.

So, I decided to build a guitar for them.

As I age, I am increasing interested in lower tension guitars as they are more fun to play, and most of my playing these days in on my JB-CN (MultiScale BRW Couch Noodler w 24 x 24.5 scales) or on my Caltalpa Flamenco Blanca, especially since my return from Spain a couple of months ago. This new guitar will have a full string length, but will be low tension, not unlike the stellar (IMO) flamenco.

The BRW is sisterhood to that which I used in the late 90's for my Schoenberg prototype, a 000 cutaway that I still have today. It is still a fine guitar, and needless to say, Eric liked it as he subsequently ordered 70 guitars from me . . . so far. This wood was brought into the country as ballast in a sailboat, the skipper of which brought it to my shop in Sausalito to see if I had internet. Although too narrow for 2 piece backs, it was perfectly quarter-sawn, straight grained, and utterly flawless. Also, the price was right. So the back and side are flitch-matched and perfectly suited for guitars in every way, as long as one cares as little as I do about 4 piece backs.

The Top in a premium set of Adirondack (American Red Spruce) I joined and thicknessed several years ago, and then abandoned as I thought it a hair too thin for the guitar I intended it for. But I think it's just right for this one!

More sooner rather than later, I imagine.

[Guitars44me]

This is really a nice bit of great news!

It makes me happy too!

Carry on Bruce and have a great time…

I look forward to drooling over your pictures of wood. Sure to be some sweet stuff.

Plus one more vote for your long awaited book! The stories will be worth the wait!!!

Paul

[iim7V7IM7]

Top shelf woods Maestro…. (following)

[Palladio]

Originally Posted by Treenewt

This makes me happy

Me too. Call me selfish, but I don't like hearing about Bruce selling off wood and/or not building. The world needs more of his guitars, there's nothing else quite like them, and the ones he's building now are his best ever IMO. Tonight I was playing two really great Pre War Martins from 1938 and 1913. The only other guitars I could think of that are that light, responsive and open sounding were made by Bruce. So I took one out, and as much as I love those old Martins, Bruce's guitar would be the one I'd keep if I could only keep one. Just amazing.

I dig your idea Bruce for building this new guitar with very light/low tension strings in mind. My '13 Martin 0-17 is the lightest guitar I've ever owned/played at 2lbs 10oz and has very low tension silk and steel stings. Its scalloped braces are tiny and the bridge plate is paper thin. The second lightest guitar I've owned is a much larger 15.5" Sexauer that is only 3lbs 7oz. The latter is my favorite guitar I've ever played. It's every bit as responsive to touch as that tiny feather light '13 0-17, but sounds much bigger and lacks nothing compared to my '41 D-18 or '46 Gibson J-45 that are even larger guitars.

So now I am very curious to hear how this "pointless" guitar turns out. As I get older and have started the battle with carpal tunnel or whatever tendon thing in my wrists, having a more comfortable guitar both in terms of size and tension is more and more important.

[Treenewt]

Gorgeous set of woods for this one. What a cool story on how you came to the Brazillian! Can’t wait to see it come together! Awesome to see you building, Bruce!