Sexauer '24

[massimo]

Hi Bruce,
Since you also build violins, may I ask: is it there a reason rosewood is not used for violin back an sides (but maple is instead also used for guitar b/s)?

Massimo

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by massimo

Hi Bruce,
Since you also build violins, may I ask: is it there a reason rosewood is not used for violin back an sides (but maple is instead also used for guitar b/s)?

Massimo

Violins function very differently from guitars, and the relatively high damping and light weight of the Maple used for violin backs keeps them from sounding like fighting cats. There are alternative woods that can work in a violin, but they are the similar hardwoods such as walnut, cherry, or catalpa. The highly flamed maple which is preferred by a wide margin may have the advantage of being structurally weaker, requiring more mass to be up to the task, increasing its pendulum moment, and adding more “wood” to the tone. Rosewood would have the opposite effect. I have played a BRW F5 mandolin, and while they do function more similarly to a guitar, the effect was similar to what I ascribe to the hypothetical violin, and I have no need to play that instrument again, beautiful though it did appear.

[massimo]

Thank you Bruce.

[cpabolting]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

A decent frame can make or break a picture:


I went looking for Koa today, just to get a sense of the current value of this 6 piece set . . . that I am including w/o an uncharge. I found very few sets as pretty, and none as straight, clear, and quartered with consistent figure, though I have to imagine they are out there somewhere or I couldn't have gotten this one. My replacement cost looks like middle teens $$, and standard retail thinking would put this set around $3k! Looks like I may not be such a good businessman.

Something tells me you are doing okay.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by cpabolting

Something tells me you are doing okay.

Been a while since I’ve heard from you! I hope you are doing at least as well as I am.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Yesterday the local newspaper, the Argus-Courier, published an article on me. A brief history of my life, though not entirely accurate, and of course an emphasis on my Lutherie path. Unfortunately, their lead line was an inaccurate portrayal on me saying I built better guitars than anyone else . . . Ever. While I do try to do my absolute best as a builder, it would be a bit of a vanity to believe my alleged statement, and indeed, I did not say it. My actual opinion is that while I do consider myself top tier, “best” is a matter of opinion, and the are many competent builders as serious about the work as I am, many of whom I consider friends. Assuming western civilization survives its current troubles, I am happy to let future critics decide what’s what once the dust has settled.

If anyone is able to link the article I am referring to into this thread, I’d appreciate it. It is linked over in the general forum, though they spelled my name “Sexaure”, oddly. If you search for it in the greater world, it is on a newsletter called “Petaluma360”.

[BrunoBlack]

Here’s the link Bruce.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...ents-petaluma/

[Bruce Sexauer]

Originally Posted by BrunoBlack

Here’s the link Bruce.

https://www.pressdemocrat.com/articl...ents-petaluma/

Thank you.

[Bruce Sexauer]

Herein find a picture of my relatively light top bracing, engineered by the seat of my pants to respond well to extra-light gauge strings. I don't actually measure very much, but I was curious to see what my Jatoba bridge plate weights, so I threw it on the gram scale. Jatoba is a very heavy wood compared to the maple that Martin has deemed standard for many years. Jatoba is also extremely strong, being used for flooring and truck beds under the commercial moniker "Brazilian Cherry". I am able to make a Jatoba bridge plate about a quarter of the thickness of Martin's standard, about .050"! This one weighed in at 6.5 grams.

[Bruce Sexauer]

The recent article in my local paper, the Argus-Courier, is actually the second time they have noticed me. 6 or 7 years ago the article they created had quite a few images in its gallery, and I looked through them yesterday. I thought you might enjoy a few that struck me particularly.







Shop entrance:


Garage for toys:

[Treenewt]

….double post apologies

[Treenewt]

That’s impressive Bruce. The Jatoba seems to be a great alternative to maple. Great to see you building. And those pics are really cool. Their photographer had a good eye.

[cpabolting]

Originally Posted by Bruce Sexauer

Yesterday the local newspaper, the Argus-Courier, published an article on me. A brief history of my life, though not entirely accurate, and of course an emphasis on my Lutherie path. Unfortunately, their lead line was an inaccurate portrayal on me saying I built better guitars than anyone else . . . Ever. While I do try to do my absolute best as a builder, it would be a bit of a vanity to believe my alleged statement, and indeed, I did not say it. My actual opinion is that while I do consider myself top tier, “best” is a matter of opinion, and the are many competent builders as serious about the work as I am, many of whom I consider friends. Assuming western civilization survives its current troubles, I am happy to let future critics decide what’s what once the dust has settled.

If anyone is able to link the article I am referring to into this thread, I’d appreciate it. It is linked over in the general forum, though they spelled my name “Sexaure”, oddly. If you search for it in the greater world, it is on a newsletter called “Petaluma360”.

Well you are always confident so that would not surprise me if you said you endeavor to build the best, I know you would not say that you do.

I am doing okay, not much to complain about and not anyone to complain to, I am the complaint department and don't respond well to complaints especially from me LOL

Interesting article nonetheless.

[Bruce Sexauer]

I think I have mentioned that I am beginning to sell off some of the several hundred sets of tonewood I have accumulated over the years. I am not selling it cheap, nor am I going for the most $$$ possible. Virtually all of it is better than almost all I see in the market place, and it has the further advantage of having been in my possession for between 5 and 40 years. I will show it to my fans in my thread here before I offer it in the MarketPlace.

Here are a couple, ask if you're interested:

Amazon Rosewood, about 10" wide, could join either side.





MadRose:

[Bruce Sexauer]

I closed up "Pointless" this morning.