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2009 Sexauer FT-14, “Church Bell” Cocobolo/Engelmann Spruce
The inimitable Bruce Sexauer brings so much to the table, we had to pick up a few extra legs to support it. His guitars are characterized by a modern sound with an emphasis on balance across the registers, and ergonomics that make for an effortless playing experience. This 2009 FT-14 displays both—with some premium tonewoods to boot. The FT-14 body is medium-small and very comfortable (weighs under four pounds), and Bruce tricked this one out with his collectible “Church Bell” Cocobolo for the back and sides, and an Engelmann Spruce top bound with Snakewood. This beauty was originally built for the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, and it has opened up so, so handsomely. The voice is responsive to a T, and really sings out with a crispness and precision in the trebles that sets this Sexauer apart.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, fingerpicking, 1780509
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.3123 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Rosewood - Cocobolo 2014 Sexauer Companion FT-0, Black Limba/Engelmann Spruce
Petite powerhouse! We love Bruce’s work; each piece is unique, and this Sexauer Companion is no exception: exceptional. Black Limba body paired with Engelmann Spruce on top and an easy-playing multiscale setup makes for a crisp, even voice that holds up as well for Standard as Altered Tunings. EVO frets will be holding up for a looong time before you’ll ever have to worry about a dress, and the incredibly slim weight of this FT-0 (a little over three pounds, really) means it’ll be a long time before you want to put it down.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, fan fret, fanned fret, multi scale, travel guitar, mini guitar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.125 in - 25.375 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Limba - Black (Korina) Brand New Sexauer FT-16-C “Penngrove,” Panama Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
Bruce Sexauer’s touch brings tonewood to life in a way only Bruce can. This brand new FT-16-C “Penngrove” model is in its own category of flattop, outfitted with a wedge body, multiscale fretboard, oil varnish finish, and gorgeous woods to boot. Panama Rosewood (D. tucurensis) back and sides with Adirondack Spruce on top, and a Honduran Mahogany neck. The Penngrove weighs in at a trim 3lbs 14oz, and plays like grass-fed butter; it’s a dream machine for a wide range of tunings and attacks. We really appreciate the even response and note separation between the registers, which lets big chords ring out with clarity and definition.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, evo frets, fan fret, fanned fret, schaller, cutaway, multi scale
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in - 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Panama 2015 Sexauer FT-15-D Kerala, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
Bruce Sexauer built this guitar to sing, and it does so at the slightest suggestion from picks or fingertips. This 2015 FT-15-D “Kerala” is phenomenal, especially if you switch between fingerstyle and flatpicking and need one guitar to handle both. You can play this Sexauer softly and get a lot of warm, articulate bass, or you can dig in and explore the headroom at higher volume. The setup is easy on the hands, with a 13-fret neck join and 25.4” scale. Schertler tuners in a slotted headstock, a light and responsive Oil Varnish finish, Amazon Rosewood bindings—and then there’s the Redwood Burl rosette & endgraft to ponder. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are paired with an Adirondack Spruce top for extra power, and a slim 4lb punching weight is oh so sweet to play on.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, fingerpicking, brazilain, amazonian rosewood, 13 fret, karala
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.3125 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian Brand New Sexauer OM, Brazilian Rosewood/Polish Euro Spruce
Our latest and greatest from Bruce Sexauer is a fabulous fingerstyle guitar equally at home for strumming, lead work, open tunings, and more. Bruce builds his instruments to be as dynamic and responsive as possible, and this brand new OM does. not. disappoint. We love the clarity from string to string and fret to fret; surgically well balanced. Flawless playability makes it easy to lose track of time with this Sexauer in your hands, and weighing in just under four pounds no worries about getting tired. Gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are paired with a Polish Spruce top, Oil Varnish finish, and Amazon Rosewood bindings to boot. Honduran Mahogany neck, hide glue construction throughout, and Schaller Grand Tune tuners are icing on the cake. Comes wrapped up in a Visesnut adjustable flight case for a custom fit.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, orchestra model, brazilain, euro spruce, european spruce, evo frets
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 2007 Sexauer FT-14, Brazilian Rosewood/Italian Spruce
Our 2007 Sexauer FT-14 is a well-polished gem. Gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood back & Madagascar Rosewood sides, with an Italian Spruce top sourced from Bachmann Tonewoods, in a small body frame that weighs just over 3.5lbs. The setup is glassy, the trebles lean and focused, the note separation precise—this Sexauer has a quick attack that lends itself well to a flatpicker’s touch, and holds up will for fingerstyle as well.
This FT-14 has opened up sweetly, and plays oh so easily, it’s a tough one to put down.Other keywords: bruce sexauer, sexauer guitars, lutherie, luthier, guitar building, waverly, maddie, fingerpicking
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Brazilian New Sexauer JB-15 Dream Series, Brazilian Rosewood/Italian
Bruce Sexauer has carved out a distinct name for himself in this modern era of lutherie. In building incredibly light, resonant, and gorgeously composed guitars, Sexauer has a lot to offer for the fingerstylist looking for an all-in-one guitar. This latest Dream Series comes in Bruce’s JB-15 package with an assymetrical body, subtle 1/2 inch multiscale fretboard, our very own Brazilian Rosewood and a creamy set of Italian Spruce from Bruce’s private stash. The voice balances between clarity in the bass and juicy overtones in the trebles, and the slight multiscale makes for great play feel and intonation in lowered tunings–playing in DADGAD and beyond is an exercise in ease. Even though it’s brand new, this beauty already boasts an airy and opened up tone to rival an older, played-in instrument.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.125 in - 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Brazilian 2011 Sexauer FT-0-C Bigleaf Maple/Italian
Bruce Sexauer–a luthier completely at home with parlor-sized guitars. We have one of his FT-0-C “Companion Size” guitars in the shop today, with Bigleaf Maple back and sides and an Italian Spruce top. If you’re at all interested in fingerstyle guitar, this is one to check out. The setup is perfect for Traditional Blues tunes, with a sweet, snappy tone and lots of volume, but the slightly longer neck (13 frets to the body) gives the strings a bit more play and warms up the tone. The highs are clean and bell-like, but don’t dominate the instrument.
You’ll be hard-pressed to find another parlor in this price range that has the responsiveness and balanced tone that this 2011 FT-0-C exudes. This guitar is in excellent condition and comes with the original Hoffee hardshell case.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.38 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Maple - Bigleaf 2008 Sexauer Companion O Cocobolo Negro/Carpathian
Want a guitar which is small enough to travel with, but as loud, rich, and dynamic as a full-sized guitar? Enter: the Sexauer Companion 0. If you close your eyes while playing it (and trust us, that’s going to happen), you’d think a much larger instrument was making music in your lap than this little gem! Featuring Cocobolo Negro back and sides (a rare and desirable tonewood similar to Brazilian Rosewood) and a Carpathian Spruce top, the Companion 0 has amazing depth and projection, with a warm, expressive bass and trebles with an electric shimmer.And, as if Bruce’s excellent construction methods and tonewood selection weren’t enough, this guitar aso has a multiscale design with 25 3/4″ bass and 25 1/4″ on the treble to allow this smaller-scale guitar to handle lowered tunings like DADGAD without sounding cheap and tubby, and is easy on the hands. Lastly, the strange and beautiful Cocobolo Negro is a rarity in the back and sides department: Bruce himself claims to have only seen one or two such sets, and this one’s coloration probably comes from a submerged log, so you could even call this “Sinker” Cocobolo Negro, and features a clean, bright tap tone.Protected by its Cedar Creek hardshell case, the Companion 0 is ready for the car, the bus, the train, the airplane–and will give you amazing tone and playability wherever your travels take you.
2001 Sexauer 000-45 Honduran/Adirondack
Bruce Sexauer knows how to build a modern guitar with the energy and power of a prewar guitar. His years building 1920s and 30s inspired designs for Eric Schoenberg have given him great insight to building lightweight powerhouses. This 000-45 in Honduran Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce with surely satisfy the fingerpicking blues player, but the voice is also beautiful when you play gently.
The 45 style abalone trim on the top, sides and back is just stunning. The headstock is also adorned with a lovely torch and builder logo. Snowflakes adorn the bridge upon which sit Fossil Ivory pins. This one does have a lot of wear, but who can blame the previous owner for playing it live, we would do the same with this lovely Sexauer 000-45 guitar!
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Honduran 2007 Sexauer Dream Series #5 JB-15 Fan Fret Brazilian/German
Bruce Sexauer is known for tone. His guitars have an unmistakable energy and liveness that is very reminiscent of prewar guitars. He is also one of the few builders we’ve invited to make a Dream Series for us and it is a truly special design. Based on his Sexauer JB-15, this is a multiscale 000 14 fret body that is asymmetrical and crafted from the finest old Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce. The finish is a very thin varnish that insures all the tone comes out. It includes snakewood bindings, handmade Rogers Tuners and a Calton case to keep this treasure safe.
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - German, Rosewood - Brazilian Schoenberg/Sexauer Soloist Australian Blackwood/Adiron.
Eric Schoenberg has long worked with some very talented builders to create his guitars in the likeness of some of the finest Martins of yesteryear. This rare beauty was custom built for Schoenberg Guitars by luthier Bruce Sexauer, one of our favorites. I can describe this guitar in one word… complete. There is nothing missing, the tone is wondrous and the playability is extraordinary. Modeled from the famed 1929 OM design but crafted in present day from premium Australian Blackwood and Adirondack Red Spruce for a voice that is clear, brilliant and powerful.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.78 in String Spacing 2.38 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Blackwood - Australian 2011 Shanti SF, African Blackwood/German Spruce
Michael Hornick has been building under the name of Shanti Guitars for years, continually churning out a number of powerhouse flattops. We don’t see them come up often on the used market—and there’s a reason for that: these guitars are powerful, responsive, and really know how to fill a room. This SF model from 2011 is just that, too. Gorgeous African Blackwood back and sides are paired with German Spruce and a generous lower bout (just over 16 inches); chock full of projection, and a crisp, well-defined bass register. Trebles are smooth and even, pairing nicely with the mids and bottom end. We had a great time visiting with this one in DADGAD. Venetian Cutaway for creature comfort, and Hornick added a soundport to the upper bout to help you key in to your playing, even in a busy space. Curly Koa bindings tie it all together, and this Shanti SF comes wrapped in a Hoffee flight case for maximum protection.
Other keywords: sj, fingerstyle, gotoh, sapwood, guitarbuilding, SF-46-136, dove
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - German, Blackwood - African 2001 Shanti SC, Maple/German Spruce
Something you don’t see every day on the used guitar market: a Shanti—especially one in as fine a condition as this 2001 SC. Creamy Flamed Maple back and sides paired with a sunburst German Spruce top, bound in Rosewood and featuring Michael Hornick’s hallmark doves inlaid into the headstock and fretboard.
The tone has an almost vocal quality to it, with more overtones in the bass than you’d expect from Maple and a crisp and present middle register to flesh out big chords. Dialed in for fingerstyle, the setup is a quick one with a slightly wider nut; fingertips (or nails) really bring out the clarity and color for a lush response. A Venetian Cutaway keeps those upper frets from getting dusty, and the dark sunburst boasts a nearly flawless finish. The previous owner of this Shanti has taken wonderful care to keep the guitar pristine. Wrapped up in a Calton flight case, that comes as no surprise.
This Shanti is a deadly combination: simultaneously opened up and in impeccable shape.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.625 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.21 in Woods Spruce - German, Maple - Figured