Bruce Sexauer Interview and Demo

Luthier Bruce Sexauer in the Peghead Nation studio with two of his steel-string flattops, an FT-15 and an FT-000-C.

Northern California luthier Bruce Sexauer is well known to connoisseurs of high-end guitars. Since building his first guitar in 1967, Sexauer has explored virtually every guitar type, including electric solid-bodies, archtops, and classicals (fingerstyle virtuoso Duck Baker plays the only classical Sexauer has built to date), but he’s best known for his flattop steel-strings. Sexauer’s tonal inspiration comes from American prewar guitars, and his partnership with vintage guitar dealer Eric Schoenberg has allowed him access to some of the very best vintage instruments. (Besides building guitars under his own name, Bruce also builds for Schoenberg Guitars). But Sexauer doesn’t work strictly in the vintage tradition. Many of his guitars include contemporary features such as multi-scale fingerboards, wedge-shaped bodies, unusual woods, etc.

For this video, Sexauer brought two recent guitars to the Peghead Nation studio: an FT-15 built with Brazilian rosewood back and sides and an Italian spruce top and an FT-000-C built with European pearwood back and sides and a German spruce top. He discusses his approach to lutherie with Peghead Nation’s Teja Gerken, who also plays each instrument. sexauerluthier.com

Related Fine Lutherie Posts

2005 Schoenberg 000 Cutaway Peghead Nation instructor Doug Young demonstrates his Bruce Sexauer-built 12-fret 000. Read More

Sexauer JB-16 An innovative small jumbo with a multi-scale fingerboard and an asymmetrical body. Read More

Sexauer JB-CN A small-body, multi-scale guitar built with Brazilian rosewood. Read More

Sexauer FT-L00-JB/2 A great flattop guitar built with olive wood back and sides. Read More

Sexauer FT-00-CN Luthier Bruce Sexauer shows his “Couch Noodler” flattop. Read More

Bruce Sexauer Dreadnoughts A trio of custom flattops based on Martin’s classic blueprint. Read More

Bruce Sexauer FT-00-WRX SBAIC A walnut and spruce flattop built to be given away at the 2017 Santa Barbara Acoustic Instrument Celebration. Read More

Bruce Sexauer Shop Visit Acclaimed Northern California luthier discusses his career, instrument designs, and current projects. Read More

Thompson Molly Tuttle Signature Model A slightly customized version of the contemporary flatpicking star’s dreadnought. Read More

Preston Thompson OM-GL A wonderful orchestra model built with granadillo back and sides and a Lutz spruce top. Read More