 (link to "thelist") |
Testimonials:
Yes, folks, over the years a number of you have said nice things about
my work. Most of these quotes are used with permission, for
the rest, please let me know if
more
discretion is required.
Bruce
|
May 4, 2010 #1690908
There are not words in our language that can describe the state of perfection you attained in Sinker. I truly believe that only a Buddha could understand it.
It moves beyond captivating, beyond intoxicating it takes one to a different musical sphere and I am so honored to be its keeper. Thank you for this wonderful and transcendent creation.
Your friend,
Greg
September
23, 2009 #1790509
I bought your guitar no: 1750309. It is a Schoenberg 000-C. I'm sure you remember the guitar.
I am a good friend of Vic Manual, who worked in Eric's shop a while ago, and for whom you crafted a unique mahogany 000. I had been playing this recently, and it has opened up beautifully. I have several Santa Cruz models, including a Brazilian Rosewood Firefly, which you should play if you get the chance.
Anyways, after playing Vic's guitar one weekend recently, I noticed Eric had your 000-C which had just arrived. It seemed similar so I bought it on the spot, as they say. I bought it unseen, unheard and unplayed, Crazy, huh?! But I live in Australia, and Vic convinced me to have faith in you.
I have played it for 3 weeks now. Bruce, it is simply beautiful. The tone's are already superb. I'm still working out which strings are best suited as I'm a flat-picker mostly (singer/songwriter/vocal soloist)
It looks very similar to the one Eric is playing on the Youtube video linked from your website.
I intend to fit a Baggs iMix set-up but with the passive M1 replacing the underbridge Ibeam (ie the undersaddle 'Element' will combine with the M1 via the iMix DI). I'll let you know how it sounds.
I'll post something again in the near future for your testimonials, once I have had some more time with your lovely guitar.
regards
Dave Moss
August
12, 2009
Spent most of today with Bro K and some other players. He rings like a bell and plays well with others too. You have out done yourself. A voice clear and clean and at the same time big when needed and quiet in a second.
When combined with another seasoned guitar he joined and harmonized. When combined with singers, my own voice and others, he supports, and lifts.
He is a gift.
Thank you
Best
I am the proud owner of the above guitar which I purchased a few months
back from Eric Schoenberg. I'm 60 years old and been playing since I was
12. I've owned Martins, Gibsons, Gallaghers, Guilds, Taylors, Santa
Cruzs, Froggy Bottoms, Collings, and more. I can say without doubt that
this all Koa guitar is the best, most incredible guitar I've ever owned.
Every night I check it closely to see if there is some little monster
living inside to give it the magic. There isn't, so I guess it is you
that gave it the magic. I've built six acoustic guitars. All look
good, but only two really sound good. I can truly appreciate your
talent. Thank you for building something that brings me such joy.
I received my JB-16 this month and have been playing it exclusively for the
entire time. I forgot that I also owned nine other acoustic guitars, all very good
ones but your latest guitar allows me to play anything and any style I want and
does it better than just about anything else I've ever played. The only other guitar
that competes with it is also one of your creations, my single O model that I have
named "Blackie". When I purchased "Blackie" I had the same reaction that Bryan
Sutton had when he found his single O model at the Guitar Gallery. I thought it was
the most amazing and most responsive guitar that I had ever laid my hands on. Your
single O model is very unique and I think any serious player that hasn't played one
is really missing out on a mind boggling experience. I would have been happy with only that
guitar at the time I brought it home. This was true UNTIL I received my JB-16 with it's
beautiful Pernambuco back and sides and amazing German Spruce top, now I know I would
have to have both of these guitars to be completely satisfied. The JB-16 maintains the
sensitivity of the single O, but adds a gorgeous piano like low end and a fullness that is hard
to describe. Both of these guitars are different but both are definitely Bruce Sexauer !
There is a bell like clarity to the sound that has to be heard to be understood. As far as the
wood selection on your guitars is concerned, a great luthier once told me (when I was couldn't
decide on what wood combination to use for my next guitar)
"Give up your hopeless speculation and look forward to the moment of truth. I am not the victim of any woods tendencies, but rather the shaper of its possibilities".
That luthier , in case you forgot, was you ! This statement has proven itself to be very true and I believe
you could make a guitar out of any wood and make it sound fantastic. I could go on and on but I'll stop
here and just say "thanks for giving me another incomparable instrument with that Sexauer soul in it"
My name is Bryan Sutton. I just bought the little 0 #1670808 today from Robin at the Guitar Gallery above Nashville TN. I just wanted to let you know that it's one of the best guitars I've ever played. I've been looking for a small guitar for a little while and was happy to run across yours. I had never been to Robin's shop and stepped in there a couple of weeks ago. I've spent the last two weeks trying to either find a better guitar, or talk myself out of it and was unsuccessful on both accounts.
I've played a lot of guitars built by Dana Bourgeois over the years. I called him up and told him about the 0 and he said he wasn't at all surprised I had run across a guitar of yours that was so impressive.
The thing really is amazing. There's something about the voice that is so focused and precise but yet it can change according to my dynamic. I appreciate the Martin style no logo headstock. Very classy.
I love playing your guitar. It is very responsive, has a wonderful sound, and is the perfect size.
Susan
Freydberg 9/08
(#990104)
Bruce,
The FT-14 sounded wonderful in the studio the other day. We put one of my old KM-54 mics on it. What a beautiful instrument! Thank you!
The FT-14 sounded wonderful in the studio the other day. We put one of my old KM-54 mics on it. What a beautiful instrument! Thank you!
Hi Bruce,
Just a note to let you know that the high point of yesterday's
meeting, for me, was the sound of your guitar. I'm not much of a
steel string enthusiast, but your guitar had a full, rich, warm
sound, with great treble too. It gave me goose bumps! Congratulations
on a triumph!
Bring it to the next meeting too, so that other NCAL guys can hear
it.
Cheers,
(luthier and NCAL president referring to my "show and tell" at an NCAL meeting) Brian Burns 3/07
Hello,
Bruce. I bought one of your dreadnought guitars in Vancouver in the
spring of 1977, when I was flush with money from treeplanting, and I
still have it. I love the big voice and warm tone. Back then
you didn't even have a company stamp as it were for the inside of the
guitar; you simply wrote your name in on a square piece of paper, in
black ink, with the date ("Spring 1977"). I had to have its top steamed
back into shape a couple of years ago, due to buckling, and a new
bridge, but otherwise it's still in good shape. I happened to be
playing it today and did a web search and there you are. I am glad I
bought this guitar from you, and glad that you are still building
them. I've bought other guitars since (including a Taylor), but
this one by you still has a very special place in my heart and my
musical life. It's the one that I chose to bring to the church for
accompanying hymns.
Best wishes,
Rev. Geoffrey Simmins 5/05 (#36?)
Dear Bruce,
-been wanting to check in with you for some time just to say how great my
Sexauer guitar is and to report that the tone has just gotten better and
better in the few years that I have been it's owner. It's an immediate
gratification thing to pick it up and start out the morning with a cup of
coffee and great tone and responsiveness. Thanks for making such a cool
guitar and it sure was great to meet with you and and have an opportunity to
hang and play at Strawberry whenever that was... two years ago?
Best Wishes,
Al
Moss 10/04 (450482)
Bruce,
greetings to you....I have been playing your guitar now for about two
and one half years. I thought you might like to know that this
instrument still takes my breath away just as it did the day I first
played it. I just want to thank you for being there and doing what you do.
Eric Sampson 11/03 (620300)
Hey Bruce,
That dread you had at Schoenbergs yesterday was really something. Hell, I
am not even a dread person and I could figure that one out...
But this email is because I forgot to tell you that one of the very best
guitars that I have ever heard (and one much more up my alley) is the
running horses Schoenberg OM that you built -the owner of the guitar was
kind enough to let me play it when we performed at the store. It got thumbs
way up from my wife and the audience as well as myself (I played about six
guitars for folks that night for an informal taste test). A bass and
overtone machine, that one.
Should have made mention of that yesterday.
Regards,
-Michael
Milham 6/02