• About
  • Custom Guitars
  • Repair
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • For Sale

Maxwell T. Sipe

  • About
  • Custom Guitars
  • Repair
  • Gallery
  • Contact
  • For Sale
Symmetrical 7 fan construction

Symmetrical 7 fan construction

Open lower harmonic bar, made with European Spruce for a classical guitar.

Spartan Model with Uprades

Spartan Model with Uprades

This guitar got a complete french polish on the back and sides with a matte finish on the neck only. Torrefied Western Red Cedar top with East Indian Rosewood back and sides, 20th fret and sound port.

Torrefied Cedar Top

Torrefied Cedar Top

Torrefied Cedar top with the Spartan rosette and Honduran Rosewood binding.

Spartan Headstock with Gloss Finish

Spartan Headstock with Gloss Finish

Gloss lacquer finish on the front face of the headstock, Gotoh 35G510QC machines with ivoroid buttons

New Standard Concert Headstock

New Standard Concert Headstock

Cedar and Ziricote

Cedar and Ziricote

Cedar and Ziricote with a sound port and 20th fret

Cedar "Wave" Rosette

Cedar "Wave" Rosette

v joint detail

v joint detail

Three Piece Ziricote and Ebony Back

Three Piece Ziricote and Ebony Back

20th Fret

20th Fret

custom buckeye burl and black mother of pearl rosette

custom buckeye burl and black mother of pearl rosette

custom buckeye burl rosette with black mother of pearl inlay

Ebony, Maple, & Padauk Rosette

Ebony, Maple, & Padauk Rosette

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Heel Detail

Heel Detail

Elevated Fingerboard

Elevated Fingerboard

Standard Six Hole Bridge

Standard Six Hole Bridge

Bearclaw European Spruce & Rosewood

Bearclaw European Spruce & Rosewood

Rosette in Pearwood and Dyed Green

Rosette in Pearwood and Dyed Green

End Graft Detail

End Graft Detail

IMG_1190x.jpg
mosaic log

mosaic log

wave rosette

wave rosette

 Engraved black mother of pearl inlay

Engraved black mother of pearl inlay

 engraved black mother of pearl inlay

engraved black mother of pearl inlay

IMG_2941.jpg
Myrtlewood

Myrtlewood

 burmese rosewood with rosewood binding

burmese rosewood with rosewood binding

 claro walnut sides with ebony binding

claro walnut sides with ebony binding

Claro Walnut Back and Sides

Claro Walnut Back and Sides

Myrtle & Sinker Cedar

Myrtle & Sinker Cedar

Western Red Cedar and Ziricote

Western Red Cedar and Ziricote

 Concert pau ferro with african blackwood

Concert pau ferro with african blackwood

Natural Sound Hole Tenor Ukulele

Natural Sound Hole Tenor Ukulele

Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele

Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele

Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele Soundport

Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele Soundport

Koa natural sound hole tenor

Koa natural sound hole tenor

Parlor guitar with Rainbow Cedar Top

Parlor guitar with Rainbow Cedar Top

bloodwood, dyed maple and curly maple rosette

bloodwood, dyed maple and curly maple rosette

Flamed Mrytlewood

Flamed Mrytlewood

2015cedar2.jpg
Washburn Size Parlor

Washburn Size Parlor

Flamed Myrtle Back and Sides

2014washburnlabel.jpg
dynamic symmetry mosaic idea

dynamic symmetry mosaic idea

"Spartan" model classical guitar

"Spartan" model classical guitar

640mm scale Cedar top with Myrtlewood binding and headplate

Spartan

Spartan

Matte finished back and sides

 

African Blackwood

African Blackwood

Claro Walnut with Black Walnut Binding

Claro Walnut with Black Walnut Binding

Claro Walnut with Black Walnut binding end graft detail

African Blackwood Back

African Blackwood Back

Multi-scale European Spruce and Ziricote

Multi-scale European Spruce and Ziricote

Multi-scale fretboard with custom inlay, an arm bevel and sound port in European spruce and Ziricote; a very fun and different project for me.  

V Joint

V Joint

Ziricote back

Ziricote back

Ziricote heel and cutaway detail

Ziricote heel and cutaway detail

Western Red Cedar

Western Red Cedar

Dynamic symmetry rosette on Cedar

Sound Port on Brazilian rosewood

Sound Port on Brazilian rosewood

2015 brazilian rosewood and European spruce with elevated fingerboard and sound port, 640mm scale length

 

elevated fingerboard

elevated fingerboard

 Long scale european spruce and east indian rosewood

Long scale european spruce and east indian rosewood

Gluing Braces

Gluing Braces

Gluing braces using go-bars to apply pressure.  

"Wave" Rosette in Pearwood and Green

"Wave" Rosette in Pearwood and Green

3 Piece Back

3 Piece Back

Gluing up a 3 piece back in the jointing fixture.

Burmese Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce

Burmese Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce

Mosaic Log

Mosaic Log

"Wave" in pearwood, hand dyed green and maple.

Spartan headstock

Spartan headstock

"Spartan" Headstock in matte finish with individual Gilbert Tuners with ebony buttons, abalone dots and black rollers.

Black Mother of Pearl buttons

Black Mother of Pearl buttons

Here are some nice black mother of pearl buttons on a set of Rodgers tuning machines that this customer opted for as an upgrade.  

Spartan

Spartan

Minimal decoration with a matte finish and an added sound port and elevated fingerboard with a 20th fret.

Cedar and East Indian Rosewood

Cedar and East Indian Rosewood

v joint headstock.jpg
Western Red Cedar and East Indian Rosewood

Western Red Cedar and East Indian Rosewood

This is a unique looking cedar top with east indian back and sides with ebony bindings

 brazilian rosewood with honduran mahogany binding and curly maple purfling

brazilian rosewood with honduran mahogany binding and curly maple purfling

"D-28"

"D-28"

Traditional Martin Copy

"D-28"

"D-28"

Heel/neck detail

 

"D-28" style copy

"D-28" style copy

xDSC03074.jpg
"D-28" style copy

"D-28" style copy

Redwood and Claro Walnut

Redwood and Claro Walnut

DSC00662.jpg
Cedar and Indian Rosewood

Cedar and Indian Rosewood

Italian Spruce and African Blackwood

Italian Spruce and African Blackwood

 brazilian rosewood back and sides

brazilian rosewood back and sides

DSC03206.jpg
DSC02725.jpg
 Rosewood bridge

Rosewood bridge

Myrtlewood Back

Myrtlewood Back

Myrtlewood back with ebony binding

Myrtlewood and Western Red Cedar

Myrtlewood and Western Red Cedar

Two V Joint Necks

Two V Joint Necks

Mock up of V joint

Mock up of V joint

doing the final test fit before glue

Cedar and Indian Rosewood

Cedar and Indian Rosewood

D-18

D-18

This is a D-18 style guitar with flamed mahogany and a Lutz spruce top

D-18

D-18

This is a D-18 style guitar in flamed mahogany and Lutz spruce

 headstock with waverly tuning machines

headstock with waverly tuning machines

D-18

D-18

Lutz spruce and flamed Mahogany

 Spartan Style Engelmann Spruce and EIRW 

Spartan Style Engelmann Spruce and EIRW 

Cedar & East Indian Rosewood

Cedar & East Indian Rosewood

 Custom Spalted maple tail block inlay for a Spartan Style guitar

Custom Spalted maple tail block inlay for a Spartan Style guitar

 Custom rosette of Spalted western maple burl for a Spartan Style guitar

Custom rosette of Spalted western maple burl for a Spartan Style guitar

Spartan

Spartan

Honduran rosewood headcap with Gilbert tuning machines with ebony dots and buttons

Spartan

Spartan

Colorado Engelmann Spruce with East Indian back and sides and Honduran Rosewood binding

 Euro spruce and EIRW

Euro spruce and EIRW

New Standard Concert Headstock

New Standard Concert Headstock

Oiled finish

Spartan

Spartan

Colorado Engelmann Spruce with a custom spalted maple rosette

DSC00655_1.jpg
 mitered purfling detail    

mitered purfling detail 

 

Spartan Model as base with upgrades

Spartan Model as base with upgrades

This guitar takes the spartan aesthetic of minimal decoration but dresses it up with stunning ziricote wood and a gloss finish with added black mother of pearl accents

Upgraded Spartan Model Guitar

Upgraded Spartan Model Guitar

This guitar takes the spartan aesthetic of minimal decoration but dresses it up with stunning ziricote wood and a gloss finish with added black mother of pearl accents

Spartan Headstock with Ziricote

Spartan Headstock with Ziricote

DSC02733.jpg
DSC02742.jpg
DSC03067.jpg
Signature Bridge Design

Signature Bridge Design

DSC02641.jpg
DSC03032.jpg
DSC03293.jpg
DSC03583.jpg
DSC03591.jpg
DSC03598.jpg
DSC03613.jpg
 Arm bevel in the white

Arm bevel in the white

Custom Small Jumbo

Custom Small Jumbo

African blackwood and Redwood small jumbo with custom inlays and flamed maple binding

 flamed maple headstock veneer with asymmetrically carved neck

flamed maple headstock veneer with asymmetrically carved neck

 African Blackwood back

African Blackwood back

 custom flamed maple arm bevel

custom flamed maple arm bevel

DSC04823.jpg
Sipe 2014 Indian Rosewood and Euro Spruce

Sipe 2014 Indian Rosewood and Euro Spruce

DSC03201.jpg
 custom pinless bridge

custom pinless bridge

 inlay of buckeye burl

inlay of buckeye burl

 v-joint, headstock is veneered with ebony

v-joint, headstock is veneered with ebony

DSC04759.jpg
DSC04212.JPG
Simple lined Rosette

Simple lined Rosette

Rosette in Black, pearwood, and maple.

Bridge

Bridge

Spartan Model with  Sound Port

Spartan Model with Sound Port

East Indian rosewood with flamed maple binding

DSC04783.jpg
Bridge Blanks

Bridge Blanks

For classical bridges I can do most of the roughing out on a table saw.

classical bridge construction

classical bridge construction

Bridge Shaping

Bridge Shaping

DSC05514.jpg
bridge construction

bridge construction

wing detail

unfinished bridge

unfinished bridge

raw bridge pre finishing with oil or buffing and waxed or shellaced

"Wave" Rosette in Spruce

"Wave" Rosette in Spruce

 Bloodwood and Blue "wave" rosette

Bloodwood and Blue "wave" rosette

Headstock Detail

Headstock Detail

V-Jointed Headstock Detail

V-Jointed Headstock Detail

Finishing

Finishing

Both bridges are East Indian Rosewood. The Bridge on the left is buffed and the bridge on the right is oiled.

Oiled and beveled ebony headstock

Oiled and beveled ebony headstock

Simplified Bindings in a Matte Finish

Simplified Bindings in a Matte Finish

Simple Line Rosette on Cedar

Simple Line Rosette on Cedar

Triple 0 Shape

Triple 0 Shape

Spartan style 000, European Spruce

000 Size Guitar

000 Size Guitar

East Indian Rosewood back and sides and flamed maple binding

000 Headstock

000 Headstock

Flamed Maple on the back of the headstock.

8 String Tenor Ukulele

8 String Tenor Ukulele

Oregon Walnut and Western Red Cedar with custom abalone shell inlays

Walnut Back and Sides

Walnut Back and Sides

Flamed Oregon Walnut

Headstock Detail

Headstock Detail

Mahogany Inlay on back of walnut neck.

Spartan with Cutaway and Bevels

Spartan with Cutaway and Bevels

Engelmann Spruce top with Honduran Rosewood Bindings and Arm Bevel

Spartan Headstock

Spartan Headstock

Headstock in East Indian Rosewood with a Honduran Rosewood Accent

Back Bevel and Sound Port

Back Bevel and Sound Port

East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides with Honduran Rosewood Bindings and Bevel.

Florentine Cutaway

Florentine Cutaway

Large cutaway to enable easy access to beyond the 12th fret. East Indian rosewood with Honduran rosewood bindings

18 Hole Tie Block

18 Hole Tie Block

Finished 18 Hole Bridge

Finished 18 Hole Bridge

DSC09846x.jpg
D-18 Style Dreadnought

D-18 Style Dreadnought

DSC09869x.jpg
Martin Style Dreadnought

Martin Style Dreadnought

DSC09882x.jpg
DSC00096x.jpg
 Wenge Headstock Veneer with Schaller Machines

Wenge Headstock Veneer with Schaller Machines

DSC00143x.jpg
DSC00110x_1.jpg
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137 138 139 140 141 142 143 144 145 146 147 148 149 150 151 152 153 154 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169
Symmetrical 7 fan construction
Spartan Model with Uprades
Torrefied Cedar Top
Spartan Headstock with Gloss Finish
New Standard Concert Headstock
Cedar and Ziricote
Cedar "Wave" Rosette
v joint detail
Three Piece Ziricote and Ebony Back
20th Fret
custom buckeye burl and black mother of pearl rosette
Ebony, Maple, & Padauk Rosette
Heel Detail
Elevated Fingerboard
Standard Six Hole Bridge
Bearclaw European Spruce & Rosewood
Rosette in Pearwood and Dyed Green
End Graft Detail
IMG_1190x.jpg
mosaic log
wave rosette
 Engraved black mother of pearl inlay
 engraved black mother of pearl inlay
IMG_2941.jpg
Myrtlewood
 burmese rosewood with rosewood binding
 claro walnut sides with ebony binding
Claro Walnut Back and Sides
Myrtle & Sinker Cedar
Western Red Cedar and Ziricote
 Concert pau ferro with african blackwood
Natural Sound Hole Tenor Ukulele
Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele
Natural Soundhole Tenor Ukulele Soundport
Koa natural sound hole tenor
Parlor guitar with Rainbow Cedar Top
bloodwood, dyed maple and curly maple rosette
Flamed Mrytlewood
2015cedar2.jpg
Washburn Size Parlor
2014washburnlabel.jpg
dynamic symmetry mosaic idea
"Spartan" model classical guitar
Spartan
African Blackwood
Claro Walnut with Black Walnut Binding
African Blackwood Back
Multi-scale European Spruce and Ziricote
V Joint
Ziricote back
Ziricote heel and cutaway detail
Western Red Cedar
Sound Port on Brazilian rosewood
elevated fingerboard
 Long scale european spruce and east indian rosewood
Gluing Braces
"Wave" Rosette in Pearwood and Green
3 Piece Back
Burmese Rosewood and Engelmann Spruce
Mosaic Log
Spartan headstock
Black Mother of Pearl buttons
Spartan
Cedar and East Indian Rosewood
v joint headstock.jpg
Western Red Cedar and East Indian Rosewood
 brazilian rosewood with honduran mahogany binding and curly maple purfling
"D-28"
"D-28"
"D-28" style copy
xDSC03074.jpg
"D-28" style copy
Redwood and Claro Walnut
DSC00662.jpg
Cedar and Indian Rosewood
Italian Spruce and African Blackwood
 brazilian rosewood back and sides
DSC03206.jpg
DSC02725.jpg
 Rosewood bridge
Myrtlewood Back
Myrtlewood and Western Red Cedar
Maxwell Sipe Classical Guitar 2014 Spruce EIRW - Savage Classical Guitar Studios
Two V Joint Necks
Mock up of V joint
Cedar and Indian Rosewood
D-18
D-18
 headstock with waverly tuning machines
D-18
 Spartan Style Engelmann Spruce and EIRW 
Cedar & East Indian Rosewood
 Custom Spalted maple tail block inlay for a Spartan Style guitar
 Custom rosette of Spalted western maple burl for a Spartan Style guitar
Spartan
Spartan
 Euro spruce and EIRW
New Standard Concert Headstock
Spartan
DSC00655_1.jpg
 mitered purfling detail    
Spartan Model as base with upgrades
Upgraded Spartan Model Guitar
Spartan Headstock with Ziricote
DSC02733.jpg
DSC02742.jpg
DSC03067.jpg
Signature Bridge Design
DSC02641.jpg
DSC03032.jpg
DSC03293.jpg
DSC03583.jpg
DSC03591.jpg
DSC03598.jpg
DSC03613.jpg
 Arm bevel in the white
Custom Small Jumbo
 flamed maple headstock veneer with asymmetrically carved neck
 African Blackwood back
 custom flamed maple arm bevel
DSC04823.jpg
Sipe 2014 Indian Rosewood and Euro Spruce
DSC03201.jpg
 custom pinless bridge
 inlay of buckeye burl
 v-joint, headstock is veneered with ebony
DSC04759.jpg
DSC04212.JPG
Simple lined Rosette
Bridge
Spartan Model with  Sound Port
DSC04783.jpg
Bridge Blanks
classical bridge construction
Bridge Shaping
DSC05514.jpg
bridge construction
unfinished bridge
"Wave" Rosette in Spruce
 Bloodwood and Blue "wave" rosette
Headstock Detail
V-Jointed Headstock Detail
Finishing
Oiled and beveled ebony headstock
Simplified Bindings in a Matte Finish
Simple Line Rosette on Cedar
Triple 0 Shape
000 Size Guitar
000 Headstock
8 String Tenor Ukulele
Walnut Back and Sides
Headstock Detail
Spartan with Cutaway and Bevels
Spartan Headstock
Back Bevel and Sound Port
Florentine Cutaway
18 Hole Tie Block
Finished 18 Hole Bridge
DSC09846x.jpg
D-18 Style Dreadnought
DSC09869x.jpg
Martin Style Dreadnought
DSC09882x.jpg
DSC00096x.jpg
 Wenge Headstock Veneer with Schaller Machines
DSC00143x.jpg
DSC00110x_1.jpg
Top
  • Blog
  • Retail
  • Inventory

Follow Me on Instagram

Two Cedars on a Chair

Snow has let me catch up on my builds which have been moving slowly as of late -just oiled the bridge for one so they are close
Fitting dovetails. 

 Doing the final fit on my two of my own builds between a Martin neck reset,  which is the same process.  I really like building this way as opposed to spanish style, mostly because I don't like to french polish into corners.  Bi
Final guitar of 2020.  Going to a good home and I get to deliver tomorrow just in time.  Best wishes to all.
Made a few pickguards to go with a current build.
Closeups of Headstocks and backyard friends.  Filing a facet on an edge is very satisfying. 

#facetsarefun #annashummingbird #bevels #classicalguitar #handmade #woodworking #madeinoregon #dontactuallyknowwherethebirdsaremade
Okay, finally took the plunge.  Props to @elevatelutherie for making such a well made tool.  I haven't used it yet but I'm excited just for the space saved vs my old tower and cradle that I threw together back in approximately 2006.  The tower was on

©2015-20 Max Sipe Guitars | All Rights Reserved