Maxwell T. Sipe - 2025 No. 117
Maxwell T. Sipe - 2025 No. 117
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
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Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Maxwell T. Sipe is a luthier based in Portland, Oregon, whose work emerges from a lifelong dual passion for music and craft. After studying classical guitar at the University of Portland—where he worked with teachers including Jeffrey Ashton and Scott Kritzer, he performed and taught professionally before turning to instrument making. His early years were shaped by hands-on repair experience, including six formative years assisting master luthier Kerry Char. Through extensive work in restoration, refretting, and custom builds, Sipe developed an exceptional sensitivity to instrument behaviour across centuries and styles. He is largely self-taught, but credits a vibrant local luthier community with deepening his skills and aesthetic judgment. For him, lutherie is not only a convergence of disciplines, but “a meaningful, superbly functional, and aesthetically pleasing” practice in dialogue with music itself.
About the guitar
Guitar No. 117, completed in 2025, represents a mature stage in Sipe’s search for a voice that is, in his own words, “both modern and lyrical with good sustain in the trebles throughout.” The top is made from Engelmann spruce, braced with a 7-fan system augmented by floating ties: small lateral connections between the fan struts that help regulate motion across the soundboard. The back and sides are made of Madagascar rosewood, contributing a rich, dark tonal base, while the slightly elevated ebony fingerboard (with 20th fret) enhances comfort and access.
One of the standout features of this guitar is its intricate “New Waves” rosette. It combines California buckeye burl, a rare native American species, with pearwood and dyed koto, forming a visually striking, almost topographic pattern. This motif is echoed in the matte-finished bridge, carved from ebonized rosewood, whose dark tone flows naturally into the fingerboard and the headstock veneer, giving the entire instrument a visual unity and compositional elegance. The bindings are ebony, and the guitar is fitted with Barnett tuning machines and Jescar EVO Gold fretwire.
Tonally, the guitar has a warm, enveloping voice with deep basses and a responsive, singing treble. Its sustain is long and clean, especially in the upper register, and the tonal balance remains consistent across dynamics. Separation between voices is excellent, and the instrument’s light build contributes to a quick and expressive response, particularly appealing to players seeking both sensitivity and projection.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.