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.

Maxwell T. Sipe

Maxwell T. Sipe - 2025 No. 117