I was given a Hensel a couple of years ago. It was found in a dumpster behind an apartment building on moving day. The neck was loose, it was covered in some kind of yellow guck as the result of an amateurish attempt at refinishing and had golf tees for bridge pins. I built a few acoustics many years ago and wanted to try fixing this thing as a way to counter covid lockdown boredom. I found your website and emailed you and you were kind enough to respond with a lot of good info, with the advice that the scale length probably needed changing by way of installing a new fingerboard. So it took a year of picking away at it, but I replaced the fingerboard, installed a truss rod, reset the neck, replaced missing back braces and refinished it. It worked well and the ting sounds pretty sweet, dark and warm. Thank you for your advice!

“Rather carefree string spacing”. That’s the kindest thing I’ve heard all week.

I'm surprised these Hensel guitars haven't become a meme in the community yet. They've been around since the start of the channel and pretty much embody the spirit of "old trashy guitar that needs fixing"

I cant quite explain it but that guitar has a very melancholic tone. Even in a happier sounding key, it still sounds a bit sad. I really like it

Not only do you seem to be the worlds foremost expert on Hensel Guitars...so far as I can see...on KZfaq, you also seem to be one of the most skilled, careful and thoughtful guitar repair people. I really appreciate your guitar repairs the most. I feel, that I can really learn a lot from watching your videos. More than I do from most of the others. There always seems to be some commercial thought of "how can I get as many views as possible" behind a lot of the videos of others. Your videos are a lot different, in that they portray a journey with a "happy ending" result at the end of it, without me having to fear for the life of the instrument, as I watch. Thank you very much.

No, I’m watching because you are by far my favorite luthier / YT channel and I get excited every weekend, when a new one drops. Heck I’ve checked here 2 other times today, before this video posted. Great stuff, Ted! You are a master….

Incredibly high action is a huge understatement! Wow!

You really brought that sucker back to life! As for it not being a Martin or whatever... it'd be a very boring world if we only had Martins. These have their own (albeit limited) charm, beautiful in its own way, after they've passed through your hands. Well done!

That guitar looks proud . Another happy instrument.

I don't play guitar but I love guitar music and obviously I'm not a luthier. It has taken me a while to figure out why I enjoy you're videos so much. It is because it is a pleasure to watch someone, especially in our throw away, instant gratification, fast food, negative attitude society who gives a f#@! and who does the best he can do, every time and takes the challenges, in stride, with a positive attitude.and a sense of humour. Whether you are a luthier, mechanic, cook, etc. there is a lot to learn here.

You are closing in on that 100K level. I never thought such a niche interest would develop such a following. You also seem to have a community of viewers who both appreciate humour and are very sincere in their appreciation of your skill and knowledge. I wish more channels could say that.

Love it when you turn a wreck into something...err...beautiful? Very cool. 🙂👍

Wow, the sound sample at the end sounds very unique and I like it! I know it's not a studio recording and the sound is difficult to judge, but this particular sample and your particular playing is for some reason sounding so pleasant.

I love the PRE-HENSEL...Tale (Huge Smile) Respect!

"carefree string spacing" 😆

A variety of jacks and annoyance, just one of those typical woodford quotes. Someone should collect these and make a book, I’d buy it!

You have the perfect combination of: Knowledge, Entertainment, and Clear visuals. I haven't come across anyone else doing this that does it as well as you do. Kudos. 👏👏👏

Hensel ain't so Greatel. I do think you should make a line of guitars of your own. It would be great content for the channel and may be a fun new challenge on a personal level. Creating is more rewarding than repairing, and your talents far exceed these tasks. Plenty of other "KZfaqrs" with only a fraction of your skills and abilities have done quite well with their own products, and there's no reason you can't to do the same. Having and actual professional involved would be a breath of fresh air. Keep up the great work. Cheers!

Glad to hear you're back in the saddle. With people in our world (vutual or not) who have a clockwork-like regularity to their publications/posts one wonders and hopes things are ok.

Regardless of it being not worth the time and effort to restore, I really enjoyed the video. There's something special IMO about bringing a relic of the past back to life with superb craftsmanship. You're giving life to something that would never have otherwise been able to exist at that level of quality. It's unique; and that alone is worth something IMO.

When I was a schoolboy I built my own electric guitar. Everything that could be done wrong I did wrong. But the bridge was in the right place. I don’t understand how professional guitar builders can place the bridge wrong. It is so easy, double the distance from the nut to the 12th fret and add a few mm for compensation. I must admit, I had an excellent science teacher in high school.

It's interesting. It sounds like a recording from a sound deadened studio. Clear, crisp but somewhat muted. I like it.

Ted's playing is underrated

been really enjoying your videos. Look forward to them every weekend.

To bé a cheap guitar,that' dang thing has a sweet tone.Of course you practically rebuilt it.Very good resurrection repair, the owner should bé more than happy with it.

I was waiting for this. Seemed so long... Thanks!

Sounds amazing.

Outstanding!

Total joy to watch! ThankQ 👍

sounds fantastic

One of my favorite weekly video drops. Thanks!

Thank you for another great piece!

Missed you, hope you're well.

Always a pleasure!

Awesome work and it sounds better than ever, I'd say.

Arthur Hensel came to Canada in the 1920s.his family made violins.he had a place in his shop in cabbage town for lost German soldiers.i had an archtop with the upside down kkk blood drop carved where the Edelweiss is on artists. When war broke out he changed his name to hansel.only some were made by Arthur.! Says made by Arthur Early examples are mahogany.later williams made a lot of Hensels out of a shop in Barrie made from birch.

very satisfying to see this come back to life

I think it sounds great. Nice work.

Another fine job.

Good to see you're back.

Wow. Really sounds good.

The sound is superior in my ears. Nice work.

Great reviving of a charming guitar. I really enjoy its range of tonalities. Excellent work!

It's got a pleasant balanced sound and you play a pretty tune. Thank you for another great video.

Great job, I think it sounds really good!

Thanks for playing them for us Ted!

Great job. Sounds pretty good!

Great workmanship & i love that bit of ragtime ❤️

Wow. You are a proper craftsman. Great job.

I really like the sound you got out of it. Unassuming, but pleasing and comfortable.

Your work always astounds me. The care and knowledge you demonstrate is just phenomenal. Just to let you know how much I appreciate it

Really great stuff.

Was quite nice to see one get treated really well. Even through the camera mic, it still sounded pretty good! Would be very cool to see your interpretation of one.

It was cool seeing you turn that Hensel into a real playable guitar. Satisfying.

Nice work, awesome save!

Im glad youre back Ted!

Great work and playing. Sounds awesome

I’m sure you hear it dozens of times every video, but, the artistry and engineering and knowledge shown in these videos is just incredible.

You're not only good att your work, you're fantastic with video editing and narration! Merry Christmas!

This video is a Hensel experience like no other. A gift to the world . Thank You!

Another great video. Thanks for sharing

That was class A WORK. BRAVO!

Thank you for sharing your extensive knowledge on all things guitaristique.

LOVE IT TED!

Basically a complete rebuild. Excellent work as usual....

Superb work. Again!

As soon as I saw the title, I knew we're in for a ride, lol.

Waouh the full meal Surely takes quite a long time ! Elegantly done as usual

Unreal, you are one of a kind dude. I could listen to you talk anytime, anywhere about anything as long as you added in your personal commentary! Kudos....bro!

Hensel headstock carving is definetly what cought my attention when I saw your videos in recommended for the first time 👍

It is always a pleasure to watch your videos. They are therapeutic, for the passion and calm you put into your work. Thank you.

That Donald Sutherland comparision was just hilarious!°

What a fantastic job this video

Thanks for the video.

Thanks for your channel!

I really appreciate the time you put into editing, narrating and working out a lot of your thought process before filming. It makes your videos concise, yet thorough. Get well soon.

Great to see these again - they have a really charming '60s folk boom' sound (and good reference to Invasion of the Bodysnatchers).

That puppy sounds good and exactly like it should!

Glad you are well again, or on the mend at least and still raising a smile for yourself and your appreciative audience

“Carefree string spacing”. You’re being too polite.

In addition to your skilled craftsmanship, the celebratory outro is always enjoyable.

Your playing is coming along!

I can't begin to thank you for sharing your skills with us...... Cheers from Vancouver Island

Glad you're better. Fascinating & fun video, as always. By the way, you got close to 1,000 new views in the 25 minutes that I watched this- that's almost scary!

Why is your content so much better than everyone elses?

Awesome creative and skilled work as always sir!!

💪🔥Watching you repair instruments is ,to me, a revival of my faith in humanity. These days the value of a craft like this is simultaneously being devalued AND more valuable than ever...When the zombie apocalypse comes and we really need to hear that acoustic cover of Don't Stop Believing, good luck getting a machine to level your frets for bowl of people stew....just saying...lol🔥💪

Doing everything on this one?! THANK YOU! 🙏

Ted you play the guitar in such a beautiful way. It reminds me at the end of each video that ive really found a friend

I love your video fr

The Rona has mutated so much that people get reinfected.

Ted, I love your channel and you are an amazing luthier! I dropped you a helpful hint not long ago about taking a daily dose of Zinc (50 mgs) and maybe even some vitamin B-12 and D which I have taken for over 2 decades and we live in the same climate as I'm across the Blue Water Bridge about and Hour west into Michigan. My point is if you take those supplements you will eliminate getting the "Bugs" you have been catching. I have not had a common cold or the flu in 20 years and I'm 57. I never took the "Jab" and tested positive for the covid-19 virus in January but never had any symptoms or felt ill at anytime and it was out of my system in less than a week. I would love to see you continue to make content so take better care of your health my friend! Everyone I know that has started taken Zinc daily claims they feel much better and don't get colds or the flu so it might be worth you trying.

Absolutely amazing and I get it, now that I’ve heard it. The investment, that is. It sounds great and I love the looks of that thing. The plain white binding around the inside of the sound hole, the really cool shape of the screwed on pick guard, even the hand carved headstock that looks like one of my 7th grade wood shop projects. It’s got pre-war Mojo. And now that you’ve done such a spectacular job restoring it, what a killer guitar to own and even gig with. Another great job Ted. Really cool stuff.

I've owned several Hensel's over the years (currently a mandolin, archtop, 2 parlours, and 1 of his slightly larger flat tops), they've all had most of the issues you've mentioned. Really fun to see you work through these and gain some small understanding of the hard work that's gone into making them all into great guitars!

Well done, with a lot of good, useful information

Get well soon (again!) my friend! It isn’t a weekend without watching a new video carefully crafted by you!

Nice use of turnbuckles. As always, lots of insightful and informative commentary. Thanks again (!). Also, hope you get past the virus smoothly and without any lingering badness.

The playability of that was increased manifold. Great job!

"I don't know why, but this makes me laugh." made mr laugh. Thanks.

great episode, i love the fact i can hear the radio in the background, it only lacks some wood cracking in the fireplace and a dog barking somewhere outside