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.

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.

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"

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….

That guitar looks proud . Another happy instrument.

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

Incredibly high action is a huge understatement! Wow!

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 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!

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.

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

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

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. 👏👏👏

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

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

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.

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!

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

Wow. You are a proper craftsman. Great job.

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

Great workmanship & i love that bit of ragtime ❤️

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!

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.

I watch you religiously. I'm 2 miles from Hamilton, Scotland. Your attention to detail and your passion are well above other curators that I watch online. I'm sure you should be the benchmark for other luthiers . Keep on keeping on sir. Just wish you were Hamilton, Scotland. There would be an even bigger queue at your door!

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.

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

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.

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.

You must have significantly boosted those foam-cutter sales by now! 😊 Another great video, I enjoy each and every one!!

"carefree string spacing" 😆

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

Missed you, hope you're well.

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

That puppy sounds good and exactly like it should!

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!

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

💪🔥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🔥💪

I've watched/listened to all of the content 2 or three times over. Watchers, turn up the volume on your system for the best listening. Sorry for interruption.

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.

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

While I did start watching because of that clickbait title, I'm still here because you're consistently informative and entertaining. I enjoy learning by watching you doing, and you've helped me materially improve my woodworking skills.

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.

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.

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

I have a Resonator Acoustic-Electric made by Gretsch & I use very light gauge strings on it (in this case Thomastik JS110 Flatwounds) because the cone is actually cut thinner (as is the bridge). I worked around the acoustic volume issue by stringing the strings backwards underneath the tailpiece rather than above it which gives me a better break angle, & increased the volume. I use that Resonator Guitar for song covers, most recently I've used it to play a cover of the famous Soprano Aria (I'm a Baritenor so I actually sing the Soprano part down an Octave so I wouldn't strain my voice) "For Love of me my Lord is Dying" from Bach's St Matthew Passion (BWV 244).

That is one heck of a sweet-sounding guitar, Ted. Intonation is spot-on. Quiet but lovely. I do so enjoy a skilled artisan at work, and your gentle humour and anecdotal side-tracks are the icing on the cake. Just don't overwork yourself, my friend.

When said and done Ted it sounds pretty good, +1 to the owner for allowing you to save the old fella. Looking good and first class repair. 👍👍🥃Respect to you mate.

Sounds great to me..you and Jerry Rosa are the very best..

The sound is superior in my ears. Nice work.

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.

You need a servo on a geared screw to jack up your interior clamps. Really enjoyed this video. Reminded me I need to build a shooting board

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

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

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

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

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

very satisfying to see this come back to life

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!

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

Ted's playing is underrated

Gotta say the idea of a Ted Woodford Hensel copy is intriguing 🤔

Great work and playing. Sounds awesome

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

I've started messing around with CNC woodworking, I was surprised at how slow they want you to run the bits. The idea is to use the entire cutting flutes of the tool and put the heat in the chips, not the tool, you may want to slow it down a bit until the tool bogs.

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

The camera you're now using really makes a difference, particularly seeing the grain of the wood, head stock details and glue joints.

Superb work. Again!

That was class A WORK. BRAVO!

Awesome creative and skilled work as always sir!!

That guitar just got the luxury rejuvenation treatment. What a fantastic job!! You've said it many times, if it's worth it for the owner then it's nobody else's business.

One of my favorite weekly video drops. Thanks!

Was rubbing my hands together when you were explaining all the work required. Nice one & feel better.

Why is your content so much better than everyone elses?

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

Another great video. I live in a major US city and as big-name vintage instruments become increasingly unobtainable it is amazing what the cheap brands are going for. It seems a bit ridiculous to restore a guitar like this and sell it for well into the four figures, but for now at least there is clearly a market.

The Rona has mutated so much that people get reinfected.

Fantastic video! Skilled craftsman, such as yourself, are well deserving of praise. Guitar repair maestro of incalculable conservation and niche ephemera. Like a Hensel.

9:48: This was a lefty conversion but someone plugged & re-routed the hole & converted it back to a Righty

I think it sounds great. Nice work.

Harber fraight I forget the Canadian equal. Carries a foot pedal that work pretty good for the price. They have an on off and a momentary switch foot pedal. Thanks for sharing 👍.

Total joy to watch! ThankQ 👍

===== WOW! Your playing has improved. Very impressed on your fingerpicking. ===== As usual, your skills are perfection. ====

I wish you'd 'autograph' some part of these guitars - like the bottom of the pickguard. The underside of the bridge... or put a little burned-on 'brand' in a corner.

I understand why these don’t get much respect but I gotta say this one sounded real nice. A little tight maybe but somehow I can imagine a hobo in a boxcar or by the fire banging out a few tunes on it. I think if I owned a guitar with a voice like that I would pick it up often 👍

I will never repair guitars, I clearly don't have the temperament for it. However, I love watching you do it. I think it's mostly around the problem solving aspect. And I appreciate your thoughtfulness and your diplomacy when discussing less than ideal choices made by players, repairers and manufacturers. A couple of years ago I purchased a hobby level CNC router. It's been a lot of fun. I know that CNC routers can be an anathema to proper woodworkers like yourself. However, I wonder if a small desktop CNC machine, such as a Carbide 3d Nomad might be useful for making bridges, (I don't watch your videos in order and have just finished watching you make a Martin bridge). The balance I guess is the enjoyment of the craft on one hand versus the need to have an efficient business. For myself, I see CNC machines as a sort of digital version of a routing template. Anyway, thanks for the videos.

Great job. Sounds pretty good!

Always a pleasure!

Your playing is coming along!

That Donald Sutherland comparision was just hilarious!°

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

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

Another great repair. I wish I had half your skill. I’m a hack but I really love guitars and trying to improve their playability. I feel it’s the #1 discourager of learning to play

Great video - many thanks twoodfrd. As for the value well yep on an economic basis it makes no sense BUT that discounts the emotional investment in the instrument and so long as the owner does not have to recoup costs then form their point of view it may still be worth it. I have a 1933 Kalamzoo KG-12 under repair which will probably run me a few thousand once done (neck reset, install trussrod, side crack cleating) but I will treasure it as an early blues guitar and really enjoy using it. My wife has my other instruments that will get her plenty of cash when I go so I've not counted the cost here - jsut asked a really good luthier to do it all.

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

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

The playability of that was increased manifold. Great job!

That thing actually has a really great tone on the camera mic. Might be less than impressive in the volume output, but would probably do well in a recording with a good mic.