Wilborn Build: The Blackbird-now completed NOW video and pics added

[TomB'sox]

It is interesting to see how everyone does the arm bevel differently. Steve K. just posted a series where he is filing down the arm rest to a 45 degree angle first and then does the binding and purfling channels whereas Ben has his purfling in place and still has to bevel the rest somehow without destroying the purfling I would assume.

[invguy921]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

Very pretty. Mike you should post more of those detail shots. It is interesting.

Thanks John. I'm going to defer any additional posting of details to Ben. For most people's taste, I've probably "over-posted" already lol. But he may want to show off some of his other work...if so he certainly has my blessing!! There surely is more to show. Here is one that he sent me that I should show which is his signature "three at twelve". These are the pretty paua squares he created in another post.

[invguy921]

More progress!

[j. Kinnaird]

Very nice bevel. Clean work.

[Guitars44me]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

Very nice bevel. Clean work.

Very true!

Cheers

Paul

[invguy921]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

Very nice bevel. Clean work.

Thanks John and Paul!! Here are some more pictures of this clean and accurate work that brother Ben is putting out. the neck sets in there like hand in glove. This thing looks like it will last forever.

[TomB'sox]

That bevel is perfect and perfectly beautiful.

[Guitars44me]

Wow this is all so appealing! What a tidy neck attachment...

Pretty stuff!

Way to go Ben

Paul

[invguy921]

Thanks Tom and Paul. I know Ben appreciates your kind comments as do I.

Here is the newest pics. The guitar is nearing the spray booth and everything has a coat of shellac. You might notice the slight amount of curl in the neck.

[WilbornGuitars]

Originally Posted by Guitars44me

Wow this is all so appealing! What a tidy neck attachment...

Pretty stuff!

Way to go Ben

Paul

Thanks Paul!

[doodahdoug]

Beautiful woods, tasteful appointments and top notch construction here. I'm really looking forward to seeing this one after it goes through finish. Mike you must be stoked! Great looking work Ben.

[j. Kinnaird]

Very nice. I particularly like the dark streak in the center of the top. That gig line looks great running through the diamond

[WilbornGuitars]

Originally Posted by j. Kinnaird

Very nice. I particularly like the dark streak in the center of the top. That gig line looks great running through the diamond

Thank you John. That is 50 year old (since it was cut) sitka, and the darkness is just oxidation. The whole board is a lovely amber, with darker edges. I wish I had an infinite supply of this stuff!

[WilbornGuitars]

Thanks Paul. I love working with beautiful materials!

[invguy921]

A good friend of mine asked the following question and I thought it interesting as well as Ben's answer so I asked Ben if I could post it for all of us to read. I would presume Ben is open to discussion.

Here's the question: "Just noticed that with all the attachment screws for the neck, could they be theoretically tightened / loosened (somewhat similar to the Taylor NT neck only without shims) to adjust the angle of the neck in relation to the body - or would that only be done on a neck reset along with a little shaving here and there in the future, as necessary?

I should presume it originally all gets torqued down to specs and what's set is set to the original angle.

No biggie - was just wondering if minor adjustments could be made there"

Ben's answer: "One of the advantages of this design is the ease with which, ultimately, a neck set can be accomplished. It’s different from the Taylor neck in that the my neck angle is set during the build, as part of the geometry, whereas the Taylor shim technique is used to compensate for irregularities that have occurred during the build. Mine is not intended to provide end-user adjust-ability, however."