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Incoming Wilborn Comma Nautilus
Sorry if my thread is a bit long, but I'm really excited to start this journey for my first ever custom acoustic guitar with Ben Wilborn and I want to share this joy with you!
As soon as I learned about Wilborn Guitars I was really fascinated by them, but after trying one in person from a dear friend, simply I fell in love. Then I asked for more feedback on several forums and dozens of positive feedback on someone that is considered one of the best luthiers in the world prompted me to contact Ben, who turned out to be a wonderful person: for him to provide the attention to customer needs, to give suggestions to get a better tone and a better look, come way before the desire to sell an instrument. From Ben's words emerges enormous passion for his work and after some email (maybe a few too many, since I admit to being a pain in the A), we managed to figure out the specs of the guitar. Series: Comma - Model: Nautilus Mahogany neck Ebony bound neck and headstock Ebony headplate, fingerboard and bridge Ebony rear head plate with volute Ebony bindings Ziricote inlays Florentine Cutaway Multiscale design Elevated fingerboard Triple Laminated Sides Arm Bevel Schertler "open back" black tuners with ebony knobs Schaller S-Locks "Blackchrome" strap buttons Clear mylar pickguard Visesnut flight case Add-on: Master grade Adirondack Spruce top Add-on: Ziricote back and sides (IMVHO it's the most beautiful wood in the world). Add-on: TUSQ Nut, Saddle, Pins (is scientifically proven to be just way better than bone). Add-on: Elevated fingerboard (click here to learn more about it) Add-on: French Polish (a finishing method invented in the 1800s. Many of the best instruments in the world are varnished with this old method. To learn more about it, click here). I gave Ben free choice for the top board, asking him to choose the Adirondack Spruce board he thinks the best (among all those he owns). He chose this master grade board cut in 2018: For the back I chose these Ziricote boards: Unfortunately I will not have the guitar before 2024. Yes, his waiting list is very long, but the best things are the most awaited ones! Over the time I will upgrade this thread with some news! Opinions??? #1 UPDATE - July 2022: Although a very small update, I want to share it with you. Wilborn, on my request, made a small figured maple plaque, with an inscription handmade by a calligrapher: "B. Wilborn - invenit et fecit". It's latin, literally means "invented and made": it's a phrase used by the first art critics of the Middle Ages, it meant the authorship of a work of art). The plaque will be glued into the body when it will be ready, but the wait is still long. Hope you like this gem!
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I suck at playing guitar but at least I try. Last edited by Pizzanetor; 07-24-2022 at 10:01 AM. Reason: grammar |
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Good looking choices, 2024? Wow a lot can happen between now and then, hopefully only good things.
Bruce, |
#3
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Congrats, Ben's wait list has really expanded with the Comma series guitars. You have made a great choice and the woods look fantastic. You will not be disappointed.
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PS. I love guitars! |
#4
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Anyway the time would pass faster if I could stop thinking about this guitar (which seems impossible, eheh)
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I suck at playing guitar but at least I try. |
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Well just to make you aware, there are no favors in the line. I have 5 Wilborns including the first commercially made Nautilus and I am in line for another, but I too am waiting to 2024 lol!!! You are behind me, I hate to say.
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PS. I love guitars! |
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Congratulations on the build slot. The Comma series is in the top 3 guitars I'd like to play. I've just had my first build finished and it had a 2 year wait. I thought about that guitar every day of those two years. And I've played it pretty much every day since I got it. From experience, you can improve your playing and repertoire a LOT in two years! Enjoy the journey.
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Martin |
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I've changed many guitars but I've only ever owned one at a time, I simply want the best and I don't like to change. I've tried several high end guitars, some friends own Olson, Ryan, Fylde but after trying a Wilborn I preferred it to any other instrument. Maybe this is what can really show how much I appreciate Wilborn guitars and I hope Ben will be proud of this. Anyway, in two years my playing will definitely improve a lot on my current guitar, as you said!
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I suck at playing guitar but at least I try. Last edited by Kerbie; 01-23-2022 at 08:11 AM. |
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As an aside, I commissioned a guitar from an unnamed builder 5 years ago, with a 3 year wait at the time, and now I'm thinking twice about just cancelling it after all these years ... especially given my luck at getting a Mark Hatcher build slot in a short period of time, and my awesome S Kinnaird guitar that had a short lead time because someone had cancelled!! I've been lucky.
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Jeff Mark Hatcher Pina Parlor Torrified Maple/Cedar Stephen Kinnaird 00 B&W Ebony/Engelmann Spruce Simon Fay African Blackwood/Sinker Redwood Wolfgang Jellinghaus Torres Modelo 43S Maple/Spruce K Yairi CYTM Maple/Cedar |
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PS. I love guitars! |
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Mr. Pizza--you are in good hands with Ben! And welcome to the Wilborn Fan Club. Awesome human creating awesome guitars--it doesn't get any better.
I've waited for over 2 years on a couple of my custom builds--it makes the final outcome that much sweeter. If the waiting gets too tough, just go back and drool over some previous comma series build threads. Oh wait, that might make it worse! Congrats on your build with Ben--I look forward to seeing it come to fruition!
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2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
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And, after speaking to him, I can only confirm what I heard here. Now all I can do is continue GASSING on that guitar.
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I suck at playing guitar but at least I try. |
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Actually there is one more thing you can do. Come to the next B.I.G. and meet the man in person! He plays a mean guitar and mandolin!
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Life is like a box of chocolates .... |
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Forgive me, but I've no idea what the BIG is. Any additional explanations?
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I suck at playing guitar but at least I try. |
#14
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Everything you could want to know and more... https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=610733 https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=625561 A must-do event in any guitar lover's life!
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2013 Stehr Auditorium (Carpathian/Myrtle) 2015 Stehr Auditorium (Adi/BRW) 2020 Baranik Meridian (Blue Spruce/Manchinga) 2020 Wilborn Arum (Tunnel 14/Coco) 2021 Kinnaird Graybeard (BC Cedar/Bog Oak) 2022 Kinnaird CS Student Build (Adi/Padauk) 2023 Kinnaird FS (Italian/Koa) |
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Aww well, only the best little guitar show in the world haha. Held in Sept. in Texas and Ben has been there for both and has played a concert with his partner Brad as well. We have another forum member from Italy who almost came both years, but travel is tough from Europe right now as you know. We did have one fellow make it from France though! However, hopefully things are better by fall. The show is 3 days long. If you scroll down the custom shop to page 2 or 3 you will find a few threads about B.I.G. this last fall.
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PS. I love guitars! |