Wilborn Guitar Attempt

[TEETERFAN]

Looking real good. That will be a stunning instrument!

[scamp]

Finished fitting, gluing and shaping back braces.
Also made spruce piece that is glued to the back of the top on base side of the upper bout to support the ebony that will go around the sound hole. This layer is made to exactly fit the upper bout as when glued to the top it will also provide the alignment of the top to the sides. It's critical that this piece is accurately glued to the top. To do this I will need to use some alignment pins to accurately register the top to the sound hole support layer when I glue it.

Back Brace Gluing.JPEG

Back Brace Carving.JPEG

Back with Braces 2.JPEG

Top Soundhole Support.JPEG

[scamp]

Joined Engelman spruce front plates .
Sanded down to 0.106 inch thickness as calculated using Trevor Gore method.
Tap tested and rings like a bell.
Cut down top to approximate final dimension and measured displacement with 5 lb load on bridge location with an 8 inch span. Measured displacement of 0.073 inches. Previously I used same method to measure displacement of east Indian rosewood 0.08 inch thick back cut to approximate final back dimension. Measured displacement of 0.072 inches. Given the difference in stiffness of the spruce vs ERW and that the displacement is a function of the thickness cubed it actually makes sense that the displacement would be approximately the same.

Top 2.JPEG

Top Displacement Measurement 1.JPEG

Top Displacement Measurement 2.JPEG

[scamp]

Rough cut the top braces and accurately located the sound hole support plate using alignment holes and dowels made of 1/4 inch diameter carbon fiber pins so glue won't stick. Will refine/contour the braces further once they are glued in. Waiting for some maple I ordered so I can make the bridge plate and start gluing braces and support plates to top. I plan on laminating two pieces of 1/16 inch maple with the grain running in different directions to make the bridge support to keep it from cracking. Also plan on gluing the plate lamination into the 28 ft radius dish so it is properly curved to match the top and doesn't cause strain.

Braces Roughed In.JPEG

Braces Roughed in 2.JPEG

[Tomcat]

I love the way the bracing just *flows*! Moving the soundhole really makes a difference in what you can do.

Another similar approach is the Ipomoea design from Mottola:

https://liutaiomottola.com/instruments/Ipomoea.htm

Both of these designs really fascinate me.

[scamp]

Moving the sound hole has a lot of advantages. It is easier to provide the required structure to take the stress of the strings while maintaining the flexibility required to provide the acoustic output. It also provides a larger effective top area to enhance the acoustic output.

[Tomcat]

Is yours also going to have a sound port? I think at least some Wilborns have them. That's another idea that seems interesting ro me - I've never seen one in person, but I read good things about them.

[scamp]

No separate sound port on this guitar. I’m not aware of any comma series Wilborn guitars ( guitars with the sound port in the upper bout ) that have one. Actually the sound hole in this guitar designed by Ben is tapered into the side just a bit so sound is radiated up to the player as well. No need for a separate port.

[Tomcat]

I must have gotten that mixed up with another alternative design I was reading up on. Sorry for the confusion.

[scamp]

Finished gluing on the top braces and shaping them.
Sometimes the inside of the guitar looks better than the outside.
Was able to get the top to resonate quite well with tapping.
Don't think I will need much fine tuning when the top is attached to the sides but we will see.

Top Shapped Brace 4.JPEG

Top Shapped Brace 3.JPEG

Top Shapped Brace 2.JPEG

Top Shapped Brace 1.JPEG