Wilborn Guitar Attempt

[scamp]

Thanks for the gracious comments. Not sure if I’m brave or stupid for starting this crazy project but I decided awhile ago that it made more sense to try and stretch myself and build a few special unique guitars vs a lot of guitars ( since I didn’t know what to do with a lot of guitars ). I decided to blog my efforts as a way to document what I did and also hopefully be useful to others. I am thrilled to hear that others find my efforts both inspiring as well as potential useful. For awhile I wasn’t sure I bit off more than I could chew but I’m starting to see some light at the end of the tunnel. I’ll keep updating everyone. Again, thanks for the positive feedback.

[Diane Kauffmds]

You're doing a wonderful job.

[scamp]

You're doing a wonderful job.

Thanks Diane. Will always appreciate how helpful you were with my rookie questions when I started my first John Hall guitar kit three years ago.

[scamp]

Finished binding/purfling and scraping down the top.
Need to correct some imperfections and tweek the binding curves around the arm bezel and sound hole a bit.
Started working on binding and purfling on the back.
Getting excited about finishing the body and moving on to the neck/body alignment.

Guitar Top 2.JPEG

Guitar Top 3.JPEG

Guitar Top 5.JPEG

Back Binding .JPEG

[scamp]

Before I attempt installing the tail piece and Florentine cross pieces I thought it would be a good idea to practice how to remove and miter the green/black purfing in the cavities that will receive these pieces.
So.... I made up some mocked up examples of the guitar sides with binding/purfling glued to a backing and then tried different techniques.
What seemed to work best was to use a scalpel to make shallow cuts for the 45 degree miters and along the interface between the purfling and the binding and then use chisels placed in the shallow cuts made by the scalpel to cut through the material and remove it. Think I'm ready to try the real thing now.

Practice 45 Degree Purfling Inlay.JPEG

[scamp]

Finished installing all the binding and purfling.
Still need to tweek a few things but happy with the results.
Fingers are sore from scraping everything down.
Body almost done....
Starting to think about how best to align the neck with the body.
Should be interesting.

Body Binding 1.JPEG

Body Binding 2.JPEG

Body Binding 3.JPEG

Body Binding 4.JPEG

Body Binding 6.JPEG

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Nice nice job on the mitres
Well done looking fantastic

[Srick]

Looking great, Scamp.

What number scalpel blade is that?

[scamp]

Looking great, Scamp.

What number scalpel blade is that?

Number 11
Also.... FYI...some scalpel blades come to a very fine point. These don't. I found that the ones that come to a very fine point are useful in some cases but the tips have a tendency to break off and sometimes it's difficult to get the broken off point out of the wood.

Surgical Blades.JPEG

[scamp]

Another "pucker" moment under the belt.
Routed in the neck mortise into the body and now the body is more or less complete.
Just need to drill holes for neck bolts and some sanding/finish work.
On to completing the neck and aligning it with the body.

Neck Mortise.JPEG