Wilborn Guitar Attempt

[Tomcat]

Good question. In a more or less traditional acoustic guitar, with just the fret board extending over the body, the neck is typically at an angle of about minus 1.5 degrees relative to the plain of the top of the guitar at the bridge. This guitar is different. In this case, the neck is adjusted so it is plus 1.5 degrees from the plain of the top of the guitar at the bridge. The strings are coming into the bridge at a different angle. So... if you take a straight edge and put it on the neck and extend it out to the saddle location ( without the fret board attached ) it should be at about the same elevation off the guitar top as a standard guitar under the same conditions ( about 1/8 inch ). Hence, the bridge/saddle height is the same in both cases. Hopes this makes sense.

Huh, very interesting approach. I wonder if there is some advantage intended by the change in angle.

Have you had access to a Wilborn that you could hold and look at up close, or are you working entirely from what you've found online?

[scamp]

According to Ben Wilborn….

“ The elevated fingerboard slightly changes the angle at which the strings meet the bridge, creating more complex overtones and a more “harp-like” timbre. It also slightly elevates the strings above the top, providing plenty of clearance for fingernails or plectrum.”

Also… I have never actually seen a Wilborn guitar in person. All of what I have seen and heard is on line. Pretty crazy I built one.

[Joshyouare]

This is genuinely impressive given you haven’t seen one in person - wow! Makes me feel less concerned about trying to do it myself.

[Tomcat]

The description of the tone sounds intriguing. I wonder if I could tell the difference by my own ear.

Yes, I'm incredibly impressed that you've done all this without ever holding or playing one. That's amazing!

Does anyone here ever post sound clips (or perhaps You Tube links) of their guitars being played? The photos of completed projects are lovely, but it would be even more interesting to *hear* how they came out.

[scamp]

The only reason I convinced myself I could do this was because of the incredible amount of information in the form of pictures and videos Ben Wilborn was gracious enough to post on his facebook web site. He has pictures of every stage of his building process. He also has people comment on these posts with questions which he answers.

https://www.facebook.com/WilbornGuitars/

If your interested take a look. I would never try this by just seeing a few pictures of a guitar I liked.

[Tomcat]

That's really cool! And a nice video currently near the top of his feed of him demoing and discussing a newly made Comma. Sounds as gorgeous as it looks.

I hadn't checked out his Facebook before, just his regular website, which I find very inspiring also.

Other luthiers' sites that inspire me, besides Blues Creek (Thanks, John!) include:

https://www.edwinsonguitar.com/Welcome.html
This is the one that does the sound ports on the upper side that I got conflated with Wilborn, earlier in this thread I think. Also some really nice discussion of his approach to design.

https://liutaiomottola.com/ I picked up plans for his "Ipomoea" design, which is similar in some ways to the Commas, but looks perhaps somewhat less busy and fussy to do the offset soundhole that doesn't connect to the binding etc at the edge. Looks like some great building advice, too!

[Tomcat]

[Hit the URL limit of 2...]

https://www.fredcarlsoncreativeluthier.com
A wide range of instruments including harp guitars (check out "Taproot" especially, there and on You Tube), guitars with sympathetic strings under the fingerboard ("sympitars") often using a sitar-style bridge, and some of the wildest looking instruments I've ever seen. Not as much technical detail on the how. No plans but some nice detail in photos, and he did respond to an emailed question on how sympathetic strings are laid out inside the neck (through a carbon fiber tube that takes the place of the truss rod, though not clear to me if that retains any adjustability).

[rcnewcomb]

I met Fred at a guitar show in Santa Cruz a few years ago. He is very creative and willing to take designs to a whole new level.

[scamp]

Well just about ready to start the finishing.
Won't be able to start the finishing until mid October ( heading out to a fishing tournament ).
Very happy with results and can't believe I made it this far.

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