FOLLOW MY BUILDS
See some of my work in progress from my Facebook feed.
I cut the profile for my bevels with a template, but there is always a little touch up work to blend the curves together, which I consider to be a critical process if you want the bevels to flow smoothly into the body lines. A sharply raking light a darkened room helps my eye see any lumpiness which needs to be addressed.
2 CommentsComment on Facebook
I have a modest collection of guitars and ukes, but now that I have discovered your guitars and website I wish for 2 things, one being to be able to order one and the other to have the talent to do the instrument justice. Keep on keeping on! Love your work.
What a great build!
Fresh out of the mold, here is my current build- a Nautilus in the classic combination of Adirondack spruce and Brazilian rosewood. Note the super clean, quartersawn Brazilian: a rare bird. This will look luscious under lacquer!
8 CommentsComment on Facebook
When do you cut the sound hole?
That looks very promising!
I was wondering why you'd been so quiet lately; now I know; worth the wait. Nice, to say the least.
Wow, I am still in love with this model.
It's beautiful.. !
Really nice graining on that Adirondack Spruce too...
Oh boy Drool !!!!!!!! 🤤
Yeah baby! 😱
In the works is this cocobolo and Sitka Nautilus. It is always a nice milestone to free them from their exterior mold, trim back the top and back, and sand the sides clean and smooth. All of a sudden, you have a guitar shaped object and you can really see the wood as it will be.
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
That looks like it’s going to be another masterpiece! I can’t wait to see it under finish!
Incredible looking wood!!
Wow! Beautiful wood!
Nice looking cocobolo. I've got about 10 sets left and love its look and sound. I hate working with it during the fine dust stages. I look like I'm in a hazmat suit🙂. No problem after that. Thanks for sharing your work.
Incredible.
I really appreciate you posting in process pictures - your work is so very inspiring. Thank you.
Last time I saw that guitar I could see its guts!
your work is just stunning! Oh, if I were a rich man...
Love Cocobolo.
Seriously!! 💚
Man you really know how to hurt a guy ! Lmao 🤣 🤣
Beautiful Cocobolo!!!😮
Love the looks of Cocobolo....but really allergic to it!
Fabulous!
A fearsome Ibex in Carpathian and Brazilian.
50 CommentsComment on Facebook
Sounds great.
Absolutely wonderful, as usual. Truly surprising sound coming from that!
You've really enhanced the "parlourness" of that guitar! My little rosewood parlours sound lovely on single note melodies and inventions but are lacking in the chord department. Yours have both!
Your playing skills match your abilities as a luthier...you have my respect and admiration. Love these videos.
One of the most beautiful and greatest sonding guitars I have heard in a very long time! I LOVE IT.
The voice on that parlor guitar rivals the depth and tone of a much larger body style. Truly amazing.
Sounded great, I was wondering if you like that guitar? Your last noodling session sounded like you had a tap on your shoe for percussion, made me think of John Hartford playing his fiddle. Have you thought about a plywood box and some tap shoes for the next demo?
Thanks. Very informative. Sounds very nice.
Fearsome indeed--gorgeous tone!
so good with depth and sustain
I don't know how you do what you do but whatever it is, just keep on doin' it. Lord have mercy, that tone, the sustain; I like your use of the word 'authority'; that guitar just sings. Love it.
Lindo instrumento con un sonido espectacular,,,, súper,,,,
Who needs a large guitar?!!😮
What an amazing sound!!!
Love it.
Thanks, Ben!! Sweet, with beans! Love it!
What a Stunning Sound .... Hans Kilian, Eric Vercauteren, Howard Briscoe Best to ALL from ChCh, NZ
Love your guitars!
Another beauty!
Beautiful sound 😍😍😍
It's a pretty little thing!
to je nádherný nástroj s úžasným zvukem (Y)
Would you make me one
Great array of tones and spectacular sustain! Nicely done!!
That’s what I want 😉👍
I make bindings and purflings in house. I glue up binding/ purfling loaves, and cut them into ready-to-bend strips. I used to cut them on the bandsaw, and then thickness sand them to spec, but a couple years ago, I decided to eliminate the sanding part and figure out how to cut them super accurately so they were good to go directly off the saw. Here is the resulting jig: a sub-table on the table saw with a spring loaded feather board, and a very thin kerf blade with stabilizers on either side. I can cut these strips to exactly .080” with very little loss, and it is much faster and easier.
20 CommentsComment on Facebook
Well done 👍!!
High level problem solving!
Love it, now that I do my fret boards with cnc, I have a use for my fret blade again!
Is that masonite? I really like that "improved" version. American Luthrie magazine, (summer 2021) shows just a piece of plywood, held down with magnets. What do you use for a push stick?
titebond 3 for glue up?
really cool idea sir
Nice jig, I like it!
What blade are you runnin? Thin kerf? High tooth count? ❤️❤️❤️
Holy cow. Eight hundreths of an inch.
I’ve been thinking of the best way to do this. I was thinking about buying one of those mini table saws that use super thin blades.. but maybe this is better. Hmmm.
Super cool!
Jigs!
And you end up with some nice ebony fairy dust for inlay work which you so love to do!
Ben, What blade is that?
Brilliant!
love the spring loaded feather board, gives me ideas
Those thin blades with stabilizers. They are the best 🤙
There is SO much I don’t understand about lutherie. Don’t know how to make a soufflé either but I love the end product.
Ben, where do you source your 71/4" blade? I have used ones I get from Home Depot for making my kerfing.
Mind blowing 🤯
Wilborn Nautilus in western red cedar and Madagascar rosewood. Here it is seen without finish, just the pore filler. I’ve been waiting a while to use this set of rosewood- it’s very hard to find inkline Madagascar rosewood of this quality. I expect great warm booming cathedral-like loveliness from this instrument. I’ll have this with me at the LaConner guitar festival in Mat.
30 CommentsComment on Facebook
I think that is the most beautiful Madagascar Rosewood I have ever seen! What an amazing work of art that is going to be!
That’s absolutely beautiful, Ben 🎶❤️🎶
I played this guitar today, and it’s Astonishing. It’s as simple as that.
Very nice work!
And that is without finish? Wow. Love the green in that back.
Very nice Ben!
Oh my, it’s totally beautiful! When done can you do a video comparing it to a spruce top?
A trip to LaConner just to see/hear this completed would be worth it!
Lovely grain, hope the sound quality is equal to it.
A blessing to encounter such beautiful wood. As Linda and I attempt to finish our home on Orcas we have kept faithful to some basic architectural philosophies, one of which is that the wood should be honored. To do that it’s placed in high locations, ceiling, etc. but not on the floor. I have some interesting salted maple live edge railings protecting our loft space from the below. It’s wonderful that you can use the most interesting and beautiful species and I think working in small quantities enhances the imagination. Really enjoy these posts my friend. Regards to Gloria!
Goody!
Wow, that Madagascar rosewood is really stunning. Whoever gets this should leave it on stage between sets, positioned so the audience can see the back. Everyone needs to see this!
I honour the skill you have to create such a beautiful thing. If it sounds as good as it looks....wow!
Very nice Ben . I like seeing figure in the necks it adds a nice touch .
What a stunning,elegant,simple design, and execution of suberb craftsmanship,
Very unique looking Madi. Absolutely beautiful.
WOW! Just… WOW!!!
Lord have mercy, the grain and the colours in that back!!!!!! Spectacularly, stunningly beautiful.
Very nice
Stunning!!!
Dang it almost looks like Ziricote . Pretty 😍 Oh WRC ? I need to hear this !
Meravigliosa
Looks beautiful ❤️👌
Your guitars not only look good but sound fantastic. Puts my humble efforts to shame.
😍
Headstock binding. Ebony and maple on Madagascar rosewood. Taking extra time to make the rabbets very clean and precise makes this job a pleasure instead of a chore.
17 CommentsComment on Facebook
Gorgeous faceplate, too!
This is beautiful work. Thank you for sharing!
Looking good
Excellent!!
Madagascar mon pays 🎸 👍
I count 6 rabbet holes to go down, take your pick! 8-)
Well, im about 1 more picture of headstock binding away from doing it on my currently build🤣
Beautiful
I am with you!
One more string please….
Nicely shaped.
I would absolutely love to own one of your guitars, I watch your channel on YouTube, shame I have never seen one in the UK.
Craftsmanship....
Aric Tipler
And you chamfer the tuning machine holes - how cool is that?
Nice. What is neck wood?
I learned how to make complicated headstock binding by making them before gluing on the headstock. Index the holes, then shape and bind the veneer. Then glue the veneer down and shape the headstock to the veneer. Think F-5 mandolins.
An Ibex in the the white. (That’s luthier talk for complete, but unlacquered) This is my smallest model, at only 12 inches across the lower bout, yet it packs a mighty wallop. Carpathian spruce over Brazilian rosewood . Wait till you see it in finish!
14 CommentsComment on Facebook
I want to hear it!
thats super clean work, love it!
Beautiful.
I LOVE MY IBEX! This one will be exquisite!
What is the cost for a beauty like this?
I believe everyone are looking forward to hear the sound.
Very nice design indeed.
Wow!
That’s amazing
ေရာင္တာလာ
Has this little beauty a home yet?
Would someone pls explain the bridge and nut being on a lean and different at each end How does setting up the guitar with correct intonation work I thought bridge and nut need to be parallel
Hi sir, to custom make such a small size guitar(same as the picture you posted), may I know what is the estimated cost? Thank you
A red Brazilian Nautilus with Adirondack on top.
80 CommentsComment on Facebook
All I can us this.... Red us a beauty. Red sounds warm and lovely and inviting.
My god what a great sound. 🎶🎶🎸
Is it acoustic electric, and what mic are you playing into.
Sweet.
All of your guitars have a unique sound....this one catches my ear and emotions in a very special way. Thanks, Ben. Lovely playing once again.
Really really nice. Great guitar
Another amazing creation Ben. The wood on this guitar is stunningly beautiful and as always I absolutely love your enthusiasm and energy when you do these videos.
The guitar is a master instrument. Great job!! I think the both the beginning piece and end piece you played really did a great job of showing what the Coma is capable of. And to think that it’s only going to get better sounding from here on!
What a sound, 👍
Brother you outdo yourself on every guitar you make....absolutely stunning sound!!! Well done!!!!
OMG it sounds fantastic!
Ben, aside from an aesthetic choice on the back and rims Dalbergia sapwood off cuts can make wonderful contrasting light colored binding materials as well. I have a Brazilian Rosewood guitar where we used Cocobolo sapwood as binding.
Man thats wonderfull, Iv been around guitars for 60years and thats as good as Iv heard , keep up the good work !!!!!!
This one exceeds even your usual high standard, Ben. Congrats!
This guitar looks and sounds soooo good. I attended the 2023 LINT Master class where you presented for the whole day. You are truely a master of your craft/art and your presentation was fantastic!
Lovely ... I would like to hear David Wilcox play that as well. It reminds me of his playing
Shazam! Huge sound and gorgeous looks--awesome stuff, Ben!
Great guitar again! What mic are you using?
Wow I thrive to get my hoar guitar as good as yours. Well done sir. Wow
Extraordinary sound!
Congratulations Charles, that is a heck of a guitar you have coming your way! I would love to hear what that sounds like amplified as I do not recall ever seeing one with a pick up in it! Enjoy!
That sounds insanely good!
Ci top yes i love it
Now that is a tone and volume I would be after. Superb guitar as usual and it is nice that you demo it.
I love a Gretch.. when at Sweetwater, they brought me a bib so I didn’t dried all over their Gretch guitars..I watched this..and had to find a bib twice as long! WONDERFUL.
4 CommentsComment on Facebook
Dude build guitars but your guitars are really amazing. Well done
Gorgeous 😍
The written comment from the DG website reads: "I wish all guitars grabbed me like this Nautilus from Ben Wilborn. His Comma Series builds are just so energetic and expressive, playing this guitar is like having an active conversation with the instrument where it contributes as much as you the player." Wow -- what more can one say?
Hot off the presses from Wilborn Guitars!
99 CommentsComment on Facebook
Wow sounds great, love it!
The sustain is awesome. Wish I could afford one .Been playing junk all my 71 years.
What is the name of the second tune? I really like it!
Perfect sound ! I like it.
Beautiful
A lot of projection and nice tone. Well done.
Nice
Amasing sound. Love it. From South Africa. I've got goosebumps.
Beautiful looking and sounding guitars
Wow, sounds awesome !!
What a beautiful sounding guitar.
Sounds absolutely fantastic what do you get for one
I want a CD!!! Do you have any with your music on them?
Yet another really fine guitar .... and WONDERFUL playing, Ben!
The guitar sounds amazing as always. I also appreciate that you color coordinated your head gear and shirt!
Wow , big sound , love it
Beautiful on so many levels!
Most respectfull greetings from Belgium .. Love to hear you play, and I love how your guitars sound, pretty contagious is my best observation. Thanks for being around.
wonderful guitar - I prefer a cedar top for warmth - but first class instrument - congrats - Martin Simpson would probably like it
🧡🍀☀
Wonderful!
I would love to know the price please. It reminds me of my 1979 Larrivee. Sings like an angel. Thanks for sharing your talents.
Wonderful! Ben, what strings do you use in these guitars, please?
A very rich sounding guitar. I’d play it !
I play sitting down and I would hurt myself with that pointy horn but this instrument has very impressive tone and its loud.
A little Frog and Toad for your Wednesday morning. Just close your eyes and pretend Brad is wearing pants.
www.frogandtoadmusic.com
37 CommentsComment on Facebook
For American guys you have quite an impressive variety of toques.
I love it! Just wonderful!
Great job
So nice to see someone building amazing guitars and showing them to best advantage by playing them so well :-)
Hi bro good work
Breath of fresh air!!
Once again you two have outdone yourself. Love listening to your guys. Thanks for the opportunity to enjoy…
Whoa! Ben! Are you playing a guitar that you haven't shown to us? Does it have a pick-up? Cool matte finish
Love the tune! It somehow conjured an interesting PINK background vibe!!
Big Sky! Good stuff!
Very nice
Awesome, great job guys! 🎸🎸
That was awesome guys. Sooo good.🌸🌼🌺👍
I tried closing my eyes, but I just can’t un see it! Lol Nice tune!
Just so good… the music, not the shorts (or the puffball hat). Happy New Year to you both. ♥️
Wonderful guitars
Very enjoyable. 🇦🇺🐨
Is that a Gruhn Versitar?
Very good. Congratulations.
Great tune, the guitars sound amazing of course, and the burst on Ben's guitar is one of the nicest I have seen. Beautiful.
Sounded great, I closed our light blocking shades, shut my eyes, put on Kathy's sleeping eye mask, and still could not not see them!!! I just thank the Father Almighty that I did not have to see the socks too!
Fantastic!!!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻❤️
Thank you both, I needed that tune to warm up on this frigid prairie morning, even forgot about the pink shorts : )
Lovely I
Here’s another example of why Brazilian rosewood is king. In addition to the rich and powerful sound it contributes to a guitar, the sheer variety of grain and colors is astonishing. I love the stark delineation between heartwood and sapwood on this set. This is how it looks with just the grain filler- it’s going to really shine under lacquer.
This guitar features an access door on the tail for easy pickup modification and future repairs. And, of course, a very cool view of the innards.
47 CommentsComment on Facebook
Great looking! What is the grain filler you use?
Deja vu! That ripple in the middle of the back is neat!
Stunning!
This my dream guitar, since i found your fb account. I love your guitar.
Always great, and I love this tailblock access solution!
I have had a love affair with the guitar, in all its forms, styles and manifestations, for over 50 years but never have I seen or heard anything remotely like the guitars you craft and you just reach new levels with each new guitar; keep on doing whatever it is you do. I just wish that I had the talent to do justice to one of your guitars and could wait out the wait list whenever you decide it's time to reopen it. This one is spectacularly beautiful; don't recall ever seeing Brazilian Rosewood with sapwood in a guitar before.
I make a side hole guitar and adding pickups after the build is difficult. So you have added an access point for this very purpose. Such a great simple idea. Well done.
Ben, any chance of getting a straight on shot of the tailend of the guitar with the access panel on? I would just like to see it. I have toyed with the idea of doing the same with my guitars.
I’m such a sap for sapwood! 😉 Beautiful work, as always, Ben!
Very nice! What do you use as a finish?
You know.. I've been needing an acoustic(constant search for the last 5 years.)and this might be the winner. Any chance you can stick a slim c on there?
I should stop looking at all your guitars here on Facebook ... I've become an addict. Looking at these just gets me so wound up and excited, and then I look at the calendar and remember my guitar is still a long way away. These instruments are just too good.
Awesomeness!!!
Beautiful wood and fine craftsmanship Ben. I’m putting the final touches on my new shop (well as final as a shop ever gets) and will start building again soon.
Brazilian rosewood, king of woods, and you are king guitar making!
Gorgeous!
Sheesh I wish that was mine!!
Incredibly Beautiful!! The access door is a great idea, both in the building stage as well as the life of the guitar.
Gorgeous!
stunning!
I have only seen one other guitar with the rear access panel like yours. It is my hand made Hopkins parlor guitar. Did you know or associate with that builder? How did you come up with that idea? On my Hopkins, the piece is held in by magnets! What about yours? By the way, that is a gorgeous build and looks like it will sound great. Nice to see as I have never seen your work before. Keep making beautiful things, please!
So beautiful!!!!!
Unbelievable…!!! 👏🏻
Very pretty indeed.
Beautiful work, Ben. Similar to the BRW you built for me! Love it
The inside of the current Nautilus. There’s a pretty nice picture or two of the side laminations, and then the top being clamped and glued into place.
5 CommentsComment on Facebook
You don't have any Australian dealers do you? I'd be really keen to try one of your builds out!
Such straight grain on the back wood! What kind?
I would love to live in your workshop to watch you build a Nautilus from start to finish. But I would have so many questions, it would surely take you a year to finish one guitar!
Where the magic happens
Beauty
One last Nautilus for Tom…
25 CommentsComment on Facebook
Spectacular!
I think I have made this comment in the past, but the thing I absolutely love about your videos is the excitement and enthusiasm with which you describe your guitars makes me want to mortgage my house and order one....... They are truly amazing works of art and they sound fantastic. Thanks so sharing these with us.
I want THIS!
How is it possible that the man who makes such incredible sounding guitars also plays them so stunningly well? I takes my hat off to you, Sir. Well done. Keep on doing it.
Like always, spectacular! The note separation and clarity, and easy on the eyes. Happy New Year
My name is Tom and I accept this guitar!
I love it! I’m a novice and could not bring out the potential of such an instrument. That doesn’t mean I won’t try!
That sounds SO GOOD
My name is Van but I now Identify as Tom!
Nice playing and talk, thanks :-)
The sound and beauty of this guitar is unbeleavible. I don't know if you remember me but I am loving watching your posts and some day I will own a Wilborn!!!
Gorgeous tone
I’m in love with the sound of this guitar! Absolutely beautiful work.
This sounds as fabulous as it looks! Wow!
Ahhh...thanks so much for the info and I love your playing!
Love where the guitar took you on that last improv!
Just when I think you have tapped out, you come up with a better sounding guitar. I enjoy your progression and the deep thoughts that lead you this modal. This is just a thought. What about a smaller scale of the same guitar. Maybe parlor size ?
That might be my favorite new guitar too!
There has to be a voice to that song in you
I’m gunna topic veer for a sec . I’d love to see an all hog model which I think African Mahogany fir the top as is has so it’s said a bit brother highs and tad more lows then Honduras . Obviously if I could afford it I’d have it built ! lol 😂 but maybe someone will eventually order one . I’ll just watch from the sidelines. 😊
Ben Wilborn I think Tom needs a new friend. I could picture setting on the porch playing his new nautilus.
Thumbs up
Thank you for the beautiful music and the guitar porn.
Wow!
At the risk of asking, a stupid question, is the guitar tuned a step low with a capo in the second fret? 
Merry Christmas from Frog and Toad.
www.frogandtoadmusic.com
83 CommentsComment on Facebook
That was just gorgeous guys! Merry Christmas to you guys too! 
Wonderful
Merry Christmas, guys! You sound fantastic! Loving the headwear. ♥️
Beautiful arrangement, guys! Happy Holidays to you and your families!
Beautiful tone and well played. Merry Christmas
Bravo!!
Beautiful. Perfect.
Again incredible!!! Love when you two play. You knock my socks off….
Thanks a lot from Slovakia. You are great, guys. Have a wonderful whole new year 🍀
Wonderful thanks for sharing this with us 😀 😊
Merry Christmas guys! So clean and tastefully done!!! Love this!!
Sounds fabulous guys!
Merry Christmas
Pretty good 👍 Merry Christmas 🎄
Nicely done guys 🎵🎶👌
Good job guys.⚘⚘
Merry Christmas!!! Awesome. Brad - love the stocking cap!!!
As aways you guys sound great. Merry Christmas
Very cool guitars sound magical
Very nice indeed guys.
really nice sir
Just lovely, you guys.. A most blessed Christmas to you both... And all of your cohorts!!
Bravo 👏👏👏👌👍💯👍
merry Christmas to you all sir
Perfect!