Can we all stop for just a moment to acknowledge how fortunate we are to live in this moment in time, when we can sit down essentially at will and watch a master artisan practicing their craft in their studio/shop/shed/space?
not just one, there's probably at least 100 master craftsmen like Ben with RUclips channels. we are lucky indeed, but no amount of this beats one-on-one apprenticeship.
Ben, Here's an idea for the inlay. How about engraving veins in the leaves, rather than cutting holes in the center, then fill the engravings with the copper inlay powder? You would get a neat effect and given your tight time constraints, would probably be faster as well.
What I love about this guy is that he never makes it easy on himself. If he gets an idea in his head, he goes through with it, however complicated it might be and is not afraid to change his mind mid-air even if it means walking the extra mile.
If I wrote my own very personal list of things that don't appeal to my own peculiar eye on guitars in general it would be: - offset. Tick - multi-ply binding. Tick - elaborate Vai/Pia flower inlay. Tick - Tiger Stripe paint job - floyd rose trem - gold hardware If the remaining features appear next week you need to get out of my head Mr Crowe! 🤯 I'm still enjoying the build and challenging my own very personal design pecadillos, it's just a spooky run of decisions 😂
Half inch American Black Walnut dowels would look awesome connecting the front and back together. Maple and walnut are the strawberries and cream of the timber world!
Suggestion: Push/bend down the 2 side sections on the front, revealing the inner binding almost entirely. So the center will be higher than the sides until you get about halfway down, close to where the bridge will be.
i really want to see what ben considers not overcomplicated. probably would still put jet engine manufacturers to shame. love the videos. every series gets more and more exciting and adventurous.
I usually don’t like this kind of inlay. Mostly because the „trunk“ being too thick. But I like this one! You asked for input from us? If you want more complication: tiny orange flower buds on fret 1, 7, 19. Or tiny „berries“ made out of brass tubing of 4, 5, 6 mm diam., or clusters of 2mm, filled with purple. Spontaneous idea for berries: very thin copper wire crumpled up, flattened, filled with color epoxy. Outline cut as liked. If grinded flat and polished some copper threads will shine, the others are giving depth... I think filling the leaves with copper will get them look again massive. Filling them with a dark material keeps the graceful, delicate appearance. You could inlay in the leaves tiny bits of brass/copper wire... Cheers Ben. Love your work🙌🏼
Definitely the right choice on the leaves of the vine and I love the way the vine mirrors the shape of the binding that runs into the front of the body 👍🏻
Started out dubious, but now utterly wowed by the inlay design. Especially the 'framing' pieces. Already in love with the body shape. I want this guitar, even though I don't play, and have no intention of learning :)
What seems too much to take on is exactly what Ben will do. Thankfully, as it means we get to see some terrific handling of materials. Aren't we lucky!
Just have to love the insanity that is the mind of Ben. Making life so much harder for one self, just because.... Threaded inserts in the top and back and use wood covered threads to hold it together? No visible heads, either round or octo shaped wood pillars. OR.. Parthenon shaped (turned) pillars - based on chess pieces? If the top was steamed the "wings" ban be really bent into shape - might even be able to push it all the way to the back.
Great progress Ben! I really like the ongoing concept that is coming out. I am also doing a vine-like inlay on my build this year, and your inlay videos (Grace Kelly, especially) are really helpful. Looking forward to seeing the guitar with no sides finished next week!
Another unique and beautiful build under way. Keep changing your mind Ben , that is the best part of your videos , watching your creative process. The background music has really picked up in energy and really makes watching the time lapse bits exceptional
Your videos are, without exaggeration, the highlight of my week! I'm currently looking at a very large slab of sapele and considering making a one-piece guitar (neck and all, with a sustain bow a la Auerswald Guitars). Ambitious? Yes. Difficult? Definitely. Cool? Could be!
You could add an abalone flower at fret 1 as you have the vine starting up at the high frets. I love the design, I'm just giving you an idea as you said to
Ben, watching you work is the most amazing thing ever. I can have the absolute worst day and I can watch one of your videos and be perfectly at ease. The amount of patience and attention to detail you posses is absolutely incredible! You truly are a master of your craft and for that I can't thank you enough! I'm always looking forward to your new content when it comes to your new builds. Thank you so much man. I'm not a luthier but I do play, and watching you work is like poetry in motion as they say. You have an amazing gift my Friend! Once again, thank you for what you do.
Innovative!!! U were right last vid! It did look massive on block till you cut it out! Wasn't sure at first what you were going 4 but now I see!! Very, very cool! Cheerz all!!
Episode 2; In which Master Crowe applies the Art Nouveau Movement to guitar building and discusses stratagem on how not to skewer your ballsack with your pencil.
@@GreyMatterStew I know a guy that came off a motorbike at fairly low speed with a pen in his inside pocket and ended up in theatre because it penetrated his abdominal cavity. He nearly actually died. I get called a hipster nerd for having one of those Fisher bullet space pens but I got it because that story gives me the heebyjeebies and no way that's happening to me.
The inlay is going to be amazing !! The boy is very cool shaped & the binding looks fantastic !! Still not sure where your headed with the open body cavity but knowing you it will definitely blow our minds when it's finished !! Looking forward to seeing the finished product !!!
I'm really glad I watched this! I was literally about to use some shells to do some inlay on a neck I've been working on and now I know to go get air treatment!!
Here I am doing just about everything else before the fretboard inlays cos I'm concerned I'll choose just one 12th fret inlay that takes me too much time (while debating back and forth about keeping it simple or doing something unique) and you go and do that! But then, I'm only on my fourth build, while you're Ben Crowe. You're a genius, Ben.
Amazing. You are the best. Absolutely in love with the shape. Inlay design amazing. Love the idea of copper dust or maybe two abalone flowers, one on top and one midway. If I had one wish for this though.... Carve top or contoured top + contoured back you started leaning toward in this video.... The binding is great but if it was replaced with contour front and back would have been mindblown. Binding is def gonna compliment those inlays so much though so dont listen to me lol. Most inspirational content on YT hands down.
Hey Ben, at the beginning of the video, you drew a part of the vine overlapping the edge binding. That would have been a cool, subtle touch, maybe something to try in the future! The binding on one side is an awsome origional thought. I LOVE IT!
MAN! The things you come up with Ben, well, the designs amaze me most of the time and I thoroughly enjoy just seeing how you skip skillfully over every hurdle that arises. I was just watching your self withdrawn hollow 'Dowell' build series again and I tell you what I can't seem to find anywhere if you've done this again where you've continued that idea but of course the back-catalogue is huge so I'm assuming I just haven't found it yet 🙂. I know there are SOOOOO many freaky wild ideas out there like making bodies from compressed old skateboards, or the myriad ideas surrounding epoxy designs, but after seeing all these new styles and also the so-called silent guitars (by many companies now including Yamaha mostly for the higher price versions) it seems, This design seems to be the best full guitar version of that type of minimalist thing. BTW I thought this turned out stunning and amazing even if you had some reservations because things didn't go as planned.😆🤟 Anyway, enough of the raving and ranting and cavity crawling hahaha LOL, thanks for the inspiration thus far!!
It would be nice to see the vine climb round onto the back of the neck in places. And maybe tiny flowers instead of dots. Looking good whatever you decide.
Ben, this is going to be amazing - as always. I have a crazy Idea - put the edge 1cm or more from the actual edge, as as if you look at it from an angle you will see a gap between the front and back.
I really really like the shape of the body on this, may have to build my own :) Also for the inlay I think it would be super cool if it went off the fretboard and continued onto the headstock, or even wrapped around the back of the neck. I know there’s a time limit on this though!
Ok, so last time, I said I was turned off by the shape, but that I would have to trust Ben’s eye. Well this week I think I am coming round to the shape, goddamn Ben Crowe got me again!!!! That inlay is going to be stunning
If you liked you could use something like walnut dowels as stand offs between the front and back. It would be a bit lighter than using bolts and coming through the front and back with a shoulder to hold them at the right distance the dots showing could act as a design element. and instead of them being round they could be square. Looking good.
I think you should continue the inlay from the fingerboard onto the headstock with twirly bits going round the machine heads like how a vine grown!!! :-D
u could have the vines go off the fretboard completely and wrap around the back of the neck in some places and have it come back onto the fretboard from the other side. give it a much more vine-y effect. and have it terminate with a large leaf on the front (or back) of the headstock with the Crimson logo or your personal sigil inlaid within the leaf inlay.
Oh Dear God! I just showed the missus the end result of the ‘Shred’ build and she was more taken with the tattoos. Quote... ‘ooh I like that, you could do that’. Showed my son the same video and he also was impressed with the tatts. Now the missus has got me thinking about shaving my head and what I’d have (Motörhead WarPig is favourite) but honestly, I don’t think I’m brave enough. Problem is, I work for the Old Bill so I don’t think it would go down well at work 😏
Glad you didn't go with the geometric style of inlay; I don't think it would have gone well with the organic shape of the body. Cracking work, as always. Much love from Wales.
The generic term for dust related lung disease is pneumoconiosis. Specific occupations have their own variants... Anthracosis for coal miners, Silicosis for quarrymen, and also things like Farmer's lung (crop mould), Miller's lung (or Baker's Lung) from flour. I have never heard of Luthier's lung from abalone, but I wouldn't want you to start a trend. Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. I'm really intrigued.
The inlay in its final (possibly) design is fantastic and is going to be stunning. I thought making a belly cut by having a different shape for the back was a good idea (Telecaster fans might disagree), perhaps that could be filed under 'Possible ideas for future builds. As always, seeing the thinking during the design process is very interesting.
Can we all stop for just a moment to acknowledge how fortunate we are to live in this moment in time, when we can sit down essentially at will and watch a master artisan practicing their craft in their studio/shop/shed/space?
It's certainly not lost on me. We live the perfect time to be an info-maniac.
not just one, there's probably at least 100 master craftsmen like Ben with RUclips channels. we are lucky indeed, but no amount of this beats one-on-one apprenticeship.
Burn it.
Thinking of Leo working on Michael in the same manner😳
Oh yes indeed. Isn't he fantastic.
Ben, Here's an idea for the inlay. How about engraving veins in the leaves, rather than cutting holes in the center, then fill the engravings with the copper inlay powder? You would get a neat effect and given your tight time constraints, would probably be faster as well.
That is a fantastic idea. I really hope ben sees this.
Upvote this!
I agree! Ben?
Love that idea
i believe the health issue caused by silica dust in gemstone, masonry and shell work is called silicosis
“I’m slightly over complicating things here”... that’s a good channel name.
''How to make my life as complicated as possible.'' A tutorial by Ben Crowe.
What I love about this guy is that he never makes it easy on himself. If he gets an idea in his head, he goes through with it, however complicated it might be and is not afraid to change his mind mid-air even if it means walking the extra mile.
could we just stop a moment and appreciate the great editing of the videos? well done, editing person!
Yes! You are absolutely on point!
Yes, Ben’s sister Tahlitha is amazing! I’m thinking of starting up a ‘Talitha Appreciation Channel’ - her sense of humour is wicked! 😁😁
If I wrote my own very personal list of things that don't appeal to my own peculiar eye on guitars in general it would be:
- offset. Tick
- multi-ply binding. Tick
- elaborate Vai/Pia flower inlay. Tick
- Tiger Stripe paint job
- floyd rose trem
- gold hardware
If the remaining features appear next week you need to get out of my head Mr Crowe! 🤯 I'm still enjoying the build and challenging my own very personal design pecadillos, it's just a spooky run of decisions 😂
I kept waiting for Ben to stop mid-sentence (mid-ramble) and yell "SQUIRRLE!".
Loving this so far and looking forward to see how it comes together!
I LOVE the intentional spacing of the inlays. Each acting as a "DOT" on the fretboard. that's brilliant.
I don't know.
But I do like.
Another cool look.
Never been done.
Ever thinking.
Zero competition.
@@kilhattrick dude, that haiku has WAY too many syllables. Lol
Half inch American Black Walnut dowels would look awesome connecting the front and back together. Maple and walnut are the strawberries and cream of the timber world!
Still waiting to see the finished nebula 😭
Me too
Me three
Me four.
@@allanmarquezini777 Me five
Yah what happend to the Nebula 2.0? Did Ben drop it? Or was it stolen? Plottwist incoming?
Oh MG what a amazing inlay this is going to be. Your woman's face is still my favourite. Go Benny
This looks 10x more beautiful than I expected when I heard the vine idea. It is wonderfully impressive
Suggestion:
Push/bend down the 2 side sections on the front, revealing the inner binding almost entirely. So the center will be higher than the sides until you get about halfway down, close to where the bridge will be.
I thought that was what you where going to do, because you actually pushed it down like that in the previous video.
i really want to see what ben considers not overcomplicated. probably would still put jet engine manufacturers to shame. love the videos. every series gets more and more exciting and adventurous.
This creation keeps getting more cool with each video.......and as far as the shell dust......the term you were searching for is pulmonary fibrosis.
I usually don’t like this kind of inlay. Mostly because the „trunk“ being too thick.
But I like this one!
You asked for input from us?
If you want more complication: tiny orange flower buds on fret 1, 7, 19. Or tiny „berries“ made out of brass tubing of 4, 5, 6 mm diam., or clusters of 2mm, filled with purple.
Spontaneous idea for berries: very thin copper wire crumpled up, flattened, filled with color epoxy. Outline cut as liked. If grinded flat and polished some copper threads will shine, the others are giving depth...
I think filling the leaves with copper will get them look again massive. Filling them with a dark material keeps the graceful, delicate appearance.
You could inlay in the leaves tiny bits of brass/copper wire...
Cheers Ben. Love your work🙌🏼
Definitely the right choice on the leaves of the vine and I love the way the vine mirrors the shape of the binding that runs into the front of the body 👍🏻
An Abalone leaf on each odd fret would've been cool as well, looking awesome as always.
Silhouette inlay. The vine is the rosewood and the rest is inlay. That would look awesome.
Started out dubious, but now utterly wowed by the inlay design. Especially the 'framing' pieces. Already in love with the body shape. I want this guitar, even though I don't play, and have no intention of learning :)
For the first time in my life, I like the offset shape. Looks very "organic" and with floral inlays it will be amazing. It must be green though...
What seems too much to take on is exactly what Ben will do. Thankfully, as it means we get to see some terrific handling of materials. Aren't we lucky!
Procrastination leads to caffeination which leads to inspiration. Nice stuff.
WOW, Ben, go for it. all will be fine and your guitar will be stunning cool!
21:03 Almost the Klingon's ensign hahaha...K'PLAR!!
As the old Klingon luthier said when it was time for finish, "today is a good day to dye..."
Coat, etc...
I've been trawling some of the other builds, and some of them are amazing.
Just have to love the insanity that is the mind of Ben.
Making life so much harder for one self, just because....
Threaded inserts in the top and back and use wood covered threads to hold it together?
No visible heads, either round or octo shaped wood pillars.
OR.. Parthenon shaped (turned) pillars - based on chess pieces?
If the top was steamed the "wings" ban be really bent into shape - might even be able to push it all the way to the back.
Looks like the official Klingon flower if there was one. Liking this guitar very very much!
Wow Ben, that inlay is incredible. Can't wait to see it finished. Thoroughly enjoyable to watch your process as always.
I love how you take us along with your thought process!
The Complication has now become a lifestyle for Mr Ben Crowe
fantastic inlay design in the neck !!!
This is soooo amazing building, i enjoy eatching you, the inlay is sooooo amazing i love it
Very cool shape Ben, it's going to be awesome!
Great progress Ben! I really like the ongoing concept that is coming out. I am also doing a vine-like inlay on my build this year, and your inlay videos (Grace Kelly, especially) are really helpful. Looking forward to seeing the guitar with no sides finished next week!
Outstanding design acumen, Ben. Simply outstanding.
Abalone flower at the top of the vine to finish it off would look amazing
Another unique and beautiful build under way. Keep changing your mind Ben , that is the best part of your videos , watching your creative process. The background music has really picked up in energy and really makes watching the time lapse bits exceptional
I don't normally like vine inlays
But I love this
Loving the transitions and video editing for this series! Also hoping the inlay keep their centers, such a nice contrast against the fretboard as is.
Your videos are, without exaggeration, the highlight of my week! I'm currently looking at a very large slab of sapele and considering making a one-piece guitar (neck and all, with a sustain bow a la Auerswald Guitars). Ambitious? Yes. Difficult? Definitely. Cool? Could be!
Do love the styling you have developed for this build!
That's going to be a painstakingly beautiful inlays.
It is the most beautiful Klingon Bat'leth vine I have ever seen.
I like the framing of the white outline on the fretboard. It's like you're looking through a window to the garden
That is really elegant.
Definitely genius at work!
Keith.
You could add an abalone flower at fret 1 as you have the vine starting up at the high frets. I love the design, I'm just giving you an idea as you said to
Ben, watching you work is the most amazing thing ever. I can have the absolute worst day and I can watch one of your videos and be perfectly at ease. The amount of patience and attention to detail you posses is absolutely incredible! You truly are a master of your craft and for that I can't thank you enough! I'm always looking forward to your new content when it comes to your new builds. Thank you so much man. I'm not a luthier but I do play, and watching you work is like poetry in motion as they say. You have an amazing gift my Friend! Once again, thank you for what you do.
Talitha. Love the ticking sound when he's thinking!
Innovative!!! U were right last vid! It did look massive on block till you cut it out! Wasn't sure at first what you were going 4 but now I see!! Very, very cool! Cheerz all!!
Episode 2; In which Master Crowe applies the Art Nouveau Movement to guitar building and discusses stratagem on how not to skewer your ballsack with your pencil.
You just know the reason for the pencil story was to show how cleverly he avoids stabbing himself with his pencil... again. 😉
@@GreyMatterStew I know a guy that came off a motorbike at fairly low speed with a pen in his inside pocket and ended up in theatre because it penetrated his abdominal cavity. He nearly actually died.
I get called a hipster nerd for having one of those Fisher bullet space pens but I got it because that story gives me the heebyjeebies and no way that's happening to me.
Bravo! I’ve really got to hand it to you Ben, you do not half ass anything! Spectacular
I'll be so very glad when I can do an inlay that complexed in 2 days! Gotta keep going. Love the build Ben, as usual.
Ben, you might possibly be the finest craftsmen on RUclips, that inlay work is a thing of beauty , wow
The inlay is going to be amazing !! The boy is very cool shaped & the binding looks fantastic !! Still not sure where your headed with the open body cavity but knowing you it will definitely blow our minds when it's finished !! Looking forward to seeing the finished product !!!
Looks incredibly AWESOME Ben, can't wait to see it's completion! Your "Freehand" skills are superior....
Now... this guitar gets me excited. 🤟
I wait with interest............. Can't see it myself, but I trust your variable vision for those project. Thanx
"Got ants in me pants."
Save that one for a new intro!
And ticking clock! Luv Talitha's little touches! Ben does like to cut it close! Will it be done on time????
Ben, don't you always end up going back to the original plan?
It looks like a swarm of dragon flies.
It looks like a swarm of dragon flies.
Yeah, "got ants in me pants... Burn 'em"
I'm really glad I watched this! I was literally about to use some shells to do some inlay on a neck I've been working on and now I know to go get air treatment!!
Watch all your vids whilst practicing scales helps to get in the flow.
I have a feeling this could be the sexiest guitar you've built to date.
Here I am doing just about everything else before the fretboard inlays cos I'm concerned I'll choose just one 12th fret inlay that takes me too much time (while debating back and forth about keeping it simple or doing something unique) and you go and do that! But then, I'm only on my fourth build, while you're Ben Crowe. You're a genius, Ben.
Looking good, looks even better as a reverse headstock lefty!
Silicosis. Silicosis is what you end up with. Nasty stuff indeed!
Great work Ben, love it 👍
My only complaint about this one is that I'm missing nebula 2! This one will also be special for sure
The moment you finally realise Mother of Pearl are actually big clam shells! :O
Amazing. You are the best. Absolutely in love with the shape. Inlay design amazing. Love the idea of copper dust or maybe two abalone flowers, one on top and one midway. If I had one wish for this though.... Carve top or contoured top + contoured back you started leaning toward in this video.... The binding is great but if it was replaced with contour front and back would have been mindblown. Binding is def gonna compliment those inlays so much though so dont listen to me lol. Most inspirational content on YT hands down.
Ben Crowe: _🎵 "I'm going slightly mad" 🎵_
Soooo hard to comment when appropriate!.....must wait for Ben's squirrels!
Hey Ben, at the beginning of the video, you drew a part of the vine overlapping the edge binding. That would have been a cool, subtle touch, maybe something to try in the future! The binding on one side is an awsome origional thought. I LOVE IT!
MAN! The things you come up with Ben, well, the designs amaze me most of the time and I thoroughly enjoy just seeing how you skip skillfully over every hurdle that arises. I was just watching your self withdrawn hollow 'Dowell' build series again and I tell you what I can't seem to find anywhere if you've done this again where you've continued that idea but of course the back-catalogue is huge so I'm assuming I just haven't found it yet 🙂. I know there are SOOOOO many freaky wild ideas out there like making bodies from compressed old skateboards, or the myriad ideas surrounding epoxy designs, but after seeing all these new styles and also the so-called silent guitars (by many companies now including Yamaha mostly for the higher price versions) it seems, This design seems to be the best full guitar version of that type of minimalist thing. BTW I thought this turned out stunning and amazing even if you had some reservations because things didn't go as planned.😆🤟 Anyway, enough of the raving and ranting and cavity crawling hahaha LOL, thanks for the inspiration thus far!!
It would be nice to see the vine climb round onto the back of the neck in places. And maybe tiny flowers instead of dots. Looking good whatever you decide.
Love the inlay. I would choose abalone all day. I love the various colors.
That vine is growing on me!
Ben, this is going to be amazing - as always.
I have a crazy Idea - put the edge 1cm or more from the actual edge, as as if you look at it from an angle you will see a gap between the front and back.
I really really like the shape of the body on this, may have to build my own :)
Also for the inlay I think it would be super cool if it went off the fretboard and continued onto the headstock, or even wrapped around the back of the neck. I know there’s a time limit on this though!
Surely a great guitar, like a great watch needs to be aesthetically pleasing but functionally perfect.
YES! 12 Points for the fretboard ideae.R.
I see you are a watch fan. 2 tudors and a speedy spotted so far and counting 😁👍
Ok, so last time, I said I was turned off by the shape, but that I would have to trust Ben’s eye.
Well this week I think I am coming round to the shape, goddamn Ben Crowe got me again!!!! That inlay is going to be stunning
If you liked you could use something like walnut dowels as stand offs between the front and back. It would be a bit lighter than using bolts and coming through the front and back with a shoulder to hold them at the right distance the dots showing could act as a design element. and instead of them being round they could be square. Looking good.
You should angle the front and back of the body so they are closer together at the neck and farther at the tail.
I think you should continue the inlay from the fingerboard onto the headstock with twirly bits going round the machine heads like how a vine grown!!! :-D
Awesome Ben
Every time Ben says abalone my kiwi heart wishes he knew that we call it paua & would refer to it as such =P
Love the layered look of the top. I dont know why but the shape reminds me of Squidward's head😁😁😁
u could have the vines go off the fretboard completely and wrap around the back of the neck in some places and have it come back onto the fretboard from the other side. give it a much more vine-y effect. and have it terminate with a large leaf on the front (or back) of the headstock with the Crimson logo or your personal sigil inlaid within the leaf inlay.
It would mot be a Crimson build without massive amounts of procrastibation! Kudos as always for the entertainment!
Oh Dear God! I just showed the missus the end result of the ‘Shred’ build and she was more taken with the tattoos. Quote... ‘ooh I like that, you could do that’. Showed my son the same video and he also was impressed with the tatts. Now the missus has got me thinking about shaving my head and what I’d have (Motörhead WarPig is favourite) but honestly, I don’t think I’m brave enough. Problem is, I work for the Old Bill so I don’t think it would go down well at work 😏
Ben you should do a vine inlay that wraps the entire neck, going from fretboard to binding into the back of the neck then back around to the headstock
Glad you didn't go with the geometric style of inlay; I don't think it would have gone well with the organic shape of the body. Cracking work, as always. Much love from Wales.
The generic term for dust related lung disease is pneumoconiosis. Specific occupations have their own variants... Anthracosis for coal miners, Silicosis for quarrymen, and also things like Farmer's lung (crop mould), Miller's lung (or Baker's Lung) from flour. I have never heard of Luthier's lung from abalone, but I wouldn't want you to start a trend.
Looking forward to seeing how this one turns out. I'm really intrigued.
Love the body shape
I dig it!
The inlay in its final (possibly) design is fantastic and is going to be stunning. I thought making a belly cut by having a different shape for the back was a good idea (Telecaster fans might disagree), perhaps that could be filed under 'Possible ideas for future builds.
As always, seeing the thinking during the design process is very interesting.
OOh. ooh, bee on the 12th fret!