Ep 22 Fret Crowning and Custom Tuners, oh my! - Making a Modern Multi-Scale Electro Acoustic Guitar

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

The first 1,000 people to use this link will get a 1 month free trial of Skillshare: skl.sh/crimsoncustomguitars07211

[@ianthomson9363]

This is one of the most beautiful guitars I've ever seen.

[@atakdragonfly1675]

It is freaking gorgeous

[@BigD4Real.]

I know exactly what this guitar needs. Textured shielding paint…

[@jameskerr9666]

Underrated comment 🤣🤣

[@owenhartmann7354]

Part of me wants to acknowledge that this is a hilarious comment, but I also know I wouldn’t have subscribed if Ben wasn’t such a radical risk taker. That’s a double edged sword some days

[@aaax9410]

This is the most Beautiful guitar you have ever made Ben ❤️

[@mjxguerra]

Ben, I'm a 30yr engineer and build the occasional guitar to keep sane. Anyway, I've just binge-watched the 1st 22 episodes of the Nebula 2.0, entranced in the skill and the process. However, as an engineer I was surprised that you didn't back the burl with something structural, given that the grain doesn't run across the sheet and so structurally perform closer to cork, than a typical spruce soundboard where the fibres run longitudinally. If it were me (and if I had your wonderful skillset) I would have glued a thin layer of woven carbonfibre sheet, less than 1mm thick (looking like the black veneer) to the back of the burl. Just saying. Can't wait for the next episode.

[@philiphurdwell3443]

More patience than dr. Kildare!!!!!! Simply stunning peice..... Personally there is absolutely nothing I dont like or would change, great stuff

[@jlarts]

"It's uncomfortable. It's perfect" ... oh Ben... ;)

[@ianstewart1143]

OMG! the finish on the body is amazing 👍

[@atakdragonfly1675]

That guitar is completely fantastic. Gorgeous. I'd LOVE to hear how it sounds just in the room acoustically.

[@danielpaquet3963]

in a year or 2 .lol

[@atakdragonfly1675]

@@danielpaquet3963 I think he's done with it now, no?

[@KingBespokeCreations]

So how close to sanding the body did you get doing that fall away! 😱

[@MrLinkDay]

I love this part of builds, so relaxing to watch.

[@gerrykavanagh]

Your levelling beam makes a sound reminiscent of the Tardis.

[@tuxcode7344]

That makes sense actually. I believe the sound for the tardis was made by sliding a coin over a large wooden surface

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

@@tuxcode7344 it was someone scraping a key on the shroud of a stage lamp iirc

[@JoeThornhill]

@@gramursowanfaborden5820 Pretty sure they were piano strings with a little effects.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

@@JoeThornhill not sure what effects they would have had back then my dude.

[@ludlows201]

Just wow! that's just stunning

[@evasanders7327]

I'm so happy to see you back at the home shop again.....

[@Jester-Riddle]

The Tuning Pegs should age nicely with use and natural oil from fingertips doing the turning ... 😃

[@seeteasea5497]

Finally a build video

[@headlandfestival3237]

Ask for your money back if you're not happy

[@seeteasea5497]

@@headlandfestival3237 actually, every view is money to every channel. They get money for every ad we sit through and every engagement (comments, likes, etc) brings more money. The thing is that for the people who watched his channel for years like myself that came for the guitar builds will just watch less and less of the channel’s content and eventually stop altogether with the current trend of favouring live streams that don’t get the same views as the build videos. Your flippant comment is actually pretty stupid when you think about it properly. Edit: Also, the subscribers to this channel that came for the guitar builds are the guys and girls who gave him his success on here. I’ve been watching his channel for years and commenting multiple times on most videos they put out, so guys like myself have pumped plenty of money into this company’s pocket and put the channel where it is today.

[@headlandfestival3237]

Or you could have said something positive about it being a build video and therefore wouldn't have had to reply with such a sense of guilt driven self justification. Have a lovely weekend, I hope you have the one you deserve 😁

[@seeteasea5497]

@@headlandfestival3237 you didn’t have to reply at all with your poorly thought out remark that I’m sure you were more than proud of at the time. What I said was neither positive, nor negative. It depends on how you read it, I just made a statement of fact. Not my fault you chose to put negative spin on it, that says more about you than me 🖕

[@bresettguitars2518]

Exactly!

[@andycpd6669]

What a beautiful looking guitar, can't wait to see it finished ❤️ ❤️

[@beatfinkbeiner4215]

Dear Ben, I want to congratulate you for your fantastic guitar - you are a real master and a real artist! WOW!🌈🐞👍🏼

[@therealwonkydog]

Great viewing for stress relief on a Saturday.

[@TheBorderRyker]

The finish on the body is just sublime. 👌🏻

[@bensoulsby86]

Wtf how is it possible for a guitar to be so incredibly beautiful? Great work Ben

[@jedanderson3270]

Loved Nebula 1, loving Nebula 2. Just ordered a tiny chisel from Vintage tool shop cos well.. I need one. Decided to learn to inlay on some Wenge offcuts that I have, with some lovely green lipped mussels that I had for dinner tonight 😁👍 Their shell's kind of inbetween abalone ranbowyness and mother of toilet bowl as its a bit pale. Anyways you're a luthier superstar and inspiration to so many 😁👍 Cheers -Jed

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you so much for your remarks. Ben reads all the comments but does not always have time to reply to everyone. Happy inlaying! DC

[@TillyP]

I haven't checked these videos in like half a year and holy shit has that thing come to life

[@robertr4193]

Looking fantastic Ben. Really looking forward to hearing it play.

[@creativecomposites6193]

LED ceiling panels in cool white give a nice daylight feel, very cheap too!

[@nsjguitarsakascotsman6989]

You know what dawned on me Ben? You don't need to put the masking tape on the paper as well as the beam when attaching it to the levelling beam! The tape will peel off the beam anyway! Just thought of that watching you stick the paper to the stick for doing the finer work

[@tyremanguitars]

amazing as usual, I love the level of detail with the fret rounding, I bet that feels great to play!

[@DarwinStearns]

Love the look of the custom tuner buttons! My only concern (as someone who often spends at least a portion of his day cleaning and restringing guitars) is how well they will seat inside a standard peg winding tool, but I'm sure you considered that before you made them. Am I right, Ben? :-)

[@Walking_Death]

That loose shirt around the polishing wheel was giving me the heebie-jeebies. Especially when you reached over to put the the stick polishing compound down.

[@antoniodelarosa8850]

Beautyfull Axe!!👍👍👍👍👍

[@psnaith1]

absolutely love the guitar and the finish!

[@gerrykavanagh]

Glad I watched this now. I am working on some custom tuning keys, and wouldn’t have thought of the inserts. I assume they are to prevent the wood from cracking, or is it just because it’s pretty?

[@sandyj1561]

Gorgeous 😍

[@rickbaker4571]

Some steel guitar music at the 9:55 mark... now you need to build one. That should take a year or so : )

[@guyverl]

When your guitar building series has the same pacing as Dragonball Z

[@TalonPro]

Once i get interested in a channel, i watch all the old vids and wait for the new ones to come out. Whats refreshing about you is, despite being a "teacher", and repeat stuff over and over in almost all of your vids, its some how not off-putting like other channels i used to be subbed to. Their vids were the SAME no matter what was being worked on and it just got really old after a short while, despite feedback about it. :)

[@markinthemix6055]

I truly appreciate the craft of fret dressing achievement in a quality polish and crown job but give us your thoughts on plek machines.

[@rtucker0458]

I think I'd like to see an inlaid Milky Way (MOP/Abalone), across the body.. IE: as if you were looking up at it. Nothing huge, But the contrast running somewhere across the face of the body. and somewhat subdued. I can picture it. Just hard to explain.

[@444chains]

I’m a truly lucky Man Ben, I don’t need Skillshare, if I want to know anything, anything at all, I need only to ask my Wife, because she knows everything. On another note. The finish on that beast is out-bleedin-standing. Congratulations Sir. Can’t wait to hear it.

[@ParallaxRS]

I love this guitar and this series, but personally I would’ve had a natural colour binding on the body, possibly made out of the burl wood. I don’t know if that would’ve been possible and no way I could have done it myself, but that’s my personal preference from a customer’s point of view . Apart from that it’s one of the most beautiful guitars I’ve ever seen!

[@atakdragonfly1675]

I can imagine burl, would be a real pain to use as binding. It crumbles, has knots, unfavorable grain.. to have it in thin strips like binding, would make it hard to work with. You would have to piece that together much more I'm sure.

[@ParallaxRS]

@@atakdragonfly1675 Yeah i guessed as much, I'm not a very experienced woodworker, but aesthetically you understand where I was coming from I hope!

[@atakdragonfly1675]

@@ParallaxRS sure... Would look beautiful... if you can piece it together rather seamlessly. But I'm sure it's fiddly, tedious work. Me, I'm picky, lol... my guitars are all like hot rods, shiny and polished. Always clean, no chicken grease. I don't like worn things, or any fake reliced things. I hate plastic binding that no longer looks white, and looks yellowish. I hate tarnish, pitting. The only reason I didn't get this one silverburst les Paul, is cause I only like it when it's NEW, and it looks SILVER and black. And I don't like when it turns the green tarnishy looking color! So I couldn't justify it. Same with a white Les Paul custom. I always wanted that Randy Rhoads LP. As long as it stayed bright white... But alas, it turns nicotine yellow eventually. And I'm sure people have done the burl, and pulled it off.. I'm betting probably Ben has already! Just not practical.. That's why they usually do binding in plastic. Or at least a more stable wood than burl.. You can have long pieces, without breaking it. With plastic...A little heat and you're good. I'd just rather have plastic that will never look like nicotine stain. I'd prefer abalone, selected for the color I'm going for.

[@B.McAllister]

22:59 Ah. Learning from the master Luthier videos I see?

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

What can we say 🤷😂 ~S

[@OzSawdustMakers]

Mate, I love your builds and have been a subscriber for a long time but i have to say. I just watched Thor Ragnarok and I realised that you look like Skurge! 😂😂😂😂

[@pralt1]

Why not black or gold hardware/frets? From a theme standpoint, I think would fit better especially with the gold grain enhancer.

[@avatarofdeath]

Ben of Crimson Guitars watching Ben of Crimson Guitars make the Nebula 2 while he makes the Nebula 2 for Crimson Guitars. 22:50

[@AdenEarnshaw]

The inception of Ben watching Nebula 2 videos whilst building N2 😂

[@richardblum3516]

You should heat up the metal part of the tuning keys to give them a more colorful finish!

[@matt6288joyce]

The client must have been waiting for suuuuuuuch a long time for this!? It is gorgeous but wow this is taking a while

[@andrewwinch474]

I may be wrong, but I think in one of the early videos Ben says the customer is aware that it will be a rather lengthy build.

[@anorak211]

Have you seen Sam Deeks from Reloved Guitars on KZbin, he uses a truss rod with sand paper on it to level the frets. He can set the truss rod tool to the same relief as the neck and so not have to use a fret leveling tool and a fret beam. Do you think this would be a good way to level the frets?

[@PaulCooksStuff]

Sam uses a truss rod tool/technique he "reverse engineered" from the original Katana fret levelling tool (after Katana insisted he stop using it in videos, even though he was praising it). Ben was asked about Katana on a livestream and had a major eye roll - he doesn't see the point because (paraphrasing) you have to remove the strings to crown anyway. But Sam isn't suggesting that's a benefit - he's advocating that levelling with strings on gives you immediate feedback and certainty on dead notes and choked bends etc while removing the minimum fret height, to prolong playing life and keep customers happy by deferring refret bills. He still removes strings to crown and polish - he's not doing it to avoid that step. So in reality it probably just represents different ends of the spectrum. New guitar builder with virgin unstrung neck and max height frets - why string it up and make it less accessible. Guitar tech with customers well worn instrument - strings are already on, use them to diagnose problems and salvage every last mm of fret height because the customers answer to "it needs a refret" will be "stop there, don't bother working on it".

[@MouldyGuitars]

When you glue the 320grit to the leveling beam, do you need masking tape on the paper rather than just on the beam?

[@PhoenixRising2040]

Lol oh Ben 😅, safety first on the polishing wheel then with the same polishing compound on a dremel during the next shot....no mask 😷 this is why we love you 😀

[@petedazer3381]

Your leveling method works great, I tried it about a year ago after watching you demonstrate it, and have since used it about a dozen times with much success

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you very much. DC

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

I had a brief moment of terror imagining the body of the guitar hitting whatever was on the second wheel of the bench grinder while you polished the neck area! 😨

[@wearytraveler3524]

You sir, are essentially, quite mad!

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

We appreciate the support or the genuine concern :D ~S

[@SteenTV]

Will the truss rod cover be removable when the strings are on?

[@Co0kieDealerr]

Anyone ever told you you sound like a young Anthony Hopkins? Apart of the occasional accent ofcourse. Love the content, ever since the original shed!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I don't think so :). Thank you for the positive comments. DC

[@brainsarethenewblack2441]

But... Look at the shot at 12.40. An inlaid line in the middle of the fret wouldn't be nice? Maybe for a future build

[@k.tucker599]

Strategic coffee cup placement - sales jump 54%

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

At this stage and with the amount consumed I'd like to think Ben has shares in coffee 😂 ~S

[@tuxcode7344]

Hey Ben, I was wondering.. I just saw you put tape on both the levelling beam AND the sandpaper. Why? Are you planning to re-use the sandpaper after you take it off? ;) I always just put one layer of tape on the levelling beam and glue the sandpaper straight to it. Works fine for me so far. But maybe there is something in your infinite wisdom that I've yet to realise? 😁

[@rauschguitars]

I used to do it as well before I realised I don't need the tape on the sandpaper.

[@cheapskate8656]

Haha, I thought I would read the comments to see if anybody had mentioned this. Stop it Ben :)

[@kaylat654]

how about a floating archtop next?

[@MajorJiggle89]

Good Lord, I don't think I've ever had such a bad case of GAS as I have over this guitar! She's so pretty!

[@daveperkins2927]

I think it's about time you had a joint venture with both you and Bob Raven in the workshop together. 😂😂

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

I think they are wanting to plan something of the kind. It would be fun. DC

[@chrisdigital]

Why not use your beautiful fret leveling file for this?

[@mikkjaggher4221]

A man is not working right unless he has tools in his pocket. Especially a pair of pliers. Lol

[@veguitars]

Hi Ben great guitar. Love it. Which file did you use after masking? Is it the fret end dressing file? Cheers V

[@f.b.jeffers0n]

This has already passed a 13/10... Dare I say you're pushing for the fabled 69/10?!

[@bryanmunson1685]

Bob Ross vibes @1:48 for a bit

[@U014B]

22:49 Were you actually watching one of your own videos on your phone, or did Talitha add that in post?

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

Didn't even notice 😂 I'll have to ask Ben to confirm or deny that for you! ~S

[@frankiechan9651]

Was anyone else's heart in their mouths as the guitar body got close to the buffing wheel? I always protect the body when I am buffing the frets on mine as I'm deathly afraid of harming the finish. Regardless that Ben has thousands of hours of experience in this - stuff does happen.

[@Gunnahan]

4:21 why the strip of masking tape on the sandpaper? i know the technique but i dont see why you cant glue the sandpaper on directly to the masking tape on the block.. hmmm..

[@rauschguitars]

I did it this way for WAY too long before I realised that I'm just wasting masking tape.

[@andrewwinch474]

Probably habit cause he’s gotten used to doing it that way.

[@Gunnahan]

@@rauschguitars habit was what i thought then.. :-)

[@unclelonghair]

Sounded like you were channelling your inner Bob Ross during the fret levelling.

[@jamesh5460]

What is the proper first song to be played on this guitar? The song to Christen its life as a beautiful musical instrument.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

We will leave that to the demo artist - or you could start a public vote? DC

[@wesmatron]

May be a dumb question, but why don't you use a levelling beam that's as wide as the neck?

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

I have passed your question on to be answered by Ben this evening on the Luthiers Question Time Livestream on the Crimson Extras channel at 6:30PM UK time. If you can't make I can leave a summary of his reply here 😊 ~S

[@wesmatron]

@@DailyGuitarDraw You're a legend. Thanks.

[@scottiecasey9312]

What's the best way to clean a polishing wheel?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Use a wheel rake. I will be able to get the details off the internet. DC

[@scottiecasey9312]

Thanks Ben. Was very helpful

[@allanmarquezini777]

Every time i see the top of nebula, i can see a lion face. Am i crazy?

[@mcswordfish]

Does anyone know if it would be realistic to try and use a normal Strat-style trem on a multiacale instrument (nothing drastic, just a slight-variation like Nebula here)? My thinking is that Strat saddles have a good range of movement for intonation adjustment, and if the parallel-point was quite far up (maybe around the middle) if could work on paper, but would it be playable?

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

Hi Richard. I passed your question on for the Livestream last night. You can find your question and answer at 2:37 on this video kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZojFqmVsirmiqJo

[@Stu66orn]

What angle of beveling for fretends would you recommend? Most bevels are 35 degrees but is that too aggressive?

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

I have passed your question on to be answered by Ben this evening on the Luthiers Question Time Livestream on the Crimson Extras channel at 6:30PM UK time. If you can't make I can leave a summary of his reply here 😊 ~S

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

In case you missed it I passed your question along to be answered on the Livestream. You can find your question and answer here at 12:04 kzbin.info/www/bejne/epLTo6qbZp1koK8

[@Stu66orn]

@@DailyGuitarDraw Hello! I've seen it great stuff thank you

[@joninawhitecoat]

New Speedy?

[@xTheZapper]

There are so many adverts in this that the Skillshare advert got interrupted to show me an advert.

[@iffler2542]

Complete Ad Fest. It's not usually this bad.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Sorry. The adverts are put in automatically and we do try and check them before the video goes live. We're on it!

[@atakdragonfly1675]

Should you not wait, a few hours or something, after you've adjusted the truss rod like that? I've found sometimes it might be too much, things needed to settle a bit, or I could be too far the other way. I've waited and found I had to back it off a smidge. Not that you don't know what you're doing... Definitely not saying that. Maybe because of my climate it is that way?

[@hankgesmag9650]

Ben, I wonder if there are more than 24 hours a day where you are? It sure seems like it....

[@S-T-E-V-E]

Oh yeah I forgot, he makes guitars too!

[@seeteasea5497]

Nah, this is a live stream podcast channel at this point

[@S-T-E-V-E]

@@seeteasea5497 Did we really need another full video on crowning frets?

[@seeteasea5497]

@@S-T-E-V-E no, but in a desert, dirty water is a gift from heaven! It does feel a little like the channel is shitting on what made it what it is today with videos like this. Live streams must make some serious cash because build videos bring in 5 figures in views guaranteed and sometimes 6 figures. Live streams bring in a couple of thousand max.

[@S-T-E-V-E]

@@seeteasea5497 One word, Superchats

[@seeteasea5497]

@@S-T-E-V-E of course, spot on

[@thewalrus1968]

surely the only true way to level frets is with the neck under tension with a tool at the matching profile of the tensioned neck. When is a guitar setup with a perfectly level fretboard when fully strung. I genuinely dont see the science of leveling frets with the fretboard level and flat. Please enlighten me Ben. 😄

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

I have passed your question on to be answered by Ben this evening on the Luthiers Question Time Livestream on the Crimson Extras channel at 6:30PM UK time. If you can't make I can leave a summary of his reply here 😊 ~S

[@DailyGuitarDraw]

In case you missed it you can find your question and answer in this stream at 9:27 kzbin.info/www/bejne/epLTo6qbZp1koK8 :)

[@aidster]

Famous last words "I don't think these need anymore carving....I don't think these need anymore bevels" Next vid.....🤔🤣😋

[@JesusvonNazaret]

14:21 is your stick so precious that you need to reuse it? Why not glue the sandpaper on it directly?

[@JordonBeal]

So that the sandpaper can be removed and replaced. Why throw a -refectory good tool away every time the sandpaper gets worn out?

[@JesusvonNazaret]

@@JordonBeal so it's a precious stick

[@shoffdk]

I am sick an tired of beautiful guitars... I need a build that can stand a beating, and still be somehow stable... whammy bar going to blubberland and back somehow in tune... and it has to be cheap...

[@daveayerstdavies]

Piezo is "pee·ay·zow" not "pee-ett-zo"

[@johnbrandonrubio139]

Yourvideo is 90% talking and 10% fixing your guitar by the way you're good guitar maker💯👌

[@kennethnielsen3864]

43rd.

[@roncavedaschi5417]

227

[@cowhidemusic8904]

A few more videos ..... so like 9 more months. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@maximum_mueller9922]

The guitar will be fantastic. I love it. But please please please no more fretjobs. We have already seen 1000 fretjobs. There are already dozens of videos on this topic on your channel.