Ep 5 Block Inlays - Hand Tool Only Acoustic Travel Guitar Build - A Guitar from a 4x4 FENCE POST

In this episode, Ben makes custom Mother of Pearl hollow block inlays for the acoustic travel guitar with the very interesting burnt fretboard - go back and watch episode 4.
#travelguitar #guitarfretboard #acousticguitar #handtoolsonly #guitarbuilder
Welcome to Crimson Guitars kzbin.info... and Ben's home workshop.
You asked and Ben will deliver...our eccentric (read insane) Luthier will be building an entire guitar out of a single piece of Mahogany! With hand tools only!
Chapters:
0:00 Introduction - In the beginning - there was a fencepost!
3:38 Moving on - the neck shape is finessed, filed, and sanded.
7:26 Side dots next
13:20 Inlays - Ben has to make this complicated, of course!
32:02 Conclusion
Check out our new Discord server for Guitar Building Goodness here / discord
Join this channel to get access to the perks:
/ @crimsoncustomguitars and don't forget the Luthiers Question Time Podcast, available on all good platforms or through this link luthiersquestiontime.buzzspro...
Ben's Livestream camera setup includes: the Blackmagic ATEM Mini Pro, Prime Cameras (Front facing and over the bench) Canon EOS 250D, suspended from the ceiling (bench side) Canon EOS 90D, and on the movable tripod a Canon M6 Mark II
www.cameracentreuk.com/crimson
Music used in this video from Epidemic Sound - www.epidemicsound.com/referra...
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We'd like to thank our partners for helping to make this video series possible.
Triton Tools - www.tritontools.com/en-GB
ISOtunes Bluetooth Hearing Protection - bit.ly/36YmKro
Wagner Meters - www.wagnermeters.com/
Leatherman - www.leatherman.co.uk/
Workshop Heaven - www.workshopheaven.com/
Support us by supporting our Partners, and at the same time get yourself a great deal with ISOtunes. Use code "CRIMSON10" for 10% OFF with this link: bit.ly/36YmKro
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OTHER
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Thank you again for all your support, we really, really appreciate it! - Ben
Stay tuned and stay awesome!
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[@jackycoudray6029]

Those inlays are just perfect ! And are really cool with the fingerboard natural !

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you. I've wanted to do some inlays like this since seeing a guitar by Patrick Eggle

[@kiltymacbagpipe]

The stone tools only build should be exciting. I can’t wait for the sharpening flint tutorial where you get out your flint knapping kit. Maybe a dinosaur theme for that build?

[@YegresAL]

Collab with Primitive Technology? That will rock! ))

[@herculesrockafeller]

^ ‘rock’ lol

[@Brandywine6969]

And use stones for inlays and other decorative purposes. I love it!

[@mattdoliver1984]

Brontocastersaurus - Rex 🦖 🦕

[@bobtrussell2865]

The inlays are perfect for this guitar. Loving it so far.🧡

[@bradwiebelhaus7065]

Nice to see you come back to this project.

[@mrtelechi]

Ben, you are a master craftsman. Just genuis.

[@brucefaulkner4070]

have so been waiting for this one to come back; the challenge for Ben on this is brilliant to see.

[@wmsheep]

3 hr Kit build at Makers Central?? Can see it now - "Come back next year when I shall be carving the headstock to my complete satisfaction!" Apart from that, love those inlays.

[@trevorward85043]

I almost screamed "NO!" when you said you were still going to stain the fret board after you oiled it. That looks truly handsome. Nice technique.

[@ryanferris7841]

Ben you are a true crafts man you produce beautiful work!! You have a tool for everything 😂

[@rapscallion52]

Those different shades of brown on the fretboard look like beams of light going through a bottle of whiskey

[@DurksBrothers]

Fantastic! I thought you’d jettisoned this build, so I was delighted to watch this video.

[@spikegifted]

Lovely inlay work, Ben. There's no need to stain. I like the clean finish of the fretboard. Btw, love the all black Seamaster Professional!

[@bennybooboo6789]

Excellent, I nearly forgot about this build.

[@Jkopala1954]

I love the current color of the fret board as it is

[@peterwilliams8922]

I bought an old Stanley hand drill at a car boot over 20 years ago as a joke, so I could tell the Mrs I bought a cordless drill for a £1. It took a few years before I actually used it - when my usual drill had been left flat, but I suddenly realised how much more control I had. Don't get me wrong, I still use power tools when needed, but if I can get away with it, hand tools are always preferred - I suspect the neighbours appreciate it too.

[@lastweekslightning]

DO NOT TOUCH THAT FRETBOARD!!!! 🤣🤣 It is perfect man! The lighter parts are in the right spots and everything! So damn pretty

[@tahoemike5828]

Glad to get back to this one. I've gotten so used to watching you build live that I went looking for the chat to respond to something you said, and it wasn't there. I was a bit shocked, for a moment, that this was a video, not live. Doh!

[@Intermernet]

So glad you're back to this build! I love the subtle circuit-board pattern that's left in the wood after the burning and sanding. Very Tron ;-)

[@U014B]

I was thinking it's more galactic than circuit-board, but I agree, it's very nice.

[@Gatherersmusic]

Hey I only added a comment on the last video yesterday. Glad you have come back to it.

[@juicy5816]

At 1:05 you had me there. I thought my video had frozen 😂😂

[@mikehoward587]

"if I can build guitars, you can build guitars." While I appreciate the vote of confidence, you have a Heavenly gift exquisitely expressed through the art of your guitars.

[@yobrethren]

Can't wait to see the finished result, especially the neck. The natural burned gradient from the sanding is really pretty! And i'm gonna wait for that guitar 6:47 on the BG to be finished, and possibly see the reaction!

[@U014B]

0:37 🎵It's beginning to look a lot like CHAOS🎵

[@Tzuau78]

Noice. I like the hollowed-out, mother of Pearl, inlays. It’s a great way to negate the ‘too much’ of solid squares. A lot of extra, worth while, work though 😅

[@XanBos]

Finally! I was about to reserve myself to this build being scrapped! 🤣 So glad to see it move forward! I think the inlays and the fretboard look great! Wouldn’t change a thing!

[@DaveDickens]

Thanks Ben, great video. Those inlays took a long while to cut I bet. Cheers Dave

[@jeast9648]

You're the reason I got into building guitars. Watching you in your element is rather cathartic.

[@jescocom1]

I would put either one centered or 2 round dots in the middle of the 12th fret with the surrounding rectangle. It still would be pretty simple.

[@StephenHughesJelen]

Love the fretboard color at this point, nothing but a finish needed! 😀 Glad this build is back, I've been missing it.

[@deathruddlesdeathruddles5438]

Another tip for jewellery blades, a little lube on the blade (i use bees wax) will reduce the temperature of the blade and further reduce breakage. I stick a small blob onto the bench peg so its easy to quickly reapply some more wax to the blade.

[@BLBlackDragon]

Love look of the oiled burnt fret board. Can't wait to see it polished up.

[@nickpain6827]

Banging video series, this! There are lots of us with no access to a proper woodshop but want to go further than just assembling, tweaking and finishing a kit. It's great to see tools I can use being used to achieve beautiful results! I would love to see a video on chisel, plane and gouge sharpening, especially for someone like me who has no room for a slow grinder and has to do it manually, with and/or without a honing jig :-)

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Have a look through this playlist. kzbin.info/aero/PLp6z5fUMeeAbeBdPcbA7p_hUT1x9ZBR4B DC

[@nickpain6827]

Brill, thanks so much!!!@@CrimsonCustomGuitars

[@jakobskaaning7730]

Agree, it looks good like that

[@barbarapreddy616]

No stain needed. Beautiful as is. Great job Ben!

[@simont9984]

That jewelers drill is beautiful 😍 sometimes I just watch your builds and pay more attention to your specialty tools then I do to what you are actually doing with them...🤫

[@Ryan_F.]

Inlays and the neck overall look fantastic! Excited to see more of this build

[@Kevin-nr9lj]

Ah yes. I've been waiting for this video. The inlays look amazing. Thank you Ben..

[@kennethluebberke8216]

Love the fretboard color......antique ish. Beautiful job Ben! 👏

[@KristinnEs]

Now, You said that you are doing a backpack acoustic... Might I request a future build? A backpack electric guitar? Something that is an all in one? You have the electric, a small amp (hopefully one that doesnt suck), maybe an effect or two in one smallish electric guitar body? Would be fun and crazy

[@AlanW]

The fretboard looks lovely, the bur has done a lovely thing to the wood!

[@wolflahti412]

I thought this build had wandered off into the void, never to return. Welcome back!

[@Ogma3bandcamp]

Really interesting!

[@brettgl21]

I really like how the color on the fret board turned out. It looks great!

[@oaktreeleatherworks]

awesome. I want one already. Thanks Ben!

[@duncanbarclay6919]

Glad this series is back. I've finished my version of this, my first ever guitar build. Going to be interesting to see how Ben does the bits I struggled with!

[@cheapskate8656]

OMG, those inlays look fantastic.

[@jonhaynie1987]

So happy this build is back! I'm wanting to do something similar this summer if grad school isn't too hectic. Your channel is entertaining, instructional, and inspirational! Thank you for being you!

[@jamesh5460]

When you put a dollar value to your hourly wage and what it takes to make a hand crafted instrument of detailed precision, this is a bargain. People that create in such a way absolutely love what they do. Keep up the great work Ben. Cheers!

[@simondbarnes]

Those inlays look great and nice to see the process behind them 👍

[@keninnis1]

Very nice work Thanks for sharing..

[@Bloosee]

Love that Omega watch!

[@jeroverz]

Hi Ben this is the best time to get youreself a kerfing plane and a roubo saw! Love the build tempted to build a holiday guitar now

[@lettuceb2336]

The very first guitar I built (well, it's almost done, a few other electrics have been finished in the interim) is a parlor size acoustic and has been done with hand tools except for the tuning key holes. All of the wood was purchased from wood suppliers and not prepared for guitar building. What a workout! The worst part? using a plane on the backs and sides. The sides were somewhat figured Black Walnut and the back was 3-piece Black Walnut and Curly Maple. I quickly learned about the benefit of a steeper angle and the back-bevel. The thinnest stock I bought was 1/4" (6mm)... my biggest mistake. Hats off to you, this is a really difficult job! Interesting to watch as always. To both you and your sister, the videos are becoming more refined with time which is no easy task. It doesn't go un-noticed. Cheers!

[@therabbitcanada]

I have one of those jewellers drills, soooo handy! Not just in guitar work but also building plastic models etc. I get a lot of use with mine lol

[@GuitaraddictsWorkshop]

Those inlays look great! And I totally want one of those mini archimedes drills!

[@vince8081]

That's actually really great as always. Love that classic look. Love also your friction drill tool, never saw that.

[@2old4u]

Really like this build. The fingerboard natural please. Inlays are very nice.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thanks, will do!

[@nicolasmohamed279]

Hey can't wait for the next steps your going to be at, because I'm highly interested to learn a way to craft a mould for the sides bending and the rest..I live in a small flat without the possibility of using a router or power tools..and would like to build small compact instruments,and feeling blocked in my work for that reason.i only do guitar repairs would like some change ,but I stay faithful , cheer's thanks for the sharing !

[@amfastic]

I've been checking for this periodically, thanks for coming back to it. Great job!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

My pleasure, I'm just sorry it took so.long to get back to. It has been a crazy year so far!

[@amfastic]

​@@CrimsonCustomGuitars hey no worries, just sharing my enthusiasm for the project... Still, I'd say it's high time I source a piece of timber for my version of this (although I want to finish my current guitar build before I actually start building it). LOOOVE these inlays. Cheers!

[@gregoryh4601]

Very Nice work and please no stain on Neck looks sweet. Sorry to Beat a Dead Horse 🐎 but Ben please with Sugar on it put the Numbers on the wood Blank on the Back and Just give it Coat of vanish to smooth it Out. Maybe take a Vote?

[@jipes]

Beautiful hollow inlays

[@adventureawaits3646]

was wondering what happened to this project, glad it's back again! Love those inlays, looking forward to the finished piece!

[@CastlebayNet_Music]

I really like the variegated color on the fretboard. It's something that would be difficult to do on purpose.

[@slimydroid]

I do like the adjustable saw idea. It's often frustrating to have saw blades break and effectively lose the entire blade. Especially as it often breaks only an inch or so from one end. I guess it's one advantage of an older time where 'make do and mend' was a common approach, versus the modern day 'disposable' culture. On the same subject though, will you be re-sharpening the broken drill bit to continue its life?

[@maxwellcohen2917]

Also, keep the fretboard as is, just hit it with a wee bit of oil to amber it up a smidge.

[@harugrin]

I would make the 12th fret inlay solid. It stands out as it should, and is simpler still. Love how the burned fretboard end up being a kind of burst (no pun intended).

[@Keith_KC8TCQ]

Awesome, back to the hand tools build (no more electric hand tools Ben or I'm coming over and hiding all your coffee and tea.) It's coming up on 4AM here at my location, and was getting ready to turn my computer off and go to bed when I got the notification of a new video, and well.... you know, I just HAVE to check out the new video.....

[@wiltshiredoug9959]

Awesome

[@bedwards1224]

I don't know if I ever caught this in your previous builds, when you make a neck do you radius it? Really love your channel, really love all of your mentoring and direction and guidance. Thank you so much.

[@Brandywine6969]

I always wanted one of those travel guitars. I always tend to wish for the impossible though. When I heard about the jam jar amp, my first thought was can you make a travel guitar that is built more like a neck thru electric with the jam jar amp electronics built into it. I used to hate acoustic guitars. I have only ever liked exactly one acoustic guitar, my Alvarez. Something about it just sounded so sweet and won me over.

[@barriepotter3753]

No stain - good decision!

[@AlliePaints]

16:49 It's called a pin vise i believe

[@LeonardZacke]

Ben, you need to make a first fret side dot because of the first fret inlay

[@Intermernet]

True! If only for consistency!

[@MonsieurTourette]

Great video! I see you watch wristwatch revival. That's a great channel, too! I watch that to unwind (I am very funny) after work, much as I watch the crimson vids. Nice going!

[@wmlye1]

4:00 Dad jokes *are* funny. It says so right on the birth certificate.

[@freyrhreinsson6215]

Yesssss finally

[@jimstrange1802]

Absolutely love it. Using hand planes has become my happy place. Do you have a video that talks about what glue to use when? There are so many!

[@richardfoskett8903]

I love those invisible goggles you used while putting the side dots in - avoiding superglue splashback into your eyes. Where can I get some and do I get a discount if I use code Crimson10…?! 😉

[@LassetUnsSpielen]

you should keep the dust, has a pretty high street value

[@joehoppard814]

"If you use a little bit of lubrication you are more likely to have a good time" (19:55) Amen, Brother.

[@GP-Music.]

Finally!!

[@matthewkabat4633]

Good evening

[@xrichevo]

I have one of those jewelers drills, its of no use to me and was going to send it to Crimson for you.

[@DanielJAudette]

Beautiful work. When's the next installment coming on this series

[@bhartissimo]

The fretboard looks good with the inlays. I don't see why you'd need to (or want) to stain the fretboard.

[@Walking_Death]

10:10 and because we aren't there yelling at him Ben is playing the "Can I superglue my eye shut" game. tsk tsk... PPE lad. That stuff can squirt out of blind holes when you push/hammer something into the hole, and well you know it. I glued my eye shut and my hand to my face when I went to rub it doing something similar many years ago. The worst part is having to go and ask one's wife to drive them to the emergency dept... again.

[@Walking_Death]

25:00 wow, he heard me. But forgot the mask when he started filing/sanding the MOP 😂

[@paulberger6540]

Are you going to do an edited version of the bass build? I'd love to see that - I just can't devote 57 hours to watching the live streams...

[@RyvenProductions]

Glad you're not staining the fretboard. Maybe a little lemon oil and call it good?

[@aquajew3000]

Hey Ben, Cool build. Hopefully it will be available as a plan as well as a kit. P.S. Have you checked out AVI-8 watches? Cool aviation themed watches at a great price.

[@SergeantSphynx]

I really like the way the fret board looks, I don't think you should restain it.

[@jimmartin156]

Love the blue sharpie on the inlays. Would lapis lazuli work? Or maybe turquoise?

[@kamikaze8645]

"Does that make for a one day build??" Ohh Ben, don't jynx yourself lol

[@Lisa-rg4fp]

I quite liked the blue actually!! Please can we have **details** of the music chosen.. Artist and title if possible and "not known" if ummm.... not known.... Just got to the endish.. I like the MOP better! Is there a use for the MOP dust at all? Worth keeping?

[@briw4647]

dont stain the fretboard, it looks lovely as is

[@AlanW]

I recently found out that I've been using the wrong term, "yakisugi" is correct, and "shou sugi ban" is some kind of odd mistranslation/misinterpretation!

[@SirRawThunderMan]

The auto generated subs have decided that Shou Sugi Ban should in fact be called Suzuki Bun. I think this now means that by the Laws of Nominative Determinism, Mr Bun now has to build a Suzuki-themed instrument.

[@rossfudd256]

I must have missed where you decided to keep the inlay simple, instead of the added cross pieces.

[@jasonj5701]

Are we going to see a resumption to the resumption of this awesome build any time soon?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

All bring well you shall see the next episode on Saturday

[@jasonj5701]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars awesome. I regularly watch your streams, but this one has interested me the most. I have no particular interest in guitars or guitar building per se, but I have two musically tallented children - violin, piano, dulcimer, percussion (drums, and tuned) cornet, trumpet, bassoon between them to name but a few, and I'm interested in making instruments for them in the future! Thinking of electric violin and hurdy gurdy. I'm finding your videos inspirational, particularly this series since whatever I make, I'll do so with very few power tools.

[@GoadieTheRoadie]

How are you going to do the bridge ground hole?.

[@kwenim1]

Hi Ben can you tell me when part 6 will be done please thanks