Full Guitar Build | Unique, Transparent Watch Inspired GGBO 2022 Invitational Entry - The Vertex

[@KorezGuitars]

have seen the pics before the video, was like ''what kind of a black magic is ben using again to make things float?!''. Yet again a insane build for the GGBO, but this year you dont have it easy either, so good luck on the voting!

[@sinocte]

Can I just say that I was absolutely blown away by the grit finish? F'ing brilliant!

[@RockyH.]

I'm casting my vote right now Ben you won the great guitar build off to me. That guitar and idea is phenomenal it's simplicity and complexity together is just mind blowing. It was a amazing idea......Now Ben make about a hundred of these as DIY guitar kits and watch how fast they sell. I kid you not I want that guitar soooo bad. This is coolest guitar of the year in my opinion. Congrats Ben this guitar is gonna shake things up you watch...I know plenty of guitars have been made similar, but this is on a different level this could be a sellable DIY guitar kit.

[@Danielism]

Hey Ben, for the inevitable version 2, you should paint all the electronics black inside, use clear wires, run the wires around the perimeter using channels in the outer frame, and maybe black acrylic/chrome mirror to cover the backs of the pick ups. This is a really cool concept! Can't wait to watch the longer videos on it. That finish is brilliant

[@darin.terwilliger]

Chrome mirrors with some elegant engraving and maybe some copper tubing (plastic with copper shielding paint) to put the wires in.. make it as elegant as the watch that inspired it

[@JamesMinchew]

You're utter mad in the best way. Actually, what that means is that you're imaginative and creative and I really like how your design brain works. I can't wait to watch the longer version of this content.

[@chrisggoodwin777]

I think the quasi-maniacal laughs are my favorite part of Ben's builds 😂

[@rakentrail]

I like that they leave Ben's "OH CRAP" moments in too!

[@chrisggoodwin777]

@@rakentrail totally!

[@jamesh5460]

I sure hope you keep the GGBO going in the future. There are some very creative people and it is giving the music industry a great boost. Very inspirational!

[@1971silversurfer]

A simplistic concept, but a beautifully minimalistic result😍

[@rektautomotive3483]

Awesome, my only suggestion for longevity would be also drilling the bridge through to the rear plate, and cutting 4 pieces of aluminium tubing to act as spacers within the body so you end up with 4 clamping points that achieve compression and tension without being able to over tighten and crack the top or back 👍

[@markpell8979]

I thought that too, either a wooden or aluminum spacer of some kind to anchor the bridge and hold that spacing right and square in the body. So that's how we'll build our own.

[@philgallagher1]

This is one of the most beautiful yet least practical guitars I have ever seen!! Oh the joy its eventual owner is going to have keeping it clean! It is going to show EVERY fingerprint, EVERY drop of sweat and EVERY scratch. They're going to spend more time cleaning it than playing it, but the time they DO spend playing it they will know they have a unique and absolutely stunning guitar! Keep it up, Ben. We can always rely on you to produce thought-provoking conversation pieces that keep us on the edge of what can be done with a lump of wood, some strings and hardwear (and acrylic in this case!!)

[@metalheadmalpass3939]

Amazing build. I would have liked to see the sandpaper finish around the outside of the headstock and an oval shaped hole through the headstock with acrylic either side to carry on the transparent theme through the entire instrument.

[@f.b.jeffers0n]

Love that you're presenting backwards! This makes me excited for the individual vids!

[@mpwithad]

That is genuinely the coolest guitar you have ever built.

[@SethPlaysBass]

very cool- the sandpaper finish still throws me off. slowly getting into the acylic guitars now :)

[@Stikbomz]

I've been watching you build guitars for a couple of years now and this is my favourite. Simple, understated, unfussy.

[@adammono1839]

Alot to love with this build! Screwing the tune o matic from the back was my favourite, though. Very satisfying

[@chriscarmichael8579]

I've been waiting for a build for those pickups to go in, knew you'd pick the right guitar! Good luck in the GGBO!🤘

[@CraigHollabaugh]

I watched 8 GGBO build videos today, what a treat! Thanks from Colorado.

[@jimjersey2345]

Another outstanding job, Ben Crow 👏 hopefully I will be ready to join the GGBO next year. I have been kicking around some interesting design features.

[@BLBlackDragon]

Thank you for explaining that up front. I was looking at this and saying, "How did I miss an entire build series?" No noise with no shielding? Impressive. Outright gorgeous. Can't wait to see the next iteration.

[@gerrykavanagh]

So many opportunities to scratch, melt or otherwise mar that acrylic. Living on the edge as ever, Ben.

[@JimChamp]

A collar round the machine screws that go from the back into the bridge and tailpiece might be worth considering. Sized properly it would ensure the screws couldn't be over tightened and lock the back in place. Also it would hide the threads which may be an improvement.

[@BBGuitars]

Some crazy concepts there. I cant wait for the watch inspired build to happen though!

[@adairguitars]

That was a cool video to watch. Looking forward to future versions as well.

[@StevieScotty19]

Excuse my language here Ben,THAT was fucking amazing,What a build👍👍👍I’ve been a follower of the channel for a good 5 or 6 years now,But this channel has helped me through some dark times the past couple of years,Thanks m8👍👍👍

[@w13rdguy]

For the next one: A wind up, spring driven mechanism that moves the pickup near and far to the strings, giving it a Leslie effect. (Watch inspired)

[@claudevieaul1465]

That would actually be a true tremolo 👍

[@SaxonSuccess]

Don't forget the constant fingerprints, Ben. And the scratches, Ben. And the gradual yellowing, Ben.

[@kevindoran7007]

Wow, I love it, from the smooth clear acrylic to the gritty finish on the sides. Great job 👌

[@treystone1993]

Looks like the template for a really great line of guitars. Tastefully done! 👍🏻

[@Vilm0r]

I was worried about this bridge attachment and had the same idea than yours while watching the video :) It looks fantastic !

[@andrielseth]

Ok... One of the most beautiful guitars you made I love it... 🤘🤘🤘

[@AnjudaGuitars]

Very inspiring video, as always!Congratulations Ben!

[@tamarmolerick3814]

Possibly the coolest guitar you've built, love it.

[@reedburke7762]

Fascinating! This old old Senior just loves this channel,; please keep up the incredible work and videos Ben,. Thank you, and Merry Christmas to all of you at Crimson!

[@CorbinMusso88]

Just when I think you’ve plateau’d as an artist, you go and do something like this. In-freaking-credible, man. I laughed at the fingerprints thing, but then I thought, maybe one thumb print in a corner would be cool as a sort of signature. Great job, man. This build is totally awesome.

[@XschultzieX]

Beautiful in the simplicity of it all.

[@WhitefootGuitars]

Awesome guitar & I like the super-edit first approach, it’ll be interesting seeing it come together 👍

[@glennwhitlock1272]

Love that. Make your next guitar out of your workbench top. With all the stains, chips and dings.

[@Snetwomble]

Marvellous video and beautiful guitar as ever. I love watching Bun build. I can't believe you've built a clear guitar, and it's not lit internally though.

[@lordjoemott1683]

Yet again I’m absolutely blown away. Awesome looking guitar 🤘🤘🤘

[@kevintestagrossa]

can we all just appreciate the tiny planes? so cute!

[@neilduty8448]

And I'm gobsmacked by your ingenuity

[@SweetTGuitars]

How cool man. Not what I was thinking you'd do with this but very awesome regardless. Killer! ✌️

[@davemorris8510]

Very nice build. On the watch theory this would look great with a beautifully designed B-Bender mechanism.

[@paulcabrelli1863]

First ever comment by me. But when you get the blow torch out!!!!!. Awesome build as well. CCG definitely ROCKS.....................

[@antesdedormirmanu6789]

Awesome job as always... It feels really weird don't have to wait one week to see how is all going... And testify the working changes of mind of Mr Crowe along the process... Lovely instrument...

[@Kevin-nr9lj]

Wow. This guitar looks so cool. Nice and simple design..

[@brianfrench297]

Really liked this build. I think the negative of it where you cut the body out of a big chunk of polycarb clear, then do the top plate and back plate out of a burl or flame wood pattern f-hole and all. Be interesting. Great build..really enjoying the channel!

[@rickmakelajr]

Sounds as beautiful as it looks. Great build Ben

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thanks. Glad you like it!

[@bhartissimo]

Pretty much halfway through the video, I thought it wouldn't work and that you'd need to add some sort of support block. But wow, it's incredible the way it is now... and it works!! Well done, Ben!

[@norgermish1]

Very cool, some clear acrylic buttons on those tuning machines would be really cool too :)

[@MarkGray1970]

That's a cool guitar! I'm not usually a fan of the weird stuff you make, but this one is awesome!

[@jeffreyringenberger1690]

This one is absolutely awesome. Cool idea.

[@PauloT.Silva-pts.anywhen]

The most amazing guitar i ever seen.

[@DrMurdercock]

That is seriously bad ass. I remember seeing Aluminum guitars for sale back in the day. You should look into that too!

[@alti_gottem]

5:45 bro built the crimson logo.

[@borgonianevolution]

Ok the Oxide for a finish looks killer. What an out of the box thought for sure. Just enough clear coat to keep it on and hopefully enough to keep it rounded so it doesn't grind skin off as you play. It has an interesting sound to it unplugged too. It surely resonates much different then a wood body does. I do seriously suggest so Loctite for the bolts inside that set the spacing. Over time playing vibrations or with travel they are guaranteed to work loose. On that same note maybe something between the bolts and the back body section so it is less apt to wear or scratch. Maybe the clear plastic covers for id cards could work there.

[@drewlaws983]

Love it Ben, that body finish looks awesome!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thanks!

[@MrNeedlekiller]

Great stuff! This what I want to see more of.

[@northland..]

that looks really sweet. awesome build.

[@cestusfr]

Your craftmanship is outstanding! It is a pleasure to see you work! Custom length cables (to the millimeter) and custom cable sleeves, a single type for all cables, would make it even better. You can push the vice to custom pickups and knobs finish as we now see them. Like custom finish sleeves that covers the back of the pickups and knobs. Have a nice week! PS: The push/pull system is genius!

[@w13rdguy]

Wooooo!! Dave's World Of Fun Stuff in the intro! \m/

[@Gearheaddesk]

Gorgeous result! As a variant: carbon fibre frame for the body and a Bigsby bridge, that would be amazing!

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

That would be cool!

[@CiciVonStrangelove]

This is one of the coolest guitars I’ve ever seen, I want a bass like that!! (No, NEED a bass like that haha!)

[@fatpotanga]

Oh my trousers! I think that could well be my favourite ever build of yours Ben. It’s made me want to try something for my second build. What’s the ‘sandpaper’ like playing with bare arms? Straps, you should check out my mate Rods company Pinegrove Leather . You may have seen him in Guitarist or at the shows - beautiful high end, hand crafted gear.

[@chrismunro2387]

Hooray back to guitar building.

[@tomcartmill401]

Ben, no waffle, fantastic super watchable, fantastic build. Love the outcome.😂😂😂

[@richardfoskett8903]

Really looking forward to the full build series!

[@theRandy712]

Why is the uncut kit discontinued?!? It's been my dream to buy one and make my first guitar 😭😭😭😭

[@jimgraves4197]

That looks ____ing awesome!

[@timothycormier3494]

I’ve got to admit. I didn’t think that I was going to like this one. Especially when you used the grit finish. But!! …..there’s always a but. Than came out really cool. The grit finish complements the clean clear of the lexan or plexi or whatever. Very cool ben! Thanks for sharing man!

[@dalgguitars]

Fun. Thanks. As always, you rock!

[@areareare9953]

The pickups are pretty interesting sonically. Fairly high and clear.

[@Mojen_Marc_Music]

Another lovely guitar by Ben! Only slightly surprised you didn't include an open gear clock mechanism in the open area behind the bridge 😁

[@TiberiusWallace]

That's a stunning piece. Going forward a cool thing would be to have the acrylic etched.

[@zykotec]

Love this build. Love seeing you dare to come up with new stuff, I love when it shows that you are afraid to fail because you know you're going into untested ideas , and you're still brave enough to go on till the end. 🙂 I'm really looking forward to see you try more of this style, because when you talked about gears at the end there, I was already thinking how it could look even better with some gears inside.

[@tomahoks]

I had a dream last night, where there was Princes Symbol guitar neck in the trash bin. Fretboard was there too, with frets, which were weird like rivets with long studs poking through the fretboard. I put white glue innit, but I think I didn't glue the together. LOL

[@pitchforkcustom]

brilliantly neat job . superb 👍

[@BoneheadGuitars]

Gotta be my favorite Ben build.

[@daytripper7879]

Awesome build and demo

[@LS-jj4sy]

I anticipate that much in the way watching the whole build series keeps me from watching the supercuts historically, this is gonna stop me from watching the build series

[@AndyPlayedGuitar]

Thank you for sharing so much. I feel I've missed my window age wise to get into the woodworking side but I would love to build a playable guitar one day. I just need many, many tools. And wood. And practice galore.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Come and take a course at Crimson and use our tools. DC

[@AndyPlayedGuitar]

@@CrimsonCustomGuitars that'd be incredible, to the website!

[@HyroMusicRemakeAndCovers]

I always watch your videos. I'm amazed by your masterpieces all the time, I hope one day I can buy a guitar from you too. Sending Love from Philippines🇵🇭

[@bjorn8357]

A cool Idea. And it looks cool too. Maybe you could use a suitable shielding braid in tinned copper on the cables from the pickups to get it even cooler. It is a bit trickier to do it on all wires but that could look really cool to. I don't know how the impedance of semi rigid coaxial cable will affect the sound. But using that for the wiring between the potentiometers could give it a completely different internal look.

[@TheLord0Ice0Wind]

That is absolutely gorgeous, I love it!

[@picksalot1]

Very nice. I like the aesthetic. We need an in depth tone comparison to a wooden guitar with the same pickups. Thanks

[@richardfoskett8903]

Love this design - it looks like you’ve achieved a first, Ben! You reigned yourself in from some of the ideas you had and floated in the design video. In a way, I was a bit gutted because I was looking forward to some of them. However - still a great guitar! Oh - the headstock reminds me of the Vox Teardrop Brian Jones used back in the day…

[@Gorbyrev]

Glad you saw that through Ben! :)

[@markleveson6093]

I absolutely L-O-V-E that guitar as well as the video, Ben. I have watched it three times on the bounce and an completely spellbound! I really like acrylic guitars and have two 😳🤔 Ibanez Joe Satriani Y2K Crystal Planet guitars. I would love to add one of yours to my collection 🎸🎸 Oh and I will be buying a ticket or two 🎟🎫😀

[@markpell8979]

Very nice. It has a jangly acoustic sound unamplified. Probably not much of a factor to the pickups and amplified sound but interesting, and you can probably feel that a little. Even so, the only thing I'd add is a solid spacer block of wood or metal where the bolts go through under the bridge. The way you've built this, you can always experiment. But I bet a block there to tie it together would not hurt anything and probably keep your top and back more stable long-term. Great job, great ideas, and you've given me some things to think about if I ever build a guitar or furniture with acrylic sheet.

[@m.a.bushling]

That's brilliant! Well freaking done!

[@daviddallas3279]

Wowza. So ace. So long as nobody with finger prints goes near it, haha.

[@ianthomson9363]

Ooh! That looks nice! I love the gritty finish, hopefully with the flash coat it won't rub off or cause damage to the player's clothing. I wasn't too keen on the headstock shape at first, but it does suit the body shape. Inspired use of heat to mount the studs too. I like it a lot.

[@McMagpie]

Awesome video, Ben! So glad we got to see the finished product instead of going through all the videos first. Not that I don't enjoy them too, just prefer this better! Cheers and hope you have a great new year!!

[@olivier2553]

The veneer to reinforce the short grain is a good idea, but the two pieces of veneer joining just in the middle where thr grain is the shortest and the strap button is adding pressure in the wodd, ooch!

[@Gramarrowsmith]

Looks cool and all, but that sandpaper is definitely gunna cause havoc on your favorite Xmas jumper!

[@DaveDickens]

Very clever, really clean design. The guitarist just needs to wear a really decorative pair of trousers or skirt 😂. Great stuff as always. cheers Dave

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Great idea!

[@paulcabrelli1863]

Just a thought, but if you planned the internal wiring in this guitar you could possibly use thicker copper wire and make some really smart skeleton type connections instead of just 'bits of wire' doing their job. Depending on possible interference you could use conductive metal gears to also connect the wires to the electronics.

[@adamwright3664]

Looks amazing! How about for the next one a sort of (lozenge-shaped?) space in the headstock into which you could put acrylic front and back to mirror the body? You could maybe engrave your sigil into it?

[@TheZanger]

Did anyone say ‘tone wood’ 😅. Great work as always!