Great work Ben! I like the look of the pick up but I think I’d like to see the lines fold over the edge of the pickup. Especially if it’s going to stand proud of the ebony. That way it’ll look is if it wraps completely around the pick up. That would look very futuristic in that beast of a guitar!

@sinocte

3 жыл бұрын

That's what I was thinking too. The way it's set now, the end result is liable to look more like fretting than anything else. And while not a bad idea at all? I think having them wrap around would be way nicer on this one.

@Sadlander2

3 жыл бұрын

totally agree!

Yesss, Visconti Mirage in a workshop! This fills me with joy, and it's only partially because it'll make a certain kind of pen nerd whimper and clutch their pearls.

Ben, a tip, if I may. Try putting the long piece of masking tape down the side of the neck in place before the pieces between the frets. When you are done with the frets, pull that piece up first. It pulls up the ends of the short pieces and makes them easier to remove. It's a small thing, but quite satisfying.

@A.J.K87

2 жыл бұрын

He used to do that. I remember seeing videos a few years back where he talked about that. But for some reason he's moved away from that trick. No idea why.

@hlynurth6259

2 жыл бұрын

@@A.J.K87 I remember this. It’s what I do too.

Custom pick-ups! A new world of adventure! Black Ebony would be my favorite all the way!

Such a beautiful guitar. The back of that neck is stunning.

This build has been most gratifying to watch. I dare say your best build to date 🤘

@DailyGuitarDraw

2 жыл бұрын

We appreciate your kind words :) :D ~S

I'll say YES. Custom humbuckers with purple heart covers. That would be nice.

That guitar logo. That's the token of true craftmanship!

@CrimsonCustomGuitars

2 жыл бұрын

thank you, I really appreciate this!

I wonder how hard would it be to make the "lines" on top be the actual polepieces (as in like a rail, but horizontal, 6 rails in a single pickup). Then have them directly under the string. Might make an interesting effect visually when strings are vibrating.

There's a Wabi Sabi vibe in your work. I'm referring to the wood for the bodies you use. And that's a compliment, Sir. Well done.

@CrimsonCustomGuitars

2 жыл бұрын

'a acceptance of imperfection and the impermanence of things/materials?' Thanks you very much! This is exactly the aesthetic I strive for

Tip for marking such holes: Still use Masking Tape, but touch the underside of the pins with sharpie or the like :) should get you a good mark for the holes

@tsfarken

3 жыл бұрын

Or better yet use the drilled logo to mark holes before attaching pins.

@gnaddrig9853

3 жыл бұрын

@@tsfarken But the holes didn't go through. How would you use them for marking the right places on the top? Why not put carbon paper on top of the masking tape. Tapping the wire feet of the logo should produce perfect marks.

@ReValveiT_01

3 жыл бұрын

@@gnaddrig9853 The holes did go through.

@gnaddrig9853

3 жыл бұрын

@@ReValveiT_01 You are right. I had remembered that differently and hadn't bothered to go back and check before commenting. So your method would be the most simple and elegant way of marking the holes. Should be rather foolproof, too.

What if the first jazz pickup you did was made of burl maple instead of ebony and finished in a similar way to the guitar? Might that not have made the bigger pickup seem to fit better?

@siddhantraju4708

3 жыл бұрын

thissssssss, i feel this would've worked too

@MarcSiqueira

3 жыл бұрын

This is the way! if you want a pick up instaled over the top

@AndrewReynolds1

3 жыл бұрын

I had the same thought.

@GertvanderDoes

2 жыл бұрын

Ah. Yes. But that would not have made Ben's life more difficult, would it now?

@GreyMatterStew

2 жыл бұрын

Ben would probably consider that, "Too easy." He's kinda nutty that way. 🤪

I always come back to look at this guitar... in one form or another. This is such a nice piece.

The headstock is absolutely gorgeous! Purple hearted goodness stripes! Topped with such contrast as to create an illusion; which is! Nebula II, Astroids and Stars ✌️🤩✌️

WOW! Dear Ben, you are a real master and watchmaker! Superb!

I liked how thin the first pickup was it just needed to be less wide

You had me at custom wood pickup covers…. Take my money! Just added a set of,your humbuckers to my shopping cart!

I was cringing thru 75% of this video... LOVED IT!! Thanks for sharing . Please carry on, good sir.

@CrimsonCustomGuitars

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, I will B

Love the idea of true custom pickups rather than the current - versions of existing pickups - designs. I really like the design of your pickup, I think additional bars under the strings would be too fussy but its hard to tell unless you see it so why not make one of each!! The guitar is looking very special now it has those beautiful polished frets.

Dobule the amount of lines, but the lines underneath the strings, are mother of pearl inlays. :)

I'm loving this guitar so much. I could stare at the back of that neck for hours. So gorgeous.

Ben, an old trick I learned working aircraft structures, when installing an oversized fastener, into an undersized hole, there are 2 methods I'm aware of: 1: freeze the oversized piece (of course causing the metal to contract) then install it. 2: heat the undersized hole (metal expands) then install the fastener. My guess, is a combination of both would work too. That's how I learned to do it.(believe me lots of repairs are needed building an aircraft by hand). A guy I knew said one could merely drive a rivet, into a slightly undersized hole, & there would be no need for a "buck tail" on the rivet.(I never tried that method, but it seems to make sense. Still I would feel safer if the rivet had a buck tail on it.) The guitar looks beautiful.

I love the opalescent shine on the top when the light hit it during your opening introduction. Truly stunning Benjamin

I'm absolutely loving the way this guitar is coming out! I'd really like to get an electric made exactly like this. You do amazing work Ben!

Your method with marking the holes to drill with masking tape is also applicable on a much larger scale as I found out last week when I screwed up the position of the screws but had to have a large piece of wood absolutely level mounted on my wall. It’s nice to see that some things just work, no matter where.

I've been watching you, Ben, for a couple of years (from the safety of New Jersey) and I must say that your creative imagination and workmanship is astonishing..... Best, Pete.

Would be great to see your watch collection, Ben! A new series: watch on the bench…😜

love the way this build is evolving to a masterpiece of a guitar!Keep up the good work and don't double the number of lines in the pickup!

Its a work of art. After seeing alot of your guitars in person at shows, I can only imagine how good this must look in the flesh. This video reminded me i need more fretboard restoritive and cleaner lol. My 3rd set in 4 months!

Ben, watching you pull off the masking tape off your fretboard after polishing, I would suggest that you first lay down the strip of masking tape along the sides of the neck/fretboard and then place the strips of masking tape over the fretboard itself. when it comes time to remove the tape, you remove the sides and it will pull up the tape off the fretboard, conceivably but carefully in 1 go! That's my hack for today!

Ben you’re a genius! If you look to a Tele and that devine instrument you are building it’s not fair to call both „guitar“. We should create a new word - „godtar“ 😁. By the way Höfner basses and guitars from the 60ies have also a metal headstocklogo mounted with three pins. Love your work. Thank you 🙏🏻

Yes, yes, yes! I'd like to see double the nickel strips so the strings are in between two stripes. Maybe to busy, but I think its worth a mock up to see.

17:56 Look how excited he is. He can obviously not even contain himself. 😁

This is turning out to be one of my favorite builds! Such a beauty!

Hi Ben It's Rik. I will be heading into Dorchester tomorrow and provided it is in stock I will get you some Meguiars Ultimate Polishing Compound. If you ever watch any of the American custom car vids the likes of Boyd Coddington and Chip Foose use it to get that amazing mirror finnish on paintwork. I also saw it used on the Orange County Choppers TV series. It's waaaaay better than that autosol that you use (which is very good all the same). The Meguiars is ultra fine so it takes some elbow grease but the result is well worth it. :)

A mix between the thin flat pickup and this one!! And the lines inbetween the strings will look great. Not sure if ones under the strings too might look a bit messy though. This guitar is absolutely gorgeous Ben, can't wait for the next ep

Can't wait to see the final result!

Headstock is gorgeousness!

Ben, I would of designed a pickup in the shape of Saturn with the rings or a crescent moon shape. A black lump just doesn’t do it justice imo.

@lordjoemott1683

3 жыл бұрын

I think he should make the tuners into something like moons, stars or planets. But it still looks bloody cool tho.

Hi Ben! Regarding the Pickup: I wouldn't have the Grill Lines underneath the Strings. However: I like the Idea of extending the Nickel beyond the Pickup. Maybe roll them over at the End towards the Top of the Guitar - but not all at the same Position. Maybe you can emphasise the fanned Fret "Momentum" by ending them in a \-Shape or something like that! Best Regards!

“We are coming to an end” 🤣😂 No you’re not, you’re designing frets into a pick up for goodness sake 🤣😎🤘🏻

I think pickups with a casehardened surface, would look epic for this guitar...

@shawnomack3927

3 жыл бұрын

I could get behind this idea

@NorsewoodBows

3 жыл бұрын

@@shawnomack3927 I think it would compliment the swirly look of the colours and wood so epicly, imo anyways😅

FINALLY back to something I want to see! Love this guitar.

Wooden casing pickups is always better :). Good job and thank you Ben !

Love the pickup. I saw the mistake but I thought it was me or the camera angle. Thank you for letting me know my eyes are still decent.

This is the most beautiful guitar I’ve ever seen, I wish I could try it

For marking your logo position. If you rub soft pencil lead on the spikes that will transfer when you push in to the masking tape

Ben, you sUre know how to make GREAT GUITARS!!!

Gosh, I'd like more than a lot of things to see this guitar in person. Too bad I live a rather large ocean away lol. Keep up the FANTASTIC work Ben!

Just to add the Hooker pick ups are one of the best PAFS I've ever heard

I always wanted to try and mount the pickup windings under the soundboard of a hollow body without cutting a hole in the top and have just the rounded pole pieces drilled and exposed on the soundboard itself. But I know there would be no adjustment in pickup height. But in that guitar without cutting a hole in the top the only adjustment would be shimming anyway. Just an idea. Great design on the pickups Ben.

just bought and used one of those little tiny hand drills. Handy!!!

Guitar jewelry by Ben. That one elegant logo sir.

This would, without a doubt, be the most exquisite guitar i have ever seen! It seems a shame to cover up that beautiful body with pickups when there are products like piezo and ghost saddles available? Worst case, a neck pickup which looks like an extended fretboard?

I have a old ALVAREZ flat top jumbo with F holes. I added a humbucker at the end of the fingerboard. The SHADOW NAOMAG. Usually found i the last fret position of an Epiphone EJ200 acoustic or LP Elite jobby. Sounds great through my PA ; Fishman amp or 2x12 electric amp, Output wire is in centre of the base so instalation is very neat!!!! Don´t cut holes in this guitar!!

Re pickup design: My suggestion would be to have 2 inlays "bracketing" each string (somewhat like the mags on many bass pickups). I also think it might look better to have the inlays extend down the sides to avoid looking like (as I saw a 'nother comment describe it) you simply fretted the top of yr pickup. Option 2: My own personal preference would be to ditch the humbucker & go w/ a piezo in/ under the bridge. PS: Looking forward to the 4 episodes on designing, building, rethinking, altering, starting over, & finally making the volume knob :D

Cette guitare est "une tuerie" (tellement belle)

Its looking stunning Ben, thoroughly enjoy watching and rewatching, as ive been decorating whilst listening, and finding i had missed bits, getting self-absorbed with the paint lol. Found myself going "where's ep 24, I can't find it! Hang on, how long ago was 23 released? 17hrs ago........ah!" Sorry Tulitha I know your swamped with your brother sticking his face in a camera, loving all the tricks and minutia you put in to the vids, but damnit woman get a clone ! Hehe. Loving all your work, thankyou for all you do, to all @ Crimson.

The pick-up design is interesting. Reminds me of a fret board actually.

With the pickup, I would inlay and finish the edges the same way you did the edge of the fretboard. Thus pulling it all together.

Superb finish. I'm looking forward to seeing how you put in the controls. Great closeups!

I love this whole project, and this is a beautiful guitar, also a beautiful build and presentation, all respect!! But I must mention that the level of fret polishing is far from outstanding, eventhough Ben says these are one of the nicest frets he's ever done. Well, I believe, fine polishing the frets is always nice, but the best result can be achieved only by gradually working your way up from removing the deeper scratches to remove the finer scratches, and then to fine polish. Graded fret erasers do a marvelous job, but it's a demanding and lenghty process for sure. Let's say 180 grit to 400 grit, 800 grit, 1200 grit, 2000 grit. At that point, if the neevessary amount of work was put in, the frets should be almost mirror-like. That's when you do the last step, and add some polishing compound and polish with clean cotton cloth, or handdrill, etc. These frets - although shiny - still display hundreds of small scratches, it's clearly visible on the shots.

This is going to be spectacular. ✌

I think it look cool the way it is. I dont belive in the less in more stuff because only more is more, but i do belive that sometimes less is better. Simple but beautiful

I get needing to rebuild the pickup again…but that piece of ebony was perfect!

Hi Ben. I constantly catch myself thinking that this guitar is so natural, beautiful and self-sufficient that any attachments such as a pickup, volume knob, etc. will spoil its appearance. I have been thinking for a long time whether it is possible to make the pickup (not piezo) invisible or to embed / drown it into the end of the neck, but at the same time, the pickup would not lose efficiency. This is certainly a challenge, but this is what you are good at. Hope some day you will do something like that. Thank you. Edward.

My wife, Zoe, suggested maybe making the pickup cover out of some of the off-cuts of the original wood and stain it to match the colour scheme and make the pickup less visible

I really like the design of the pickup, but prefer the radiused bottom. I do believe it will compliment the guitar very well.

Just a stunning guitar. A true master craftsman!

Beautiful work, stunning guitar.

Awesome awesome awesome. Superb stuff Ben. Work of art!

Watching you make that little logo-guitar was worth the price of admission (if there were a price for admission)!

@cheapskate8656

3 жыл бұрын

What, you didn't pay, please send the admission fee to CheapSkate immediately :) Yes the logo was great, I learnt some new stuff today.

That guitar is special sir.

I want this guitar so much, but I promised my fiancee that I wouldn't buy any more guitars. The logo looks fantastic (just as I was thinking that you'd cut it out without breaking a blade, the inevitable happened!) and is nicely subtle. I don't think the pickup needs any more nickel added under the strings. I like the idea one of the comments suggested of cutting a hole for it and using the piece removed as the cover, but you'd have to discard the nickel strips, and it could be a very tricky operation. A challenge?

@gnaddrig9853

3 жыл бұрын

"using the piece removed as the cove" - I like that, too. This way you could hide the pickup almost completely.

Unlike "the guitar which must not be named", this instrument is stunningly beautiful. Logo job is amazing.

i like it when there is no music, just shop sounds

14:15 I wish that I had a manly enough beard that I could use the hairs as a blade xD

The pickup can be somewhat alumitone design inside which can make it thinner and sound more accustic. Btw if it is trademarked then you can make it coppertone (if you will). There are many experimental videos on youtube , about how these kind of pickups works.

would you ever consider making a video showing what tools one might need to get into making guitars?

@DailyGuitarDraw

2 жыл бұрын

There are a few videos up covering this topic. Most recently this video ~S kzread.info/dash/bejne/qKSiltOvZKSXcdo.html

It's looks excellent.

Beautiful guitar Ben.

Love the CNC 😁🎶

Why does nickel not interfere with the pickups? It’s one of the only 4 metals that can be turned into magnets. I’d have assumed that would make it easier for it to become magnetised and interfere.

Patience in all things 😂

This is a beautiful guitar, really, I love it. About the pickup: Actually, I liked the first pickup a lot - it is very flat, it follows the fingerboard radius, it looked great. It was, maybe, a bit large for the guitar, so I see why you wanted to improve on it, but apart from that there was nothing wrong. I'm not so sure about the nickel "radiator" inlay idea. I mean, thin straight silvery metal inlays parallel to the strings - this could look great, but maybe will be too busy. Routing a pocket into the top is not a problem, I think - as long as the pickup is sitting on the top you don't get to see the perfect finish anyway, so you can just as well rout a cavity to accomodate a pickup that is a bit smaller but chunkier than the first prototype. Form follows function and all that... I love the logo, it looks really cool. Let's hope it doesn't get damaged at the first change of strings, though, this is a very delicate construction...

Hey Ben!!! I was under the impression you were putting a line of nickel in either side of each string. I think that would be a cool look added to what your idea is as described.

Nebula will be "living and breathing very soon". So Ben really is Dr Frankenstein. I knew it!

Frets Shine as Angels Halos :-)

Ben Crowe: quick change artist

I really likes that first pickup, actually. I think the size was just fine. Since the ebony is muted in style it doesn't take over.

It's just soooo beautiful, I'd give my right arm to own something this wonderful, but then would be unable to play it Still worth it though

Was good to see the pickup design and build process...how about a deeper dive into the theory and making process?

Loved watching the progress of this instrument...top work Ben...How about considering using heat to colour the Crimson logo in the same way that horologist do with their metal parts. With a bit of experimentation you may be able to achieve a gradient finish that could match the stained top...

Think the pickup would look killer with a planet inlay with the Nickle

Ben this whole build is coming out magnific but i'll have to disagree with you on the pick up matter. Crimson's custom pickups looked incredible but with such a extraordinary job you did on the staining, i would not want any pick up over that bealfitul top, if it was up to me i would have asked to fit some kind of pickup under the soundboard, there are a few out there, i think they are called piezo transducer microphone, that can be glued under the soundboard and are designed for acoutic instruments, i think this is the best option.

@nfdr0kk3rz

3 жыл бұрын

That or a lipstick style single coil on the neck would look tasteful but not cover much of the body

Traditionally jewelers will use pitch to hold delicate irregular work. Also used in lens making.

I would bet good money that Ben is a fan of Chris from Clickspring.

@sinocte

3 жыл бұрын

But really, who isn't?

@CorbinMusso88

3 жыл бұрын

@@sinocte Click from ChrisSpring.

Just making sure I get my comment in to a huge YES on more pickups.

Beautiful guitar Ben, just not sure about the large pickup, IMHO something a little more subtle may be more in keeping with the elegance of the guitar. Cheers Dave

Its kind of weird I have not seen You Tube put any of your videos in my suggestion until today. Its been months. Great work by the way.