This spectacular guitar, a Wilborn Nautilus, built by the wonderfully innovative luthier Ben Wilborn in November of 2021, is a revelation! It's offset soundhole is designed not only to project forward but also up to the player, which allows for an amazingly immersive playing experience. The position of the soundhole also allows for a much less restrictive bracing system, arranged in a radial pattern, which allows the top to vibrate more freely than a more traditional X pattern would allow. This guitar has tremendous volume and responsiveness! The Tunnel 14 redwood imparts a very sweet, warm tone, and the figured myrtle along with the cello-style burst is just beautiful - see the photos! Other features include a multi-scale neck with an elevated fingerboard, very comfortable belly and forearm bevels, and beautiful ziricote for the bridge, fingerboard, headstock and bindings. The guitar comes with a custom Calton case.
Of note, the owner of this guitar, which is on consignment, has added a strap pin and a K&K pure mini, making it ready for performing. Upon examining the guitar, there is evidence of a previously placed static type pickguard, which has left a slightly raised area in the lacquer finish, noticeable under certain lighting conditions. There are very faint strumming type marks just below where the pickguard had been placed.
Here is Ben Wilborn's description of the Nautilus: This model is the genesis of the Comma Series design. At 15” across the lower bout, it is a terrifically versatile instrument whose orchestral voice belies its moderate size. Fingerstyle, cross picking, strumming or tapping — this guitar can do it all.
