Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: mikeluke on December 12, 2008, 02:41:52 PM

Title: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: mikeluke on December 12, 2008, 02:41:52 PM
One for Wez/Jonathan (amongst others....)

Thinking about pimping an Epi Goth G-400 - at the moment it has one inlay at 12th fret and that is is - any estimate of what it would cost to fit some Iommi-like cross inlays? Maybe not a full set but at least 3,5,7 and 9th frets.

It might be a really stupid idea but I thought that I'd ask....!!

Thanks
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: FernandoDuarte on December 12, 2008, 07:14:57 PM
Hummm if the inlay at 12th is what I'm thinking (block) I don't think it will be possible... Could be done if put a ebony piece on the pool-hole that will get when you take it...

If you do on the other frets and keep it would be ok, but I think would look weird :?
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 12, 2008, 07:21:42 PM
i dont think they have blcoks do they - isnt it the 'XII' inlay on those?

imho it aint worth doing on an epi unless it needed a refret anyway.  I have seen some people do inlays onto fretted necks and i have done dots  that way... but i personally would not do large inlays without having to do a refret too so that would make it expensive

a cheap solution is inlay stickers, not sure if they do crosses or how long they last though
http://stores.ebay.com/Jockomo-InlayStickers
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: mikeluke on December 12, 2008, 08:57:32 PM
Like these?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/TONY-IOMMI-CROSS-G400-Gibson-SG-Inlay-Set_W0QQitemZ110324885168QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item110324885168&_trksid=p3286.m63.l1177

Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 12, 2008, 09:17:46 PM
i knew there must be some somewhere!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: CJ on December 13, 2008, 12:58:57 AM
those are awesome! i've always hated dot inlays, and all 3 of my guitars have them. i'm definitely going to have to try these out and maybe get them for all my guitars. i find it very hard to believe they won't peel, or even be noticeable during bends, but we'll see. they must be insanely thin to not be noticeable.
i'm thinking razorblades for my dimeslime, ninja stars for my V, and trapezoids for my xr-1.
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: rohlfo on December 13, 2008, 01:00:59 AM
I'm thinking they're a bad idea.... :? I just can't imagine it being as good as the real thing!?
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: CJ on December 13, 2008, 01:05:05 AM
I'm thinking they're a bad idea.... :? I just can't imagine it being as good as the real thing!?

well obviously they're not going to be as good as the real thing. but for a 1/10 of the price, is there 10x difference?
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: Lazy_McDoesnothing on December 13, 2008, 01:51:58 AM
I'm thinking they're a bad idea.... :? I just can't imagine it being as good as the real thing!?

well obviously they're not going to be as good as the real thing. but for a 1/10 of the price, is there 10x difference?
Yes if they only last 1/10th as long.  Will you have to replace them every time you clean your fretboard?
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: CJ on December 13, 2008, 02:12:56 AM
I'm thinking they're a bad idea.... :? I just can't imagine it being as good as the real thing!?

well obviously they're not going to be as good as the real thing. but for a 1/10 of the price, is there 10x difference?
Yes if they only last 1/10th as long.  Will you have to replace them every time you clean your fretboard?

i think we're kind of thinking of different things/ uses here. if you want them to last the lifetime of the guitar, then obviously you should spend the money and get actual inlays. personally, i clean my fretboard maybe once a year, so i don't really worry about that. also, if they can stand up to string bending, they'll probably stand up to cleaning. also, i believe the site said they last 7/8 years. for only $20, even if you have to replace them half the time they tell you you'll need to, they're still be there for 40 years before the cost adds up to something near how much it would cost to put in actual inlays. but then again, i've no clue how much actual fretboard markers would cost to buy/install, so i'm just generalizing.

whether they're a great idea or not, i'm going to try them at least. they're just $20 and can do a pretty good job of transforming the look of your guitar.
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: Lazy_McDoesnothing on December 13, 2008, 02:20:21 AM
They do look good for what they are so I hope they work out for you.  We expect a full report when you get them and when you've had them for a while.  PDT_006
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 13, 2008, 08:53:40 AM
lets put it this way, the epiphone goth sg costs about £200-250.

to add inlay i personally would removed the frets first so we have a refret on a set neck guitar (is it bound neck as well??).... before we even start looking at the price of inlays we are spending about what the guitar is worth.  Then add on the cost of materials... you need bigger bits of pearl for this for each inlay so lets say £30-50 worth of pearl blanks (personally i think it would look great in black pearl - pushin the price up again)... then there is the time it takes to cut and inlay them, maybe half an hour per cross... lets say 4 hours work seperate to the refret, being conservative.


suddenly those (obviously temporary) stick on inlays look like a better idea for a lower priced guitar!!!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: mikeluke on December 13, 2008, 01:24:51 PM
I am tempted to give them a try too!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: CJ on December 13, 2008, 01:40:05 PM
my absolute only concern is whether or not they'll leave marks/damage my fretboard. if they only last a month, then it was a waste of money, but i sure don't want to ruin my $1000 guitars neck.
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: rohlfo on December 13, 2008, 03:20:59 PM
yeah, I guess getting someone to put them in for you would cost a bit.... I've just bought (top notch) MOP inlay crowns, already cut for £25 (and a bit for P&P). I'm putting them in myself, so in terms of cost this is obv. more cost-efficient for me.... If you can indeed change the stickers after a while, then that may be cool since you can change your inlay look once in a while!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 13, 2008, 03:58:05 PM
crowns are a standard inlay shape thats quite easy to find pre-cut so will be cheaper, the cost of custom inlays can grow quite fast!!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: Philly Q on December 13, 2008, 04:23:38 PM
my absolute only concern is whether or not they'll leave marks/damage my fretboard.

I don't think that'll be a problem.  They'll probably leave a bit of sticky residue, but that'll come off with a bit of lemon oil.
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: rohlfo on December 13, 2008, 05:59:23 PM
crowns are a standard inlay shape thats quite easy to find pre-cut so will be cheaper, the cost of custom inlays can grow quite fast!!

That is a good point. Surely the Iommi crosses aren't too unknown for them to cost an incredible amount?
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 13, 2008, 06:16:27 PM
it all depends if somebody is making them or not... might be somebody somewhere offering it as a pre-cut inlay but i dont know off any of the top of my head.

so assuming a few hours/days troweling the internet didnt turn any up that leaves cutting them yourself  which isnt difficult for something simple like the crosses but it would be time consuming and repetitive.... or getting someone to do them on CNC which can cost just as much to get the drawing and set-up done so thats a good solution if you need hundreds but can be very costly for 1 guitar

also material obviously plays a role in price, but really its the time to cut them out or get them cut out by lasers that gets costly... and dont forget thats only half the battle.... you then need to do the inlay route and not make the beginner mistake of sanding through at the edges because the material you chose was too thin for a full width fretboard inlay and you didnt allow for the curve of the fretboard.

worth doing on a custom guitar.... not worth it on an epi
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: rohlfo on December 14, 2008, 02:18:05 AM
ooo, yeah, laser cutters - amazing! make life so much easier - my old school had one which I should go back and make use of  :P I guess being somebody who takes pleasure in building/constructing personal custom stuff I'd always be willing to sacrifice time and effort to give me something custom... I could imagine people not wanting to do that though! It's tough fitting it around daily life!
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: WezV on December 14, 2008, 11:48:43 AM
erm yeah... i do quite like doing custom stuff you know
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/d5.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/44.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/12.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/new/n620718659_1154943_6888.jpg)

not claiming to be larry robinson or owt like that but i think i am ok at it... and what i really dont like is hand cutting a repetitive inlay!


and for what its worth a laser cutter wont work on shell if it is inlay thickness.   I did try it once but it implodes.  Chuck Erikson explained to me that it was the 3% water content at the molecular level that expands when the laser hits it... however it works great on shell under 0.38mm and thats what i use for some of my logos  as they can be stuck on and buried with laquer.  I have my logo's laser cut because i got fed up with doing the same thing over and over again
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: rohlfo on December 14, 2008, 02:47:07 PM
good shout - I'll bear that in mind if I manage to get my hands on a laser cutter for some inlay jobbies!
(in case it was read into any of my posts - I never doubted you liking custom stuff and such; you showed me your lizard after I posted the one of mine in the 12th fret of a bass guitar on another topic on here, so I knew how good you were  :D)
Title: Re: Fretboard Inlays
Post by: FernandoDuarte on December 14, 2008, 03:22:08 PM
Not trying to "pull your balls" Wez, but you did a great job on these inlays... I like the black line you did on the gecko, made it "jump".