what inlay to get for my guitar - help!

[rohlfo]

Hi guys,
so I'm building a new guitar: explorer, walnut wood, ebony fingerboard and ebony vaneer on headstock.
I'm finding it really hard to decide/come up with something for the fingerboard and headstock.
The only idea so far which I could accept is sqaures in the fingerboard, but something a bit more for the 12th, no idea about the (tiny space) on the headstock.

[WezV]

pics or it never happened - but in all seriousness seeing the shape may help with inlay inspiration

[rohlfo]

I'll def. post picks up once it's finished. Atm it's a block of wood....building it 24/7 though so should be done in a week. If it's any help, then it'll look something like this (although with no scratch plate, and chrome metal gear and I will have chrome covered pups)
http://www.berniemarsden.co.uk/images/guitars/g2.jpg

I just think 'dots' don't really fit this guitar...

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

If I ever went custom I think I'd have to get either a blank board or maybe two offset dots at the 12th.  I think either would look good on an explorer as well.

[WezV]

i would go for ofset dots down one edge or small blockmarkers, or even none at all... i think simple often works best on straight edged guitars

[rohlfo]

I agree, simple is the key. I do think I'd need something on the board though..might get lost otherwise  :lol:
I did think of little blocks down one side, but thinking that's quite a modern look, yet a play more old-school AC/DC, Thin Lizzy, Led Zep kinda stuff....(Airbourne!) ...so not sure....

I'm also thinking something a little special on the 12th perhaps? I've always had stone inlay on my other guitars, so perhaps some simple design there?

cheers guys, like to see I'm thinking along (some) right lines! Simple, straight, down-to-earth!

[FernandoDuarte]

I would put, for a custom inlay, my sign or something/animal that I like... what wood is going on neck? this thing will be pretty trebly  :? As far as I know, Walnut tone is not very different from Maple, just a little bit less trebly...

[rohlfo]

the whole thing is walnut! (fingerboard ebony) so yeah, it will be somewhat trebbly, but that's a good thing since I can then get hotter pups without it becoming a dark, muddy sound which would happen quickly given the sheer mass of wood on an explorer...
as to animals, I did consider a wolf at one point, but just no idea how to get that designed/done....

[CJ]

some time of diamond shaped inlays would look good i think.

[rohlfo]

as in perfect, or slanted like the body (or in opposite slant direction!)?
good ideas - keep 'em comin'!

[Lazy_McDoesnothing]

For the headstock I keep thinking of something like this because of your avatar.

[FernandoDuarte]

the whole thing is walnut! (fingerboard ebony) so yeah, it will be somewhat trebbly, but that's a good thing since I can then get hotter pups without it becoming a dark, muddy sound which would happen quickly given the sheer mass of wood on an explorer...
as to animals, I did consider a wolf at one point, but just no idea how to get that designed/done....

http://www.luthiersupply.com/pegheadinlayOurpage.html
In the middle of the page... perhaps they can do it smaller os this size can be put on 12th fret, better measure before you buy... would need to be worked, because would get to the sides frets, but can be done...

For the woods I would go for Black Korina body and Wenge or Bubinga neck, inbetween of Gibby and yours :lol:

[CJ]

as in perfect, or slanted like the body (or in opposite slant direction!)?
good ideas - keep 'em comin'!

maybe some type of slanted one that kind of matches the body shape.

[FernandoDuarte]

On my telecaster it's about 51mm on 12th, this wolf is about 45mm...

[rohlfo]

For the headstock I keep thinking of something like this because of your avatar.

hehe, awesome! I was thinking about putting horns in somewhere, but I figured I already have those in my hands most of the time  :mrgreen:

Fernando- that page is awesome, cheers! like the wolf head, might put that in the headstock since there's more room, and perhaps go back to my origional 'moon phases' motif for the fingerboard, with the full moon at 12?
Also, I did first look at black Korina, but the dealer I buy from always has random wood and the black Korina they had looked very plain and boring, whilst the Walnut bit I found was really quite nice (plus it smells gorgeous when working with it :lol:) so that tipped me into the choice...and then I thought I'd just get the neck from the same wood. Hopefully get a good aging join.