Printable Version of Topic

Click here to view this topic in its original format

GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Inlay Decals

Posted by: dcz702 Apr 8 2014, 02:28 PM

part of me say its silly but after looking out of curiosity i think its kind of neat. i looked cause my new guitar has no inlays at all and really its not that big of a deal. and im sure ill get used to it, but i have found myself hitting wrong notes cause my hand is traveling to the wrong frets, not alot but it has happened a few times in the first day of playing.
im wondering about cleaning the fret board when it needs it, the testomonials say that it does not change the feel of the board or lift up when bending,but cleaning might be a problem, what you guys think
http://www.inlaystickers.com/servlet/the-Fret-Markers-cln-Hard-Rock-%26-Metal/Categories

Posted by: Headbanger Apr 8 2014, 03:15 PM

QUOTE (dcz702 @ Apr 8 2014, 02:28 PM) *
part of me say its silly but after looking out of curiosity i think its kind of neat. i looked cause my new guitar has no inlays at all and really its not that big of a deal. and im sure ill get used to it, but i have found myself hitting wrong notes cause my hand is traveling to the wrong frets, not alot but it has happened a few times in the first day of playing.
im wondering about cleaning the fret board when it needs it, the testomonials say that it does not change the feel of the board or lift up when bending,but cleaning might be a problem, what you guys think
http://www.inlaystickers.com/servlet/the-Fret-Markers-cln-Hard-Rock-%26-Metal/Categories


I saw Joe Bonamassa on a video with a new signature Les Paul...It has His signature across the fret board instead of the normal markers..he said he also missed the guides in their normal place...so you are in good company. The stickers, IMHO, I dont like and think they would lift after a while. I would be inclined to get some pro Inlayer put some proper ones in. smile.gif

Posted by: NPB1979 Apr 8 2014, 03:52 PM

I had some bird inlays that were PRS style for a strat I built.

They were cool for a little while. They stuck on very well. They were made out of pearl finish sign-vinyl. Very thin, although you could feel the edges a little if you had the strings off. I ended up getting sick of them and peeling them off.

When you're in a dark venue, I rely basically on the edge dots where the binding is. I have grown to dislike guitars without binding on the fretboard because of that. Sometimes the dots are hard to see on stage without light colored binding.

I also loved my Jay Turser Serpent inlay guitar. You get used to not having the correct inlays on it. Steve Vai doesn't seem to have a problem! laugh.gif

Posted by: Todd Simpson Apr 9 2014, 12:33 AM

It's all about experimenting and learning as you go, so hey why not? smile.gif

I've seen wads of folks try stickers like this. Sometimes it works out well! Usually, they lose traction after a while and peel off and leave some sticky goo on the fretboard but that can be cleaned off.

Give your fretboard a nice cleaning beforehand smile.gif

Todd


QUOTE (dcz702 @ Apr 8 2014, 09:28 AM) *
part of me say its silly but after looking out of curiosity i think its kind of neat. i looked cause my new guitar has no inlays at all and really its not that big of a deal. and im sure ill get used to it, but i have found myself hitting wrong notes cause my hand is traveling to the wrong frets, not alot but it has happened a few times in the first day of playing.
im wondering about cleaning the fret board when it needs it, the testomonials say that it does not change the feel of the board or lift up when bending,but cleaning might be a problem, what you guys think
http://www.inlaystickers.com/servlet/the-Fret-Markers-cln-Hard-Rock-%26-Metal/Categories

Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 9 2014, 01:18 PM

You issue is very popular. I would advice to make a traditional inlay in some specialized guitar service but it's a cost...

Now about the vinyl inlays...I think they would make me feel uncomfortable while playing but You could try to place them and make Your own opinion

Posted by: Gabriel Leopardi Apr 9 2014, 01:52 PM

If you are not sure about how your guitar will look, you can add some inlays just in the upper part of the fret board (the one that you can see but not the people that is watching you). I remember adding some marks in my acoustic guitar there that helped me a lot to be oriented on the fret board.

Posted by: wollace03 Apr 9 2014, 06:07 PM

I have and had several different of them on my guitars and they look quite cool and they have no effect on the playing feeling. Its a good and very cheap way to pimp your guitar a little bit and they can easily be removed..


Posted by: Caelumamittendum Apr 9 2014, 08:49 PM

QUOTE (wollace03 @ Apr 9 2014, 07:07 PM) *
I have and had several different of them on my guitars and they look quite cool and they have no effect on the playing feeling. Its a good and very cheap way to pimp your guitar a little bit and they can easily be removed..


And do they stick quite well?

Posted by: dcz702 Apr 10 2014, 02:47 AM

QUOTE (Darius Wave @ Apr 9 2014, 12:18 PM) *
You issue is very popular. I would advice to make a traditional inlay in some specialized guitar service but it's a cost...

Now about the vinyl inlays...I think they would make me feel uncomfortable while playing but You could try to place them and make Your own opinion

Yes. I do really want inlays designed and professionally installed. I was thinking lightning bolts like angus young would look good on it. I'm taking my guitar to a highly recommended luthier in vegas with awesome reviews, I'm taking it to him cause after I set up my guitar and have had some time with it, I have been very annoyed with the floyd first I'll say the guitar plays great but and this is a issue with all Floyd's I guess, I don't like when I'm bending while playing 2 strings the string goes a bit out of pitch as the floyd lifts up from the string being bent. I was going to put a block myself on it but after talking to the luthier he said he could cut my a block from the same wood the guitar is made from wich will create better resonance and sustain and bring the tension up so the floyd won't lift unless I push down the bar. While I'm there I'm going to see what my options are for him to create and install some bolt inlays. And I thought it would be cool to design a bolt looking inlay with my initials on the 12 the fret to give my guitar a personal touch. So what do you guys think about having the block made from the same wood as the guitar? Or does it not matter and I should save money and install I simple trem stop.

Posted by: Darius Wave Apr 10 2014, 11:24 AM

You should try the hip shot trem setter then. It helps to stabilize "point zero". The whammy bar work a bit harder in the "zero" range but it helps to keep other strings in tune while You bend. There are also a few other concepts with the same results. I'm not quite sure but "tremolno" works similar and gives ability to "turn off" the floating smile.gif

Posted by: Sensible Jones Apr 10 2014, 11:38 AM

QUOTE (Caelumamittendum @ Apr 9 2014, 07:49 PM) *
And do they stick quite well?

Surprisingly well! I've installed a few sets of these for people and haven't had any of the stickers fall off yet!!
biggrin.gif

Posted by: Jeroen Apr 10 2014, 09:34 PM

I experienced the same in the first few days of playing my Torero. But I'm slowly getting used to it. I used some inlay decals on an acoustic guitar with no inlays or dots at all. I must say that they sticked very well and you don't feel it at all while playing. But for the Torero I keep it the way it is.

Posted by: dcz702 Apr 11 2014, 02:03 AM

QUOTE (Jeroen @ Apr 10 2014, 08:34 PM) *
I experienced the same in the first few days of playing my Torero. But I'm slowly getting used to it. I used some inlay decals on an acoustic guitar with no inlays or dots at all. I must say that they sticked very well and you don't feel it at all while playing. But for the Torero I keep it the way it is.

Yup. I've gotten used to it now. It's not really a issue but I need to stay focused when making quick changes when I'm up to and quickly moving to higher frets other than that it's no problem. But I'm curious on what the service would cost and how it's done and if this is a difficult task for experienced luthiers. There are several sites out there where I can order inlays. Does anyone know if this job can be easily completed be experianced luthiers and what would I expect to pay if I ordered my own inlays.
http://www.luthiersupply.com

Posted by: Cosmin Lupu Apr 11 2014, 07:47 AM

I would also go for the pro inlays, not the stickers smile.gif It is indeed costlier, but once it's done, it never leaves the fretboard. My baritone has no inlays and my K7 didn't have any either. I am used to using the side dots, but usually your thinking should be: if a violin, viola or cello would be my instrument... then what? smile.gif

Posted by: Sensible Jones Apr 11 2014, 12:00 PM

QUOTE (dcz702 @ Apr 11 2014, 01:03 AM) *
Does anyone know if this job can be easily completed be experianced luthiers and what would I expect to pay if I ordered my own inlays.
http://www.luthiersupply.com

Doing inlay work is probably THE most expensive thing you could ask a Luthier to do! Especially on the neck! Price would all depend on what design you want put in. For example, just having a set of 'dots' put in would be a whole load cheaper than a 'Tree of Life' design. Any design that will cover over from one fret to another will cost more as this will mean that the Luthier will have to remove the frets, then do all the inlay work and then do a re-fret!!!
As for price? Decide on what design you want and then ask several Luthiers!! There is no 'set' price for this kind of work and different guys will charge in differing ways, Some may give you a price for the complete job, others may charge you by the hour.
I've done some inlay work but usually during the build of a guitar, so it all was done before installing the frets. My charge for installing a set of Dot inlays on a Tele/Strat would be around £200 and a little bit more for a 24 fret guitar.
smile.gif

Powered by Invision Power Board (http://www.invisionboard.com)
© Invision Power Services (http://www.invisionpower.com)