Fretboard inlay stickers?

[BloodRose]

Ive been curious. Who has tried or uses those fretboard inlay stickers? What are your thoughts? It seems to me that they would change the feel when fretting (probably not more than say regular inlays such as Gibson trapezoids), but my biggest concern would be whether you would catch the string on the edge of the sticker when bending and it would hinder playing or the string would catch the edge and either stick or peel off the sticker..?

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I don't see any way that a sticker would stand up playing over time. Your hands are sweaty/oily, and your fingers are constantly scraping strings across where the sticker sits. At the very least I'd figure they would get gross and grungy at the edges quickly, and I'd be surprised if they don't peel off very quickly once the edges get tacky. On a rosewood board I think the oiliness of the wood would prevent them from adhering well in the first place . . . they would probably work best on a gloss maple board. But I wouldn't expect much.

[Mincer]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I can't see stickers being a good idea anywhere your hand is touching all the time. Other than to get a sense of what your guitar might look like with a different neck, I recommend you just get used to what you have.

[ICTGoober]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I have a set on my Toby bass. You cannot feel them while playing.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I feel like they would work better on a bass than a guitar. You're not really bending strings too often on bass . . . and if it's got tall frets your fingers should rarely/never be touching the fretboard.

[Aceman]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I have some on a Dean Inferno. The inlays are a cool flame motif up the neck. IM****ING POSSIBLE to see where you are playing. I got some and they work great.

Also - you guys need to lighten your touch! If you are worried about the edge of a sticker, you must be digging ruts in the fretboard!!!!

[Securb]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

If you are worried about the edge of a sticker, you must be digging ruts in the fretboard!!!!

A sticker wouldn't last a week on my guitar. I do a ton of bending and vibrato. Two or three more years abuse and my Iceman neck is going to look scalloped.

[devastone]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

Just say no BR. Fretboard stickers are for people who want their RGs to look like JEMs.

Unless you are Steve Dallas of course.

[80's_Metal]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I've used them on a couple guitars over the years.
Never had them peel or flake or get caught.

[Synapsys]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

Have some on my acoustic and had some on a "no fretboard inlays" electric a few years back.

I fret hard and bend a lot, and had no issues, back then or now.

[Newcenstein]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I put some on a USA Custom Shop Jackson with a blank ebony board several years ago, and I'm using 9s. They're super thin, and unless you drag your nails across the wood while bending, you're not going to feel them any more than you would a little excess epoxy around any other inlays.

I even made some for a maple board myself using print-your-own window decals, which were thicker, and they didn't feel intrusive.

People like to bash the simple and easy alternative to a custom-inlaid fretboard, but only because they aren't dropping the money on your behalf, and have probably never even tried them.

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I've put several sets on a few guitars and they've been on for about 10 years now. There have been no problems whatsoever on the large ones with simple edges (like large Gibson type trapezoids). The ONLY one that has given me problems is a set that has very intricate edge detail...very thin and pointy. I'm referring specifically to a set of bats with fine pointy wing details that I put on one of my Wilshires with the batwing shaped head. The ends of the points are coming up. But they look terrific.

[GuitarStv]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

I'm kinda blown away that so many people have so little problem with these stickers. My fretboard needs to have dirt and grim scraped off it every couple months. I feel like the stickers wouldn't last long in that environment.

[Newcenstein]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

That depends on the actual need for such maintenance. Some people do it to keep their boards photogenic, especially maple. Others never do it, or only if it becomes a physical issue (actual tone loss vs imagined tone loss not due to other factors). While I'm not prowling the world's stages every night with my stickered board, I have given it the 4-hour bedroom set, running up and down the neck and across all 6 strings, and they're fine.

[NegativeEase]

Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?

this make no sense -dirt trap anyone? probably get MRSA from them if you gig enough...