Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

SheDoesntDoIt4Me

New member
Im going to learn how...if anyone has any pointers, Im all ears. My Epi custom has the ugliest grey inlays I ever saw, other than that I love it. Im going to buy the inlays and do it.
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

Oooh! Good luck! Never did it myself, but it sounds scary. I'd also be interested to see how this is done. Once we find out, I wish you the best of luck and would look forward to a review of the process.

Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

I was going to put a ebony LP custom board on it, but Id have to do some paint work on the edges. But Im pretty confident I can pull off the inlays. Im a serious plastic model car builder/fabricator. And I know a little about wood. As long as they come out in a decent manner were all good. Ill let ya know.
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

I just did block inlays on my Epi flying V. it's a lot of work !! My advise is
take your time. It took me about 3 1/2 to 4 hours each one !! Need More
info ? I'll repost later. Don't have time to go into it now. (Screaming Kids :smack: ) let me know ??
 
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Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

Sounds like it will be a hell of a lot of work man. You have to take the inlays out very carefully... and you said you were going to replace the fretboard with ebony??
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

It's not too hard if you have the right tools and take your time. But if you have something like trapezoid inlays and want new, smaller inlays, then you run into problems with filling the old inlay space. That can be done, but often you can still see the outline in certain lighting situations.

Otherwise, I would suggest removing the entire fretboard, obtaining a new board and starting fresh.

MJ
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

KMC Ill listen to whatever youd like to tell me.

I was going to replace the whole board, frets inlays and all with one from a gibson custom. But I dont want to mess with the paint edge. Im sure it would be easier though. And I am doing blocks that will be exact same size.
Thanks for the input.
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

SheDoesntDoIt4Me said:
KMC Ill listen to whatever youd like to tell me.

I was going to replace the whole board, frets inlays and all with one from a gibson custom. But I dont want to mess with the paint edge. Im sure it would be easier though. And I am doing blocks that will be exact same size.
Thanks for the input.
Replacing blocks with blocks could be harder? Could be easier? I DUNNO.
What I did was start by useing a 3M glue stick to glue the inlay to the
board,Let it dry a few hours. Then I took a scribe and traced the inlay
on the board, Then a X-acto knife. If the inlay didn't fall off at this point
I took a piece of wood and knocked it off. Continue cutting the outline
with the x-acto ( don't slip) Now your ready to start digging. I used a
dremel tool w/t a router base. This is where it could be harder or easier?
Use a desk lamp Cuz' ya really need to see what your doing. ( safety googles
are a good idea) Use the dremel to take out most of the middle and the Blades near the edge's cuz' ya don't wanna lose your line. Most importantly
take your time. Don't try to dig the inlay out in one shot. One problem
you may have is you won't have much if any rosewood dust to fill in any
mistakes. Once the new inlays are in it's a real pain in the arse leveling them
(with the frets in) I used a rasor blade. there are some good tuturiols at
projectguitars.com you should check out. Here's a link to some pics of my
project. :) My Inlay Project
 
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Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

Whoa! :saeek:

Ya still gonna do it dude? :smack: That's something I'd practice on a spare neck. Good luck!


Peace,

Darrin
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

JohnJohn said:
Looks good KMC :)
Where did you get your material?
THANKS !! :D JOHNJOHN. It's cool to get a complamint from a PRO ! As you
can see in my pic I'm a kitchen table luthier/HACKER! literary. :laugh2: I
got them off ebay for $15. Stewmac sells em' for over $40.
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

Go to the Stewmac website and look at Dan Erlewine's video collection to see if he has anything on it. I know he has one that covers refretting, etc..
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

SheDoesntDoIt4Me said:
sounds kinda scary


C'mon man! Step up to the plate! One of us has got to bust through! Go for it! You can do it. Please report on your progress. Now go! GO!


Peace,


Darrin
 
Re: Anyone ever change fretboard inlays?

It's funny how Epiphone uses so much different materials for their guitars.
The other guy in my band has an Epi Custom with the same ugly grey blocks. My Ibanez RG also has that ugly colour inlays. Looks really cheap.
My Epi Custom has pearloid inlays and it looks way better. When we hold the guitars next to each other there is quite a different. Pearloid looks just right!
If you are going through with it, good luck! It will look much better but it's probably going to take some serious time to do it.
 
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