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..?
Fretboard inlay stickers?
- Thread starter BloodRose
- Start date
GuitarStv
Sock Market Trader
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.
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.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
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!!!!
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
One of Jerry's Kids
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
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.
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.
80's_Metal
Underglazed Hair Metalologist
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
I've used them on a couple guitars over the years.
Never had them peel or flake or get caught.
I've used them on a couple guitars over the years.
Never had them peel or flake or get caught.
Newcenstein
New member
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.
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.
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.
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.
Newcenstein
New member
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.
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
New member
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
this make no sense -dirt trap anyone? probably get MRSA from them if you gig enough... :lmao:
this make no sense -dirt trap anyone? probably get MRSA from them if you gig enough... :lmao:
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
Jennifer Batten says 'yes'...lol.
Jennifer Batten says 'yes'...lol.
Newcenstein
New member
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
The stickers I have are a chrome foil type/finish, and not porous like those Office Depot colored dots, so I'm not seeing how they're going to trap or absorb anything through the top, and nothing's getting under them.
As well, they're cheap enough that if you do scrape them off and clean and oil the board, you can put new ones on.
Also, in further regards to the question of "will they affect tone?", they cannot, except on a fretless, and even then only if you're fretting on the sticker itself instead of in the proper positions between them. On a fretted guitar, you're getting nothing from the fretboard except acoustic tone, so even though the string touches the board, the note is coming from the other side of the fret wire. When you fret notes, you're basically relocating the bridge in sections.
Anyone else remember Andy Summers' "skeleton" guitar where the neck was just fret wires on a metal broom stick? No wood, all tone.
The stickers I have are a chrome foil type/finish, and not porous like those Office Depot colored dots, so I'm not seeing how they're going to trap or absorb anything through the top, and nothing's getting under them.
As well, they're cheap enough that if you do scrape them off and clean and oil the board, you can put new ones on.
Also, in further regards to the question of "will they affect tone?", they cannot, except on a fretless, and even then only if you're fretting on the sticker itself instead of in the proper positions between them. On a fretted guitar, you're getting nothing from the fretboard except acoustic tone, so even though the string touches the board, the note is coming from the other side of the fret wire. When you fret notes, you're basically relocating the bridge in sections.
Anyone else remember Andy Summers' "skeleton" guitar where the neck was just fret wires on a metal broom stick? No wood, all tone.
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NegativeEase
New member
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
most Bacteria are 1/1000 the size of a millimeter in depth. so you are completely missing the scale of what a dirt trap is.
My guitar is a pile of sweat every night..... I guess I'd have to see this to believe it's not building a bacteria hangout on the edges and party
most Bacteria are 1/1000 the size of a millimeter in depth. so you are completely missing the scale of what a dirt trap is.
My guitar is a pile of sweat every night..... I guess I'd have to see this to believe it's not building a bacteria hangout on the edges and party
devastone
Well-known member
Re: Fretboard inlay stickers?
The pores of your rosewood fretboard are probably trapping more bacteria than the stickers would, just take your L-Lysine and Vitamin C and go for it.
The pores of your rosewood fretboard are probably trapping more bacteria than the stickers would, just take your L-Lysine and Vitamin C and go for it.
