How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bind?

Kommerzbassist

Kommerzbassist

Thunderbirdologist
I was thinking about doing that to my Jaguar... I reall ylove the look of the block inlay with binding neck models, unfortunately these aren't produced anymore. Also, I like my black Jaguar HH with matching Headstock, so I thought I could let some luthier put these things on? Or not? Anyone know about how much that costs, and, in case of the binding, if it's even possible?

thanks
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Sheesh! 400-500.00?
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Kommerzbassist said:
Oh really? That expensive? Do you have experience?
Click to expand...

sort of. That kind of work aint cheap. I wouldnt be surprised if it was more, and the more thought i give it, Im inclined to believe it would be way more... cause people who know how to do it properly are the highly skilled luthiers. Lets put it this way- I had one damaged fret inlay on my Jackson Professional repaired by a master Lutheir and it was about a hundred bucks. In all honesty I don't rightly know. Hope this helps.
 
Last edited:
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Yeah helps pretty much, thank you!
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Will end up costing more than the guitar alone is worth honestly. A good luthier is going to be $75/hr or more and inlays are a very labor intensive process. Same with adding neck binding.

One guy I've used was over $400 just for a refret and thats much less work than inlays or binding.

There is of course the option of cheaper people, but thats just throwing your money away to have a binding thats got gaps, inlays that don't stay in etc because it still won't be cheap


Best bet would be to buy a neck from USACG or similar where you can get bindings, inlays etc at the time of production for much cheaper. I think inlays are about $90 for basic ones and not sure about binding.

Might as well spend the same money or cheaper and get a whole new neck than paying smoeone for hours and hours of labor
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

man..... that's high. i was thinking of refretting my gibson with extra jumbo's. but after the fretting job and rebinding. i might as well buy a new ax. i hope this thing last's at least 10 years the way it is. budda know's i'll be paying on it that long. geez.
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

one of the reasons i started learning and doing my own repair work is the cost of getting a shop to do everything for me was getting too high... but i still pay for these skilled tradesmen when i need them... nothing replaces a highly skilled guitar maker when you want it done right...

but adding binding and new inlays would mean stripping the neck finnish and pulling the frets out of it... adding the binding and inlays, then a refret, and then a re-spray... that is some seriously costly work.... i could see that being close to a Grand when done... maybe more....
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Well, a refret on rosewood is about 350 down here...so I could imagine doing all the inlay would be pretty expensive...as well as the binding...depending on if you want it around just the body or the body and neck.
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

frets would have to be removed - inlays cut in & then re-sanded down with the board - cut for binding channel - binding cut flush - completely refinished & cleaned up - refretted (now on a bound fingerboard) edges tidied - seated - bevelled - levelled - crowned - polished & now a new nut is necessary ... etc etc etc

I wouldnt bother mate.
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

KB, if it´s any help, I would charge about 600-700€ :friday:

150€ for the binding install, assuming you want full neck and headstock binding in a solid color plastic
150€ for the inlays in Abalone or MoP
100€ for refinishing the neck in clear satin poly
250€ for the refret itself incl setup and new nut
+50€ because the refret is on a bound board

Upside: the instrument now looks better
Downside: the neck refinish will alter the tone slightly and the binding will make the edge neck feel a hair different under your fingers. In other words, it may actually be detrimental from a tonal and playability perspective :eek13:

I wouldn´t do it to one of my guiitars, but it´s your call ;)
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Not to mention with any neck binding there's a chance it comes loose, and same for large inlays.

If you buy a finished guitar in the shop you just don't buy it if it turns out like that, but in this case you just walked down one way alley.

Just use a paint marker to draw them on :)
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Ok... sooo my general conclusion on this is...

OUCH!

What about just the inlays on a rosewood neck? Do they also have to take out the frets for that?
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

jerryjg said:
Sheesh! 400-500.00?
Click to expand...

For binding and inlays, easily this much. Probably much more.

Oh, Zerb is talking in Euro's so, that would probably be correct if you are too.
 
Last edited:
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Kommerzbassist said:
Ok... sooo my general conclusion on this is...

OUCH!

What about just the inlays on a rosewood neck? Do they also have to take out the frets for that?
Click to expand...

Yes. The problem is that with the frets installed there´s no space to have the router base touch down, making it impossible to rout the inlays in the first place. The inlays also have to be sanded down to match the fretboard height, nigh impossible with frets installed even if you got them installed despite frets;)
 
Last edited:
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

That ain't a bad idea!
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

Zerberus said:
Yes. The problem is that with the frets installed there´s no space to have the router base touch down, making it impossible to rout the inlays in the first place. The inlays also have to be sanded down to match the fretboard height, nigh impossible with frets installed even if you got them installed despite frets;)
Click to expand...

Ah I see... makes sense... crappy though, since it makes things expensive for me.

Karmadog777 said:
15 dollar solution: http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Guita...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1307|301:1|293:1|294:50
Click to expand...

Uhm no, not really my style of doing it... I like keeping things "real" :cool2:
 
Re: How much will a luthier/guitar tech ask for putting on block inlays and a neck bi

kommerzbassist said:
ah i see... Makes sense... Crappy though, since it makes things expensive for me.



Uhm no, not really my style of doing it... I like keeping things "real" :cool2:
Click to expand...

don't tuRn around ugh ohh..der kommisars in toWm ugh ohh!! :1:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

waltschwarzkopf
NGD - Fretboard "bump" on new-to-me acoustic guitar (MIJ)
Replies
15
Views
314
waltschwarzkopf
waltschwarzkopf
nexion218
NGD: It's December, so time for some Winterstorm
Replies
5
Views
179
Demanic
Demanic
O
New project for fun: a paisley tele but different
Replies
7
Views
382
orpheo
O
Pierre
NGD: Reiver Kompact. This is a long one, folks...And it is GOOD
Replies
5
Views
2K
Pierre
Pierre
N
Upgrading to Locking Tuners on a Fender Tele FMT Special / HipShot GripLock Review
Replies
8
Views
6K
rjudo
R
Back
Top