installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
- Thread starter nognow
- Start date
jmh151
Active member
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
Very difficult and time consuming without a refret. You could go another route and use inlay decals
Very difficult and time consuming without a refret. You could go another route and use inlay decals
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
Decals haha please don't. Stickers don't belong on a fretboard.
What sort of inlays are we talking? Dots would be easy, i actually did this exact thing for a mates acoustic the other week.
Decals haha please don't. Stickers don't belong on a fretboard.
What sort of inlays are we talking? Dots would be easy, i actually did this exact thing for a mates acoustic the other week.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
One method I've seen is put tape on the fretboard, trace around the inlays, with a dremel tool drill out the inlay shape into the fretboard down to an appropriate depth, then glue the inlay in.
One method I've seen is put tape on the fretboard, trace around the inlays, with a dremel tool drill out the inlay shape into the fretboard down to an appropriate depth, then glue the inlay in.
Grindspine
New member
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
To get the inlay to really sit evenly, leveling the fingerboard is necessary, which implies a refret.
To get the inlay to really sit evenly, leveling the fingerboard is necessary, which implies a refret.
kramersteen
PowerMetalRaph
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
Well its no doubt better to do it with the frets off. But dots unlike other inlays are basic so you can get them level easily enough with the frets on without the hassle.
If it was my guitar i wouldn't bother, Soon you will find you wont even need the dots once you get to know the instrument.
Well its no doubt better to do it with the frets off. But dots unlike other inlays are basic so you can get them level easily enough with the frets on without the hassle.
If it was my guitar i wouldn't bother, Soon you will find you wont even need the dots once you get to know the instrument.
Myaccount876
Amira-Maker
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
For dots, you can just drill a hole to size of the dot you have and glue the dot in (or just fill the newly drilled hole with clay or something like that). This you can do without a refret and you'll just have to sand the inlay flush to the fretboard.
Now if you want a design like trapezoids, blocks, celtic crosses etc, you will need to level the fretboard entirely (meaning a refret later), cut out what you want, insert the inlay, radius the board, fret it, and then all the setup work ensues.
For some guitars, I would rather just make a new fretboard starting from there, removing the old fretboard carefully with a heat gun (or moisture if the glue is water-soluble) and gluing the new fretboard on. I think this would be better in the case of a set neck guitar like a Les Paul where material is removed from the fretboard - therefore the frets will be positioned lower which could be problematic during setup in relation to the bridge. On bolt-ons you would be able to just shim the neck to the correct height.
For dots, you can just drill a hole to size of the dot you have and glue the dot in (or just fill the newly drilled hole with clay or something like that). This you can do without a refret and you'll just have to sand the inlay flush to the fretboard.
Now if you want a design like trapezoids, blocks, celtic crosses etc, you will need to level the fretboard entirely (meaning a refret later), cut out what you want, insert the inlay, radius the board, fret it, and then all the setup work ensues.
For some guitars, I would rather just make a new fretboard starting from there, removing the old fretboard carefully with a heat gun (or moisture if the glue is water-soluble) and gluing the new fretboard on. I think this would be better in the case of a set neck guitar like a Les Paul where material is removed from the fretboard - therefore the frets will be positioned lower which could be problematic during setup in relation to the bridge. On bolt-ons you would be able to just shim the neck to the correct height.
ExplorersRock
X-Files Duckbucker
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
I thought about taking a swing at this, and did some research. Best option is to remove the frets like everyone is saying. So now you have to spend time and/or money just on that. If you need a refret anyway, than that's not too bad. But without taking off the frets, it would be hella difficult to do it right. Just shy of torture from what I learned in my research.
I thought about taking a swing at this, and did some research. Best option is to remove the frets like everyone is saying. So now you have to spend time and/or money just on that. If you need a refret anyway, than that's not too bad. But without taking off the frets, it would be hella difficult to do it right. Just shy of torture from what I learned in my research.
TheLivingDead
Dawn Of The Shred
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
Honestly, I'd just go the sticker inlay route. They're cheap, look good and do the job. No reason to turn your nose up at em.
Honestly, I'd just go the sticker inlay route. They're cheap, look good and do the job. No reason to turn your nose up at em.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: installing new inlays on an existing fretboard
Here's an interesting thread that is quoted on several guitar forums (hate to redirect to other forums, but...). In this case it doesn't cover routing/drilling out the pattern for a new inlay, but it shows all the rest including leaving the frets on and still shaping the inlay to match the neck curve.
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145124&highlight=cellulose
There are some images in the upper half of this page showing what you're in for using a 'frets off' technique.
http://crimsonguitars.com/workshop-diary/300511
...and another example in the bottom part of this page.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=43970
Despite all that, I saw some of the best comprehensive information on the subject not on electric guitar sites but others - like acoustic guitar and banjo sites. Apparently acoustic guitars have fretboards customized much more often than electric guitars, so there seem to be a few more resources and information out there if you venture away from just electric guitar sites.
Here's an interesting thread that is quoted on several guitar forums (hate to redirect to other forums, but...). In this case it doesn't cover routing/drilling out the pattern for a new inlay, but it shows all the rest including leaving the frets on and still shaping the inlay to match the neck curve.
http://www.lespaulforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145124&highlight=cellulose
There are some images in the upper half of this page showing what you're in for using a 'frets off' technique.
http://crimsonguitars.com/workshop-diary/300511
...and another example in the bottom part of this page.
http://www.guitarmasterclass.net/guitar_forum/index.php?showtopic=43970
Despite all that, I saw some of the best comprehensive information on the subject not on electric guitar sites but others - like acoustic guitar and banjo sites. Apparently acoustic guitars have fretboards customized much more often than electric guitars, so there seem to be a few more resources and information out there if you venture away from just electric guitar sites.
