Aftermarket inlays?

[Spike]

I'm considering purchasing a guitar that has no fretboard inlays and was wondering approximately what it would cost to have inlays put in. The fretboard is ebony if that makes a difference. I'd be OK with dots or blocks -- blocks would look nicer but if they're a bigger hassle to install aftermarket (read: a lot more expensive), dots will be fine.

TIA for any info.

[Thundersteel]

How about stickers instead of actual inlays? They're supposed to be pretty good from what I've heard.

http://www.inlaysticker.com/

[Spike]

Thanks for the link. I've thought about something like that but I'm not sure how well they would stay on the fretboard. I would probably give them a shot to see if they worked but if they don't work well and my fingers end up tripping over them, I'd probably have to have real inlays installed. After all, I have a hard enough time playing as it is, what with my fingers tripping over the strings and all.

[atquinn]

Don't do it!

-

Austin

[Spike]

Don't do it!

-

Austin

No worries. The deal fell through.

Just curious. What's the reason that you advise against having aftermarket inlays installed?

[serial]

He likes plain ebony boards!

Having custom inlays done isn't that expensive.

[atquinn]

He likes plain ebony boards!

...

Truer words have never been spoken

-

Austin

[ptm1diver]

I have used the services of David at Custom Pearl Inlay and he is great. If you are thinking of inlays, check out his web site.

http://www.custompearlinlay.com/

David R. Nichols

(518) 483-7685

E-mail: cpinlay@aol.com

[pirateflynn]

Can this be done properly without a refret?

[kizanski]

Can this be done properly without a refret?

Cost prohibitive, in most cases.

[BadgerDave]

I assume dots could be done without pulling the frets.

[Studio Custom]

You can drill holes and glue in dots without a refret, I've done it. Anything more would be difficult if not impossible.

[kizanski]

Re: Dots.

Why?

[MCChris]

Re: Dots.

Why?

[crunchee]

Stick-on inlays are the Lee Press-on Nails of guitars.

[Spike]

He likes plain ebony boards!

Having custom inlays done isn't that expensive.

Ah, that explains his objection. I prefer inlays but to each his own.

I have used the services of David at Custom Pearl Inlay and he is great. If you are thinking of inlays, check out his web site.

http://www.custompearlinlay.com/

Thanks for the link. I'll check out the site.

You can drill holes and glue in dots without a refret, I've done it. Anything more would be difficult if not impossible.

That was my reason for stating that dots would be OK. I'm sure that blocks could be done but it would be a lot more involved and the cost would probably be prohibitive. At any rate, I couldn't work out a deal for the guitar so the search continues.

Thanks for all of the replies. They have been very helpful.