Who does GREAT fretboard inlay work?

[clay49]

I'm loving my new Tokai Love Rock, but the only thing missing (for me) is real Mother-of-Pearl inlays (trapezoid blocks). These "shell" inlays are rather dull, yellow and un-impressive...I need those bright white MOP traps!

I'm looking for good work at a good price. Paul Bordeaux is the only guy I've used in the past, and I may just have him do these...but in this struggling economy, I'm also looking for the best price...any suggestions or recommendations? :dunno

[Dana Olsen]

Hey Clay -

The thing is, usually inlay work is done BEFORE the fretting, when it's easy to sand 'em flat by sanding the entire fretboard.

Changing inlays AFTER the frets are on means sanding in between the frets - which is a much more time consuming job. The trap shapes aren't hard to make, and the inlay itself isn't a challenging job, but the finish sanding and leveling is all labor, one way or another, and it requires skill and patience.

It can be done, but as with many labor intensive skills, it won't be cheap. It's just the nature of that job, or any other labor intensive repair job where the Devil's in the details. Any chance you can polish the shell that's already in there for 'mo 'bling effect?

Hope this helps, Dana O.

[clay49]

Thanks for the response...the current inlays are "amber Cell", which I guess is celluloid...and they are a darker color than MOP. The quote I have is for $375...for installation of new MOP inlays.

[Dana Olsen]

Thanks for the response...the current inlays are "amber Cell", which I guess is celluloid...and they are a darker color than MOP. The quote I have is for $375...for installation of new MOP inlays.Hey Clay -

I don't want to speak for everyone on this, but for the most part, that particular job is one that a lot of luthiers would be happy to turn down, as it's a real PITA to do. The inlays are so noticeable that EVERYBODY wants their's to be perfect, so there's extremely low tolerance for anything less than a perfect job, and the job itself hard to do right in the first place due to the tightness of the spaces between the frets, much less perfect.

If a shop was slow and the luthier had plenty of time, they might take on the job. I wish you luck in your quest. Whomever does this job, trust that it will be a labor of love as much as labor for money. (GRIN).

Good Luck, Dana O.

[HeyMrTeleMan]

In a similar vein, I have a beautiful 1996 Hamer Artist with MOP blocks inlaid in the neck. There is only one thing I don't like about the guitar- the headstock logo is not MOP. I would like to have the logo redone in pearl to match the neck.

Should I send it to Hamer? Would they do that? How much might I have to pay to have that done. Anyone in Atlanta capable of doing it?

Sorry to derail the thread...:worried