Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Phrygian Kid on March 22, 2012 at 8:36am

Twigs. I used to cut wooden dots with plug cutters.. They look nice but it's kinda shit when u don't line the grain up perfectly. Lining the grain up can be tricky when the plug cutter burns the plug. Then I tried twigs. With twigs the grain is radial so it doesn't matter.. Get a plank of scrap. Drill a bunch Of small holes each a couple inches apart. Go for a walk collecting twigs. Glue, sand, label, elm down the street, silver birch in the park. Etc. leave the bark on, it makes a cool brown ring.

Permalink Reply by James Kirkpatrick on March 22, 2012 at 8:57am

I have seen people using plastic hangers and inlaying them. I have also used screws and just cut the head off.

Permalink Reply by Charlotte Henry on March 22, 2012 at 9:06am

Hi Jan, I used a plug cutter on my last guitar. It cuts perfect 1/4" dots out of any wood. On my previous instruments I used epoxy putty. It comes in various colors and looks absolutely perfect after sanding. I'm pretty hooked on the plug cutter and various colored woods.

Permalink Reply by Wiley Rutledge on March 22, 2012 at 9:41am

Brass or aluminum rod cut offs look cool, and color contrast dowels will work as well. Fancy shirt buttons would be appropriate for CBG's as well.

Permalink Reply by Charlotte Henry on March 22, 2012 at 12:01pm

Jan, this is my plug cutter and I got it from woodcraft.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2020057/16425/plug-cutter-14.aspx

Permalink Reply by MadGomer on March 22, 2012 at 12:07pm

I'm in Wileys camp, but have also used heavy copper wire for markers on the edge of the neck rather than the face of the fretboard. Considered small coins too but haven't tried it yet.

Permalink Reply by Charlotte Henry on March 22, 2012 at 12:16pm

watch the video on that page.

Permalink Reply by Richard G Caudill on March 22, 2012 at 12:27pm

get a 1/4 paper punch ,,  I use alum pie pans ,, get a black or whatever colored plastic paper binder ,, pretty colored guitar picks ,,any kinda shiny plastic ,,  drill the holes and super glue em in  .. it'll amaze u once u see the results

Permalink Reply by Jan Westphal on March 22, 2012 at 6:35pm

Lots of input, thanks Nationalists you're the best!

I have a look for a plug cutter cause I like the idea of using any wood lying around. Twigs are very cool too!!

Permalink Reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry on March 22, 2012 at 6:38pm

You could always use thumb tacks. Available cheap in a variety of colors.

Permalink Reply by Charlotte Henry on March 24, 2012 at 2:48am

Jan, these are maple dots inlaid into an ebonized maple fretboard.  The fret lines are maple veneer inlet into the saw kerfs for my fretless Punch 4 string. Anyway, I used a 1/4" plug cutter and on the fretboard I drilled the holes with a 1/4" forstner bit.

Permalink Reply by Wiley Rutledge on March 24, 2012 at 2:58am

Beautiful contrast in the fretboard, but like many "fret less" instruments I see this appears to be fretted. I know many put fret marks in appropriate places, but these appear to be more than marks. Are these smooth to the fret board, (totally inlaid) or some other treatment?

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