#1 resource for Cigar Box Guitars, Free Plans, How-To, Parts & More!

Draw frets with regular frets

I have just a few little pieces of fret wire left over which I used on a guitar. I'd like to somehow draw other non-fretted lines.These lines will be used just for reference as they are not raised. In the past I've used woodburned dots on the top of the fretboard looking down at the neck...but this time I'd like to add some sort of fret drawn on the actual face of the neck mimicking the real fret lines.

Couple things I've thought about for drawn frets are permanent marker, regular pen, woodburn (hard to make straight). I guess I'm asking what medium to use ?
Also I'd like to stain the neck so I'd need to know whether to draw or mark before or after staining...any ideas? Thank you

0 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tom T on October 25, 2015 at 10:09am

Timing is everything. I just completed three CBGs for the local guitar store. I went with a 3-string slider design so just about anyone could play it. Cost was another reason for the slider design. I wanted a nice guitar at a very reasonable price. Frets cost money and take a good bit of time to install and finish properly.

After considering wood burning and other options, I decided to go with a brown fine-tipped sharpie (permanent marker).

I marked each fret position with a fine pencil mark then used a combo square for drawing the sharpie lines. I did neck staining before drawing the lines then sprayed a light coat of poly over the lines once they were drawn and cured. The fret dots were made using the trusty wood burner tip. Sorry I don't have any closer or clearer photos, but I think you can see what I mean.

Since these are sliders, I think the fret lines will hold up very well over time. I like the fine line and they are easy to see on the neck.

Hope this helps you.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jon Leslie/Runaway Veal Music on October 25, 2015 at 10:16am

Those are beautiful. Great suggestion!!!

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Clark Rowden on October 25, 2015 at 11:07am

What I did once when I made an electric stick dulcimer was to cut all the fret slots then only install the diatonic frets. For the other frets, I applied a thin coat of Titebond glue to little pieces of these:

http://www.hobbylinc.com/htm/mid/mid8006.htm

I waited for them to dry, then trimmed them off and sanded them flush. But you can't do that if your staining the fretboard... sorry.

But it works great with naturally dark wood.