Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Mark Werner on June 7, 2009 at 7:11pm

I've been using a simple hand-held paper punch to punch 1/4" discs out of flatpicks. I drill a precise hole in the fretboard using a Forstner bit and glue 'em in with a drop of glue.
Looks very professional....I think I got the idea from a thread on the old yahoo group.

For side markers, I drill little (1/16" or so) holes and then glue in the black plastic "bristles" from a cheap hairbrush; the kind people with actual hair use after a shower. Just stick 'em in till the glue dries and then cut 'em flush with a razorblade.

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Permalink Reply by Roosterman on June 7, 2009 at 10:59pm

Iv been using dome headed brass screws, then sanding them off with the belt sander to leave what looks like a brass dot inlay - careful to get brass screws and not brass coated hardened steel... they dont sand so well!

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Permalink Reply by Brian Watson on June 10, 2009 at 2:06am

Have you ever used any "Inlace"? It is a two part epoxy type inlay. I do some wood turning and have used Inlace on several things. (bowls, game calls, pens,....) They have several types of inlay material to choose from, solid colors, crushed stone, metal flake, pearl type and others.
It is pretty simple to use and it makes a good looking finished project. Here is their website: http://inlaceonline.com

Here is a crow call I made with it.

Attachments:

• crow call.jpg, 224 KB

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Permalink Reply by Brian Watson on June 10, 2009 at 2:21am

Oops, I forgot to add, this crow call was made with turquoise crushed stone Inlace and Etowah River Wild Cherry Burl.

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Permalink Reply by Paul Doug on June 10, 2009 at 2:52am

I've been using Corian. I turn a towel out of it on my wood lathe. I use it got the part of bridge and the nut.

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Permalink Reply by JUJU on June 10, 2009 at 2:59am

Theres all sorts of things you could use for fret markers , from real mother of pearl (easy to buy from ebay ) as mentioned hole punch and some nice plectrums , wooden dowel plastic rod , drill a small countersunk hole and fill with paint , resin , drill a hole ,line the bottom of the hole with some tin foil and fill the rest of the hole with clear resin , dont forget theres no rules
Enjoy
juju.

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Permalink Reply by Tam Givens on June 10, 2009 at 3:58am

Thank's Guys

I will practice some of the Ideas on some off cuts.
I have heard of the inlace idea, I will get some next time I am in Glasgow.

Tinyguitars, I have watched all of your youtube clips over and over, and studied your website many times.
My first 2 cbg's are strummers, I got the ideas from your website. Thank's.

I have a Bodhran (Celtic hand drum), My Wife bought it for me on ebay, it has a design all around the rim, it looks like copper wire, I will try and post some pictures of it.

Got to go just now. thank's for all the help.
Tam

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Permalink Reply by Anderson on June 11, 2009 at 6:55am

sharpie

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Permalink Reply by Roger Martin on June 16, 2009 at 1:08am

I dont get too fancy on my builds due to the small amount of money I charge for the CBG.
This market is frankly ,cheap. You cant get enough back to make up for the time spent on each piece so I just neatly mark the frets with a sharpy as Anderson said.On light wood this works fine for me.
If its a dark colored neck I carefully saw the fret marks in so the frets come out lighter then the dark wood using a coping saw.I just lightly cut enough wood out so you can see the "fret" and I'm done.

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Permalink Reply by Zeb on June 16, 2009 at 4:42am

I have used crystals as side markers. I usually use a contrasting wood for fret dots. You can get plug cutters to make small dowels to slice up and install. Visit a craft store and you will be inspired. Chuck

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Permalink Reply by One String Willie on June 17, 2009 at 1:59am

I have only built CBGs for my own use, so my experience is somewhat limited. One is fretless, the other has frets.

I did not use position markers on the face of the neck (I don't use a separate fingerboard). For the fretted CBG I used brass escutcheon pins on the side of the neck (two at the 12th fret), and for the fretless instrument I used small, light pencil marks on the side of the neck. These are a little tricky to see if the lighting on stage is bad.

On the fretless instrument, I do not have any visible marks on the face of the neck, but some people like to have the frets marked. For marking frets on a fretless instrument, some builders have used a woodburning pen. I would be concerned that a sharpie would "bleed" over time.

Best regards, Willie

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Permalink Reply by Michael Melonhead on June 17, 2009 at 5:43am

I have used thumb tacks in a very small hole with a drop of super glue. Melonhead

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