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#1
06-23-2018, 01:11 PM
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Removing Fretboard Inlay?
I recently purchased a custom OM 28 from Martin with Style 42 Fretboard inlay. Im not wild about inlay, and my first custom build (my only other guitar) was a bare ebony fretboard. At first, I had some trouble identifying which fret I was on. As such, i chose inlay for the second build. Now, however, I have become accustomed to the bare fretboard on my first guitar with no difficulty and thus no need for the inlay. Is there any way to have the inlay removed and replaced with ebony and leveled so as to make the fretboard bare, or is that a bad idea that will just ruin the fingerboard? I wish I had just gotten the basic om-28 inlay - the small diamonds - that I could live with, but the style 42 is prominent and to me, not as lovely as a bare black board. Do any of you know of anyone who has had fretboard inlay removed? Thanks in advance for any advice or insight you may be able to offer.
-Felice 
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#2
06-23-2018, 01:20 PM
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Felice,
I'm no luthier, but I would think it would be less expensive and less noticeable in the long run to just have the entire fingerboard replaced rather than have someone try to remove the inlays an fill them with ebony. It wouldn't be cheap, so you'd have to determine whether the cost is worth it to you. FWIW, I love 42-style inlays, so I'd suggest leaving it alone and seeing if you don't come to like them in time...
__________________
Martin 000-28EC '71 Harmony Buck Owens American Epiphone Inspired by Gibson J-45 Gold Tone PBR-D Paul Beard Signature Model resonator "Lean your body forward slightly to support the guitar against your chest, for the poetry of the music should resound in your heart." -Andrés Segovia
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#3
06-23-2018, 01:23 PM
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#4
06-23-2018, 01:24 PM
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I'd live with it for a while longer before I'd make such a drastic decision.
__________________
Jim 2023 Iris ND-200 maple/adi 2017 Circle Strings 00 bastogne walnut/sinker redwood 2015 Circle Strings Parlor shedua/western red cedar 2009 Bamburg JSB Signature Baritone macassar ebony/carpathian spruce 2004 Taylor XXX-RS indian rosewood/sitka spruce 1988 Martin D-16 mahogany/sitka spruce along with some electrics, zouks, dulcimers, and banjos. YouTube
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#5
06-23-2018, 02:24 PM
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I have removed large non-continuous FB inlays, and it’s not so hard to be successful. It is best done w/o frets. If rectilinear blocks are set in accurately, they are unlikely to be seen at all if the ebony is black enough. The key thing is that they fit perfectly lengthwise as there is a compression strength in the fingerboard that is important to neck stability.
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#6
06-23-2018, 02:26 PM
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Certainly doable but I'd say bad idea.
from a repair guys perspective, it would easier to remove all the frets, replace the inlay, which is usually epoxied in so maybe using a Dremel cut out the old inlay and replace w/ ebony plugs, sand down evenly and refret. Sounds like an expensive job.
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#7
06-23-2018, 02:47 PM
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Thank you so much for the replies. I'm going to think about it a bit more. Also, Mr. Sexauer, I just want to say that a few years ago, while i was in a bar in Brooklyn celebrating something or other, a band was playing, the lead singer with a Sexauer OM in hand. I had never heard the name before and from afar, it resembled a Martin, save the pickguard. Suffice it to say the similarity ended there - I just couldn't get over the sound of that guitar - the projection and the sustain, and well, it was just so perfect. Some day...some day.
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#8
06-23-2018, 03:07 PM
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Quote:
__________________
1 dreadnought, 1 auditorium, 1 concert, and 2 travel guitars.
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#9
06-23-2018, 06:03 PM
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Drplayer's idea of replacing the entire fingerboard is probably the best if you are set on getting rid of the inlay and keeping the guitar. It wouldn't be cheap though, so by the time you pay for that you would probably be better off just selling it and buying one with a regular fingerboard.
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#10
06-23-2018, 06:10 PM
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Quote:
I know, people like that sort of stuff so who am I to poke fun? Free, that's who, and fun at I will poke.
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#13
06-23-2018, 08:38 PM
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You paid lots of $ for Style 42 bling. And now you want to spend lots of $ to remove the expensive bling you bought? Hey, it’s your guitar. But color me confused.
__________________
Walker Clark Fork (Adi/Honduran Rosewood) Edmonds OM-28RS - Sunburst (Adi/Old Growth Honduran)
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#14
06-23-2018, 10:35 PM
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Yes, I think replacing the fingerboard altogether would be the way to go.
If they could save the original with the fancy inlays then you could keep it with the guitar for if/when you sell it. Quote:
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#15
06-23-2018, 10:45 PM
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Obviously you should do what you like but why are you looking at the fretboard while you're playing?
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