I want to cut a kind of V shape for each inlay, widening to the frets. I want it to extend to the edge of the fretboard, so instead of side dots, I get a wide stripe of white for the side markers. I want it highly visible so that when I've got my glasses off and can't see diddly, and my sweaty hair is in my face and the stage lights are blinding me, I'll have a good chance of seeing where the heck I am on my neck. I don't look that often, but when I need to for some passages, I can't see anything on stage. (I've used those Liquid Paper Strips for typewriters, and rubbed a white bar onto the sides of my necks to help this.)

Got any material ideas for having a very bright, almost flourescent material for inlays? I'm even considering using an epoxy resin or something like that.

Any fancypants online stores with a really good selection OTHER than mother-o-pearl like everyone else?

White Phenolic, if you google Phenolic resin, you might find what you want in sheet stock. Melamine is the brightest white material I can think of, I am not sure if you can get i thick enough for an inlay. Also look up Wilsonart laminates, they make a solid countertop laminate you can get at home depot that is anABS based solid laminate, NOT like formica.
Well...some ideas at least...LOL

holly is very white. also
i 'll call you about another option! a secret!

leds, you can get them in white and they are easy to see

Most phenolic resins I've seen have a tint to them, sometimes quite amber or brown. But there are some materials made with the resins that might work. Here's a list of some of my faves and some things I haven't tried before...

1. IVORY PAPER - This is a phenolic like product that is very white/hard/and comes in sheets of different thicknesses up to 1/2". I've only seen it used in the billiard industry for accents in custom pool cues. I don't have any experience with this stuff.

2. CORIAN - Probably available for free from cabinet shops, this stuff is tough yet easy to machine or carve. Lot's of possible color choices. I love working with Corian. It's easy to make very intricate inlays with just a band saw.

3. POLYMER CLAY - I haven't done this yet but I want to roll out some of this stuff real flat and cut it with a cookie cutter style die. Then bake the pieces until hard and inlay them before finishing flush with the fretboard surface. Lots of possibilities here.

4. IVORY - The original "Whiter than White" inlay material developed around 250 million BC! Depending on your political views you can choose between the ancient wooly mammoth ivory from a species that died out before written history or from the recovery of pre-ban elephant ivory that is available now. It's hard to describe how this stuff works. But I can tell you it's worth every penny.

5. LIQUID EPOXY - If you build up a little clay dam around your inlets, you can pour white epoxy into the form. Once hardened, you file it down then reshape your fretboard. I've done this with success to make a pretty intricate design so it's got my thumbs up. Make sure to use the long curing, hard type of epoxy.

That should give you enough ideas to come up with something.:smug:

4. IVORY - The original "Whiter than White" inlay material developed around 250 million BC! Depending on your political views you can choose between the ancient wooly mammoth ivory from a species that died out before written history or from the recovery of pre-ban elephant ivory that is available now. It's hard to describe how this stuff works. But I can tell you it's worth every penny.


Ivory ...I would never think about it ...I can get some ivory that left form my parents place!! but it should be a hell to work with it and I supposed special tool would be needed to be albe to cut and shape ivory.

Ivory ...I would never think about it ...I can get some ivory that left form my parents place!! but it should be a hell to work with it and I supposed special tool would be needed to be albe to cut and shape ivory.

Actually, Ivory is quite easy to work with, I us it for inlay, nuts and saddles quite frequently.

The ivory paper sounds like a good idea. I don't want to do a superdeep cut into the fretboard just for inlays, so thin sheets should work great.

But the white epoxy also sound awesome, cuz I can scuff up the pockets where the inlay will go, so the epoxy has good surface texture to adhere to permanently.

I'm kinda regretting that I already have the frets in the fretboard, cuz I know this will make it harder to smooth and shape the inlays to the fretboard and keep the exact radius. but, I've got time, so I can be as meticulous and slow as necessary.

you can always remove the frets and reinstall later ...just like a refret job.

HECK no. No way. Nuh uh. Not gonna do it.

4. IVORY - The original "Whiter than White" inlay material developed around 250 million BC! Depending on your political views you can choose between ...Also, if you know of any old pianos being thrown out, you can scavenge the ivory. (Note: please do not ransack any working, in-use pianos that you don't have rights to!) It could be either elephant or walrus ivory. Also if you're lucky, it could have actual ebony black keys, but I doubt it.

(Note: please do not ransack any working, in-use pianos that you don't have rights to!)

You're lucky you added that disclaimer... I was out the door with a crowbar!

You're lucky you added that disclaimer... I was out the door with a crowbar!
Sorry if I sounded like I thought you in particular were going to do something bad. I didn't mean that.

I just felt that after suggesting that people scavenge piano ivory, I should add some sort of disclaimer. I've seen too many pianos (in schools and such) vandalized. It's such a downer.