painting block "inlays"

lmfreeman9 · #1 10-29-2009, 05:55 PM

I am considering painting fake block inlays over the dots on my Peavey T-20.

Has anyone painted blocks on a neck before?

How do you prep the neck?

How do you create accurate stencils?

Nightlyraider · #2 10-29-2009, 06:07 PM

How do you make the paint last where you are grinding metal strings in it?

Natural pearloids are extremely hard materials, I'd think the paint would be gone/uglier then sin after the first big session on it.

Might be OK for an instrument that hangs on a wall though.

bassksun · #3 10-29-2009, 06:10 PM

Ugh! A disaster waiting to happen...IMO.
Inlay on a neck is serious biness.
If the neck isn't prepped right the paint will chip, crack and fall off.

The best way is to use plastic or pearl or wood inlay. You can paint it but over time it will come off or just be crappy. So you would have to seal your paint in with some sort of clear varnish or laquer. There's another issue. The paint and seal have to be compatible. And much depends on what type of fret board you have.

Let it go my brother...be at peace

K-Punk · #4 10-29-2009, 06:17 PM

Creative cuts makes vinyl stickers for your fretboard...Go to ebay and checkem out. I've got them on my korean spector. $14 bucks you can't go wrong.
Peace.

TeamTrejo · #5 10-29-2009, 06:35 PM

Lots to choose from.

http://instruments.shop.ebay.com/cre...tml?_sacat=619

Hmmm I've got a Squier P-Bass that I could make look like a poor man's Duck Dunn.

ashtray · #6 10-29-2009, 06:35 PM

Look on ebay - there's a guy that sells "inlay" stickers - you put them right on your fretboard. He's got blocks of all different colors/types. Do they look like inlays? From a couple feet away, they sure do. That said - the toughest part is getting them all on straight and "in a line" - since block inlays traditionally change shape and size as you go up the fretboard, it's tough to line up the centers, and can be tough to get them "square" to your frets. How do I know? Been there, done it. End result was not bad, and the stickers stayed on really well with playing - much to my surprise.

I think they were about $10 or so. If you want fake inlays on the cheap side, this is the fastest/cheapest way to do it.

Ric5 · #7 10-29-2009, 06:46 PM

The Fender Geddy Lee Sig basses have painted on block "inlays"

millsbass5 · #8 10-29-2009, 07:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric5

The Fender Geddy Lee Sig basses have painted on block "inlays"

+1

Suggestion:Paint the inlays yourself,and have a qualified person to put a coating on it.Or,better yet outsource the whole shebang to a qualified person/luthier.IF finances will let you do that.

Or,sell your current neck,and get a 4-string Geddy neck,5 string??Get a MM 5 neck,off of e-bay.

ProfGumby · #9 10-29-2009, 07:31 PM

I'd be willing to bet the black on the painted blocks is done over the sanding sealer, before the top coats of finish. I also wonder if my VM is actually painted or some sort of printed type finish, or maybe a waterslide before finishing.

If it is done right, you will need to grind through the finish before worrying about the "block".

I wonder about an epoxied top coat before cutting the fret slots....

I would also recommend not painting with a brush. Find a way to mask well and spray. The less build up, the better and an even coat is most important to avoid 2 things.

First to avoid high spots or overly thick finish that will easily allow the strings to grind away.

The second is to eliminate the "I did it myself, dork school of self taught Lutherie." Just view ebay for many examples of that!

Professor Jones · #10 10-30-2009, 02:44 AM

I can't see how anyone can do that without it looking awfully cheap and ugly. It's better to buy a neck which is already inlaid, if this is really important to you.

lmfreeman9 · #11 10-30-2009, 08:39 PM

Thanks for all the great info and suggestions. I will probably try the stickers even though they don't have the color I want.

This is for a Peavey T-20, which I don't want to over-improve. The body is natural, but I painted the pickguard purple and it has grown on me.

ashtray · #12 10-31-2009, 01:29 PM

Try "jockomo81" user on ebay. I think he's in Japan - but shipping is reasonable, and he's got a huge selection, with "abalone" and other colors.

ProfGumby · #13 10-31-2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Professor Jones

I can't see how anyone can do that without it looking awfully cheap and ugly. It's better to buy a neck which is already inlaid, if this is really important to you.

Actually, if it is done right, it looks fine and the block will never fall out nor will the finish bubble up from the block. And for reference I point to the Fender Geddy Lee and apparently the Squier VM. And FWIW I'd be willing to bet others do this as well.

The trick would be getting the blocks painted or the waterslides applied before the finish coats. And to use a strong finish coat.

TeamTrejo · #14 11-03-2009, 08:06 AM

I received and put on the "jazz inlay" from Custom Cuts found on Ebay. They arrived only a few days after ordering.

Very easy to apply. Look pretty good on my Squier. They are very thin so they should stay on unless you want to remove them.

Next, an ashtray, bridge cover.

patman01 · #15 11-03-2009, 02:13 PM

Peavey T-20 is a nice bass...no need for improvement

rdhbass · #16 04-20-2012, 08:08 PM

here is what i did and they dont look half bad. I got the decals inlays for a few dollars or u could make your own. I found that if u clear coat over the decals they dont stay, leave humps and suck. So i clear coated them then removed them leaving a "crevasse" where they once were. I filled that with black paint and cleared again. that was my method, probably not the best but my neck was an SX.

96tbird · #17 04-20-2012, 09:43 PM

I just have to say, VM blocks are not painted. I have looked at them with a high powered magnifying glass and can clearly see tiny gaps between the edges and the wood.

C.Linton · #18 04-21-2012, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ProfGumby

I'd be willing to bet the black on the painted blocks is done over the sanding sealer, before the top coats of finish. I also wonder if my VM is actually painted or some sort of printed type finish, or maybe a waterslide before finishing.

If it is done right, you will need to grind through the finish before worrying about the "block".

I wonder about an epoxied top coat before cutting the fret slots....

I would also recommend not painting with a brush. Find a way to mask well and spray. The less build up, the better and an even coat is most important to avoid 2 things.

First to avoid high spots or overly thick finish that will easily allow the strings to grind away.

The second is to eliminate the "I did it myself, dork school of self taught Lutherie." Just view ebay for many examples of that!

The blocks on the Squier VM Jazz are real inlays, not painted, not a decal.

C.Linton · #19 04-21-2012, 12:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 96tbird

I just have to say, VM blocks are not painted. I have looked at them with a high powered magnifying glass and can clearly see tiny gaps between the edges and the wood.

Exactly right, the same on mine. Also I recently discovered when carefully scratching at the fretboard to remove a bit of "Schmutz", I noticed I could actually feel my fingernail lightly catching on the edge of one of the blocks. I tried it all along the frteboard and I could feel that same catch on most of the blocks. That's actual physical and tactile evidence that they are real inlays.