Decals / Painting Vs. Inlays: Structure

**grygrx** · #1 09-24-2009, 12:32 PM

I had a conversation in another forum and it got me thinking about a minor technical detail that I hoped could be addressed by you fine group of luthier types.

Assuming you could produce painted/sticker based inlays that were of the same visual quality as inlay (at least on anything but super-close inspection). Why would you want inlays?

It seems to be that cutting holes in the fretboard and inserting a different substance could have negative impact on the structural integrity of the instrument (divergent expansion rates, dead spots, cracks) and stickers would never have any problems other than umm... coming off?

Am I making this up? Is there a case for inlay over stickers, other than the visceral appear of hand-craftsmanship involved?

Discuss.

T-Bird · #2 09-24-2009, 01:13 PM

Hi.

I'm an old fart I guess, but the way I see it is that the stickers are for pussies (no insult to cats intended) or wannabe's, and inlays are for artists.

Inlay work is what sets the instrument, or any piece that has inlay work done, apart from the competition.

Fakes (stickers), are IME super easy to spot and for me, makes the instrument feel cheap.

Regards
Sam

southernrocker · #3 09-24-2009, 01:17 PM

Fake inlays would be great for those road worn basses...

Yeah, I wouldn't get stickers, they would just look cheap.

Fliptrique · #4 09-24-2009, 01:19 PM

I`ve had a 1976 jazz with blg, block inlays - seems to hold up it`s structure just fine for over 30 years. Les Pauls may be known to loose a headstock once in a while, but i haven`t head about inlays poping off... so no problems there. As far as tone goes... give me a recording with that distinct "inlay tone" - until then it`s "nah..."

**grygrx** · #5 09-24-2009, 01:22 PM

I'm fully aware of the craftsmanship and artistic arguments.

What makes it better for the tool?

Cy_Miles · #6 09-24-2009, 09:04 PM

noobie takes a guess:

uhmm, would decals wear off if placed in a busy spot on the fret board?

jworrellbass · #7 09-24-2009, 09:40 PM

Abalone and pearl polish out beautifully. Wood looks great as well. If you're gonna build an instrument why would you put a cheap looking sticker on the f.b.? Besides you only router a 1/16" of an inch or less, frets are cut deeper than that, if that causes stuctural integrity to your f.b. you've got other problems. I'll let the oversea's cheap guys have the stickers.

Musiclogic · #8 09-24-2009, 11:22 PM

Structural integrity is rarely effected by inlays. Most inlay material is very thin to start with, and the amount of wood removed is generally negligable. With a sticker alternative, it would have to be inlayed also, and finished over, where as most inlays are not under a finish. When getting into technical physics of the properties of wood, glues, and multi substance surfaces interacting in a cohesive manner. Inlays have been well documented to act properly within the paramenter of an instrument. In the same vein, any organic material has the ability to shift, seperate, and become altered at any time, so the removal of material could aide in this happening.

Basically it's all conjecture, but suffice it to say, More people will take a bound and inlayed neck over one with painted on inlays and binding in a general survey, so inlay is always viable even if it is more work.

Mr M · #9 09-25-2009, 06:03 AM

I think it's like FotoFinish (spl?) that Fender tried some time ago. Appearance-wise it looked like figured wood but you know they quitted using it, everybody including Fender is using real figured wood instead of that technique. Inlay stickers may look close to real ones but well you know inlay is real and sticker is not.

Cy_Miles · #10 09-25-2009, 02:37 PM

I'd agree that if you are building high end instruments that inlays woiould be perfered, but the OP is asking if is structurably preferable. And the concessis seems to be that inlays in no way comprimise a properly built neck.

Now all that said, I have no problem that my $600 Gretsch has a decal logo on the headstock, I was a tad dissapointed when I learned that is what it is, but the only way you can tell is that it the lines around it are cleaner then an inlay would be. (and how bad is that again?)

I think to hobbyist instrument builders decals are a great way to get clean nice looking headstock logos.

To the OP, I don't think they would be durable enough for an FB unless you laquered over it.

**grygrx** · #11 09-25-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cy_Miles

To the OP, I don't think they would be durable enough for an FB unless you laquered over it.

ala the geddy lee and vintage modified jazz.

ddtkills · #12 09-26-2009, 06:40 AM

My grandfathers banjo from the 1940s has a ton of mop inlays and they still look as great as they did 65 years ago and there is no damage to the headstock or fretboard. IMO if you are going to build your own instrument or are doing a major overhaul to one you love, then go for the real inlays. you'll never regret it, but stickers will fade and tear and peel off and will not last the test of time.

cnltb · #13 09-26-2009, 06:45 AM

Since inlays don't do anything at all for the instruments' quality/sound/playability, I really don't need them.
no insult intended but I play my bass a lot more than I look at it.