Filling in large block inlays

[bjlevine]

I'm wanting to fill in the inlays on my bass neck. What is the best wood filler to use?

[FronTowardEnemy]

Noooooooo! Why!!!?? Blocks and binding are timeless.

[AltGrendel]

If it's a bolt-on, I'd just get a new neck.

[mikeyswood]

A filler that matches the species of wood blended properly to match the graining of that species.

That is the proper answer. If you give us more information we may be able to advise you with your desire.

[draftsmann]

To be honest, it's likely to look like a crock, and devalue the bass (I for one would walk away from any bass that had great wodges of filler where the inlays should be).

Best suggestions would be:
Change the bass
Change the neck if it's a bolt-on
Change the fingerboard if you really must keep the bass but lose the inlays.

Just my €0.02.

Adrian

[jworrellbass]

I'm wondering why? If it's a cheap or less expensive bass, then why would you want to waste your time (it's your time to waste). And if it's a expensive or rare bass you'll devalue the instrument.

What kind of fingerboard does it have? What kind of inlays? Abalone, pearl, wood? Block, dots, diamonds? You will probably get a good answer with more info.

[pilotjones]

Are you looking to rip out the triangle inlays in your Ric to make it more CS-like?

[M0ses]

I think we should stop helping him because what he proposes to do is a crime against humanity.

[pilotjones]

It looks like has already done the body and headstock to be a CS copy. If this is the bass he's referring to.

It looks like he's got some pretty strong striping in his fretboard. Hard to match. Not to mention the thick Ric clearcoat that would have to be dealt with.

[bjlevine]

I'm not looking to change my existing bass (an old Electra Corsair with Ric hardware). I recently picked up an Ibanez Ric clone and am trying to do a better job. I've already stripped and sanded the body, taking out the binding. I'm working on the neck now, but the inlays are this ugly plastic that's yellowed. I really would prefer dot inlays. Are you guys suggesting replacing the fretboard? I doubt I could find a replacement neck for this bass. Suggestions for a source for a fretboard?

[jworrellbass]

I would remove and replace the f.b. Try http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondpr...e=Fingerboards, thier are other sites as well.
Btw, thanks for more info.

[bjlevine]

Looks like a painful experience, but I think that this is the way to go. I've read through the page on removing a fretboard. This is the same neck that I posted about turning into a pseudo-set neck, which everybody gagged on. I didn't pay much for this bass and I was going to scrap all the hardware anyway, so if nothing else, this will be a good learning experience.

[jworrellbass]

Make sure you post your results. I would like to see how it turns out.

[bjlevine]

Originally Posted by jworrellbass

Make sure you post your results. I would like to see how it turns out.

Will do. The body turned out excellent. I removed the binding and sanded it down to a glass-like surface, and sealed it. Its ready for priming (I have it carefully wrapped in bubble wrap). The neck is stripped, but the inlays looked bad and since I wanted dot inlays anyway, I tried the approach of filling them in but that doesn't look like the way to go. I'll post pictures of the process.