• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Bass Inlays.

#21
This is the one and only Bass with a barbed wire inlay I could find...Tons of guitars....One Bass.

The Monson Invictus.

800Monson_Invictus_Bass_2-_029_zpsmsdhm4zi.jpg
 
#22
FoxyProxy said:
Well, I didn't exactly know where to open it, but it has been bugging me since forever.
I've never seen any bass inlays that aren't dots, fins, blocks, or birds (each to their own company signature inlay), but never seen the really cool ones, skulls, crosses, custom inlays, tree of life (probably the one I want to see the most.)

Why is that? Is there a real reason? Or just racism towards bass players?
Click to expand...

Inlay is super subjective. It is also highly individualistic. Take a great guitar and put skulls are crosses on it and pretty much regardless of the cost I would never buy it. That same instrument with dots, blocks or no inlay and I am a buyer. It is also extremely expensive. You don't generally put a 1000-2000 inlay job on a 450 bass. And putting that 2k inlay on that 450 bass will not necessarily make it a sellable bass at 2k.


As for Larry Robinson. He is amazing. He does superior work and he literally "wrote the book" when it comes to inlay.
He did my warr and it is just astounding how good a job he did. And to top it all off Larry is a great guy and absolutely wonderful to work with. If you can swing it, I recommend him 1000%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: tfer
#23
ric4682 said:
Slight derail, but what the heck is that thing?? It's crazy.
Click to expand...

That is the Retro-Switcho

All of the custom basses in my post are Stambaughs. Chris does great inlay work. And he'll build pretty much anything. In this case TB'er @RLK came to him with a fully fleshed out concept and design.

I believe the goal was to have a vibe similar to Japanese import basses from the 70's. The pickups are Delano split coils (like Pbass pickups somewhat) and there are switches to turn different could on or off.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ric4682
#28
FoxyProxy said:
Well, I didn't exactly know where to open it, but it has been bugging me since forever.
I've never seen any bass inlays that aren't dots, fins, blocks, or birds (each to their own company signature inlay), but never seen the really cool ones, skulls, crosses, custom inlays, tree of life (probably the one I want to see the most.)

Why is that? Is there a real reason? Or just racism towards bass players?
Click to expand...

Spector always offers fish on their anniversary year basses:

This is my 40th; Fish On!

IMG_0742.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: BritBass 2
#29
Funkinthetrunk said:
If you're talking about Warmoth not offering the same inlays for bass as they do for guitars...then yes, they are biased against to us. Just look no further then their website that allows only guitar bodies to display what you're trying to build. Warmoth guitar bodies can be made with any combo of pickups without additional charge, while 70s Jazz pickup location costs $45 just to move the btidge pickup location 3/8th lower. Which is totally outrageous.

But on the bright side, that's my star inlays that Jared posted...thanks man!
Click to expand...

For every bass part that they sell, there will be many guitar parts sold in the same time frame. It does not make any sense, from a business perspective, to invest in options for product lines with relatively low sales, when their efforts can go into doing the same things on product lines with relatively high sales.
 
  • Like
Reactions: /\/\3phist0
#31
There's an old saying in the IT world that I think applies here: Don't expect wonders and miracles unless you're willing to pay for them. ;)

With the wonders of CAD, CNC routers and laser cutters it certainly allows for doing inlays with less hand and labor intensive methods. But that tech costs big bucks and requires trained people too. So even with modern technology, inlay work isn't going to come cheap.
 
Last edited:
#33
FoxyProxy said:
Well, I didn't exactly know where to open it, but it has been bugging me since forever.
I've never seen any bass inlays that aren't dots, fins, blocks, or birds (each to their own company signature inlay), but never seen the really cool ones, skulls, crosses, custom inlays, tree of life (probably the one I want to see the most.)

Why is that? Is there a real reason? Or just racism towards bass players?
Click to expand...

The Alembic "Tree Of Life" option has been available since the early seventies - featured on both John Paul Jones and Greg Lakes basses.
IMG_7410.JPG
 
  • Like
Reactions: Kubicki Fan, FC Bass and Sartori
#40
FoxyProxy said:
Well, I didn't exactly know where to open it, but it has been bugging me since forever.
I've never seen any bass inlays that aren't dots, fins, blocks, or birds (each to their own company signature inlay), but never seen the really cool ones, skulls, crosses, custom inlays, tree of life (probably the one I want to see the most.)

Why is that? Is there a real reason? Or just racism towards bass players?
Click to expand...
The Micheal Kelly dragonfly acoustic electric basses have pretty cool inlays in my opinion.
IMG_2860.PNG
 
  • Like
Reactions: /\/\3phist0

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back