Guitar Inlays and the Surface of a Guitar
May 17th, 2010 | Author: guitarman
Guitar Inlays are the visual components set into the outside surface of a guitar. The typical positions for inlay are on the fretboard, headstock, and on acoustic guitars close to the sound hole, best-known as the rosette.
Inlays range from simple plastic dots on the fretboard to complex works of art extending in the whole exterior surface of a guitar. Some guitar players have used light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the fretboard to produce a specific lighting effect on stage.
Fretboard inlays are most commonly shaped like dots, diamond shapes, parallelograms, or large blocks in between the frets. Dots are commonly inlaid into the upper edge of the fretboard in the same positions, small enough to be obvious only to the player. These normally appear on the odd numbered frets, but also on the 12th fret rather than the 11th and 13th frets.
Few older or high-end musical instruments have inlays made of mother of pearl, abalone, ivory, colored wood or other exotic materials and patterns. Less complicated inlays are frequently made of plastic or painted. High-end classical guitars rarely have fretboard inlays as a well prepared player is anticipated to know his or her way around the instrument as a matter-of-course.
In addition to fretboard inlay, the headstock and sound hole border are also often inlaid. The manufacturer’s logo or a small pattern is oftentimes inlaid into the headstock. Rosette designs vary from simple concentrically circles to skilled fretwork mimicking the historic rosette of lutes.
Bindings that border the finger and sound boards are some of the times inlaid. Some instruments have a filler strip running down the length and behind the neck, in use for strength and/or to fill the cavity through which the trussrod was put in the neck.
Detailed inlays are a cosmetic feature of numerous limited editions, high-end and custom-made guitars. Guitar manufacturers frequently release such guitars to celebrate important or historic milestones.
Guitar Inlays
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS: Expression of Love for Music.
