No Inlays

[marzzz]

Browsing thru the forum I have noted that Tom does not like to do custom inlays, but I was wondering if it was possible to do a fretboard with either no inlays or maybe just one fret marker at the 12th? I have seem some guitars with minimal or no inlays which look pretty cool, and I know I only look at the side dots while playing. In the past I have owned a guitar with no inlays, and it didn't seem to be a problem (not that I play all that well....).

Are fret inlays important to you, or are they just cosmetic? Do elaborate inlays have an effect on tone?

[BFC]

I have a Sadowsky bass with block inlays. They're really nice looking. Otherwise all dots for me. I have to have em at this point since I'm so used to the reference points.

[gibson5413]

Not 100% sure if it is a standard option but ,y buddy Jason got his TAG with no inlays:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/dnNrVFejZbA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[tom]

we did a lot with no dots back in the 80's. it's still an option but we don't see it too often.

[kevin h]

no dots... i'd get lost! ha ha

[pipedwho]

What about no dots and no side markers? :eek: :D

[tom]

Someone asked us for that but I declined. I knew it would come bac later to at least have side dots installed.

[BFC]

Good call.

[pipedwho]

I ordered a Takamine classical guitar online years ago because I liked the way it looked without dots on the fretboard. Little did I realise that a mass produced guitar like that would ever be made without side markers. I was wrong.

It was really annoying at first, but I kind of got used to it. I still have it, but anything beyond cowboy chords is hit and miss. I can't be bothered with ugly stickers, but every time I play it, I'm thinking in the back of my mind that I should take it somewhere to have some put in. If this was a TAG, it would definitely have been one of those guitars that went back to the factory for side dotting.

It's probably fine for those hard core classical guys that play with their eyes closed, but that's clearly not me.

[marzzz]

Yeah, I don't know how the classical guitarists do it- but at least they have frets! Violin, Viola, Cello and bass really boggles my mind....

I guess I would stick with regular dots, at the very least not to hamper resale value.

[Pietro]

Tom, you used to do a "custom" inlay on some of the guitars you made for yourself. Not anymore?

[barfly]

I have a guitar with no fret markers. The guy that made the neck assured me that fret markers aren't needed once you can play. I don't know about that but with the side markers I have zero problem playing it. I was really surprised about that as I thought it would take some getting used to.. but it didn't.

[pipedwho]

Fret markers are really about how the guitar looks to other people (or to you while you're admiring the TAG workmanship of your guitar). Side markers are what you look at when you're playing, unless you're holding the guitar at some weird angle so you can see the fretboard.

[morty]

i like to have a neck with traditional dots..i feel komfortable with that!. i have played a lot with double bass, and its no problem when you play by ear.. you get used to it. some have a little mark or scratch at the G.

On guitars i like it traditionally.. it looks right to me. I may not look at the dots, but when i look at my neck i am familiar, and al my guitars have the same dots