Replacing Inlays on a 335

[MLP]

I went to my favourite guitar store today to fiddle with some guitars, and I came across a really cool ES 335. Its used and right in my price range, but I dont likethe inlays.

I really like block neck 335's, so I thought to myself, I could just have block inlays put in. Then I noticed the 12th fret. two dots, I cant cover that with a block.

I didnt buy the guitar, but I want to really badly. Is there anyway to put a block on the 12th fret without seeing the two blocks?

Thanks (and dont you dare , i dont know, and thats not a reason to be mocked)

 

[MLP]

Come on, 52 views and no reply?

 

[InkedLester]

I'm sure a good luthier can do something like that. If you like it though, I'd snag it either way.

 

[MLP]

Thanks for the reply.

But do you know exactly what the luthier would do?

 

[ElectricMagick]

You could just have the luthier redo a whole new fretboard if there is no other option. He might be able to inlay a block into the 12 fret and just fill in the dots and sand it. If you look closely, you would see two black dots, but it would be close.

 

[nicolasrivera]

Thanks for the reply.

But do you know exactly what the luthier would do?

Hey, if the inlays are blocks you can totally feel confident you your self can do the job!. Find my threads on inlays, the safest ways is to use a soldering pencil with a wet cloth over the inlay, it will soften it with out heating up the frets, just use a sharp pointy knife to dig into the inlay once is soft enough, it will pop up effortless. Then just use super glue to glue in the new inlays and then a sharp blade to scrap the inlay to the fretboard radius.

 

[Blackdog]

But do you know exactly what the luthier would do?

You want to replace the dots for pearloid blocks, right ? The way I see it, it's a lot of trouble and probably expensive. I would seriously consider living with the dots.

I'm not a professional luthier, but this is how I'd do it:
Removing the existing dots is not a big issue, as Nicolas pointed out.
Routing the recess for the blocks is a bit more complicated, and to work comfortably it would be better to remove the frets and refret afterwards (in which case you're likely to loose the binding nibs).

Inlaying the plastic blocks in place would not be too difficult. Scraping/sanding them down flush with the board would be, again, a lot easier without the frets.

Regarding the 12th fret dots, you could simply use a larger block, which is probably not what you want to do.
To do it properly the existing dot recesses have to be plugged with similar looking rosewood, and levelled before routing for the block. This definitely needs to be done without the frets. How invisible it will end up is a bit of a gamble, carefully done it could end up pretty well.

Ask yourself if you really want to go through all of that, likely loosing the perfectly good original fretwork and spending good money (unless you plan to do it yourself) in the way, just for a cosmetic change.

I'd say either buy the guitar you really want or buy that guitar for what it is and enjoy it.

 

[nicolasrivera]

You want to replace the dots for pearloid blocks, right ? The way I see it, it's a lot of trouble and probably expensive. I would seriously consider living with the dots.

I'm not a professional luthier, but this is how I'd do it:
Removing the existing dots is not a big issue, as Nicolas pointed out.
Routing the recess for the blocks is a bit more complicated, and to work comfortably it would be better to remove the frets and refret afterwards (in which case you're likely to loose the binding nibs).

Inlaying the plastic blocks in place would not be too difficult. Scraping/sanding them down flush with the board would be, again, a lot easier without the frets.

Regarding the 12th fret dots, you could simply use a larger block, which is probably not what you want to do.
To do it properly the existing dot recesses have to be plugged with similar looking rosewood, and levelled before routing for the block. This definitely needs to be done without the frets. How invisible it will end up is a bit of a gamble, carefully done it could end up pretty well.

Ask yourself if you really want to go through all of that, likely loosing the perfectly good original fretwork and spending good money (unless you plan to do it yourself) in the way, just for a cosmetic change.

I'd say either buy the guitar you really want or buy that guitar for what it is and enjoy it.

Yes, if you have dots now, your better of with a good luthier.

 

[professorhulk]

I really like block neck 335's, so I thought to myself, I could just have block inlays put in. Then I noticed the 12th fret. two dots, I cant cover that with a block.

I've thought about this myself, and the conclusion I came to was that it'd probably be easier to replace the entire fretboard of the guitar. Those widely spaced dots at the 12th fret really spoil your fun. Maybe if you had a really, really dark fretboard with no streaks a luthier might be able to fill the holes left by the dots without visible marks, but I think it'd be a hell of a job. I have no idea how much it'd cost to swap a fretboard, but I think finding a 335 that already has blocks is the way to go.

Then again Gibson hides the block-necked 335s behind enormous pricetags, so maybe it would work out cheaper to swap the fretboard on a dot-neck.

 

[outskirts of infinity]

Call me shallow, but I can't stand dot inlays, either. I think you're better off waiting/saving up for a 355, rather than butchering an otherwise fine guitar.

 

[InkedLester]

Call me shallow, but I can't stand dot inlays, either. I think you're better off waiting/saving up for a 355, rather than butchering an otherwise fine guitar.

I love dot inlays, and am glad my 335 came with them. However, to each his own. I still can't see ruining a perfect guitar over that. If it bugs you that much just sell it and buy one that meets your needs and fills your desires.

 

[coricama]

By the time you go to all the expense of a new fretboard (or whatever it takes), the one you really want with block inlays may not be a whole lot more expensive.

 

[jiveturkey1]

Buy that guitar, then buy another 335 with block inlays, take that board off, put it on the 1st guitar, then throw the rest away. Problem solved.

 

[RockStarNick]

You guys are nuts! New fretboard? That's craziness.

There's a bunch of guys around the country that are inlay experts. They can totally do block inlays to cover the dots. It's a minimally invasive procedure at best.

Ripping the neck apart for a new fretboard is way, way overkill.

 

[jiveturkey1]

The problem, as was stated was the double 12th fret dots are spaced too wide for a properly sized 12th fret block to cover. To pull the fretboard off and glue one on that already has block inlays sanded flush with the board, really isn't that big of deal. Press some frets in......whala.

 

[TKOjams]

Remove the dots, get a piece of ebony or rosewood and try to match the color and grain of your board on the guitar. Cut round dots out of the wood and glue them in. Sand them level to your FB, then rout out for the blocks.

 

[RockStarNick]

Remove the dots, get a piece of ebony or rosewood and try to match the color and grain of your board on the guitar. Cut round dots out of the wood and glue them in. Sand them level to your FB, then rout out for the blocks.

Great solution here.

 

[Lory]

If you take it to a liuther to do the job, it will cost to you as a new one. So..

Gibson.com: Gibson Custom ES-335 Block Inlay

 

[waswell]

Here is another option:

Block (AWP) Fret Markers Inlay Sticker Guitar

Never tried their product but I've heard good reports. Keep us posted

 

[Ace1432]

you would have to graft some new rosewood in the 12 fret slot to cover up those dots.

STEWMAC.COM : Issue 91, Cleaning up after sloppy fretwork: fixing chips in the fingerboard