Sound Hole and Rosette Pearl Questions

[Darryl Young]

Andy DePaule offers pearl for rosettes in one diameter only (best I understand from his website) and that diameter is 4.9". So what if you want a smaller diameter......is it easily modified? Or is there another place that offers pre-cut pearl rosettes in smaller diameters? I guess you can break the 4.9" diamter pearl ring and fit it to a smaller diameter. If you were going to do this, whey buy a pre-shaped ring?

Also, John (or anyone else), do you have the dimensions for the rosette rings around the sound hole of a Martin 00 body? Where can one find this type info?

[Darryl Young]

Is Ablam available in strips or sheets only? Where is a good source that shows all available colors?

If available in sheets only, do you cut out straight strips or curved strips to inlay in a rosette? Thanks for the tip.

[David L]

Abalam is available in strips (striaght and curved) sheets, various position marker shapes, and most anything regular shell is made of. Strips are sold by Stewmac (.063 wide), Lmii (.063, .079, and .097 widths) and I believe Dave Nichols (custom pearl inlay) sells strips also, and if I'm not mistaken, I think I remember John mentioning something about having some available, but not sure about that.

David L

[tippie53]

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=1402

here is a link to where I posted here about using abalam for rosettes . Rick has the right numbers for the rosette so between his info and this link you should do well .

[Darryl Young]

Is it any easier/prettier to use the pre-curved ablam blanks made for resettes instead of the straight pieces?

Thanks for all the help.

[Darryl Young]

RD, almost forgot to respond to this but I was planning on making the sound hole a little bigger than what Martin uses. I wondered if a 4" sound hole would be too large for a 00 so I'm glad you mentioned it. I'll have to ponder a bit more between the 3 7/8" diameter or 4" diameter. One point tha tmakes me lean toward 4" diameter is it's easier to get your hand inside! <smile> (and easier to remove spreaders or dowels holding the neck block in position after glueing on the top)

[Kevin Sjostrand]

Darry,
The De'Paule paua abalone rosette I got had the pieces pre-fit to one another with varying shapes, sort of like S curves. I believe the shell was 1/4" wide. I don't think you could alter them much, but perhaps a little to make the ring a little smaller or bigger.

Kevin

[tippie53]

I find the strips of abalam make a nice job. The joints of the radius cut pearl will show . The more you get the abalam to break the better it looks.
I have the strips and you can also buy them at Custom Pearl inlay 518-483-7685

[Darryl Young]

John or Rick, is this the size Ablam you are using? It's 0.050" thick X 0.063" wide X 5 5/16" long. I like the Rainbow color and for whatever reason, it's a little cheaper than Paua (at least at Grizzly). I haven't seen the Rainbow color anywhere else but it's less blue and more purples and tans (both have green).

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Ablam-S ... lone/T1033

Here is a pic of the Rainbow and below that a pic of the Paua for comparison.

[tippie53]

I use a number of sizes. On a 45 style you have .045 on the side top .0625 . What is the price of that stuff. Should be under $1.25 per inch