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Hi all,

I just got my neck and tail blocks glued up. Hopefully, sanding, kerfing, and side bracing this weekend, so...

I need to settle on material for my rosette - which means I also need to think about my binding and purfling.

My pick guard is tortoise shell and I love that look. I think I want to put tortoise shell binding on this guitar - top and bottom sides, endpiece, and possibly fretboard and headstock.

My fretboard markers (dots) came installed from John Hall - I *think* they're called mother of pearl? If so, I'd like to do my rosette and the top edges around the sides as well.

[1] It sounds like abalone is easier to work with than real shell, correct? Does abalone come in the white MOP?

[2] Being new to this and hoping this isn't too stupid a question - Does the tortoise shell binding need to be pre-bent?

[3] Does anyone have a suggested scheme (b/w/b, abalone, binding, etc.) and photo similar to this? (I'm still scouring the web for photos).

[4] Does anyone have a link to something showing how to work with the abalone? (Searching all posts here for abalone)

Thanks for any help...

Glen

Am I confusing abalam with abalone as far as "easiest to work with"?

Tortoise looks great w/ Mahogany & Maple. You can aid pre-forming it w/ a hair dryer, then tape it down. Tortoise on the Hdstk is a little too much for me, but to each his own. I think it's also very subtle looking on Rwd.

I've not used Ablam, but I believe it costs a little more than Abalone. Tippie sent me Abalone Rosette in 3 segments that I installed & it looks very nice. You put down a Teflon liner first, then remove it after you've set your innner & outer alternating B&W rings in place...IIRC? You then glue-in the segmented Abalone pieces.

I thought John had some vids on installing Abalone Inlay...not sure? There's several YT's from Chris Pauling for Ablam installation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gNb37nxM ... re=related

Yes we have a number of Inlay vids on you tube

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_q ... 2.0.1l10l0

Hope they help

Thanks for your replies.