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Hi guys,

I'm seriously thinking of inlaying the fretboard and headplate on my next build, with wood marquetry. I've made a preliminary drawing of my design, and have a good working knowledge of how to go about cutting it out and inlaying it, except for choosing the species of wood. Unfortunately, I've searched the internet and haven't found any really useful information on inlaying marquetry into guitar fretboards.

Another member has mentioned that not all species of woods interact well together over time, ie. shrinkage, adaptation to humidity/temperature, etc. I know I need to use hardwoods to withstand the steel strings. I've not decided on whether I'm going to dye any the pieces to color them, or use different, "natural" woods, to create the inlay.

My questions are:

1. How do I go about choosing woods that work well with each other; is the janka hardness scale useful indicator of well woods work together over time? Do woods of similar hardness, inlay well together.

2. Do you have suggestions on which woods would work well for fretboard inlay?

3. Are there special considerations or procedures on dying hardwoods?

4. Since I've never dyed a wood, would it dye deep enough that it would maintain the color over the years, when fretting steel strings?

Any information would be helpful.

Thanks!

diane

you need permanent colors . Once you inlay it , I would use CA and set it in with that. The CA will protect the inlays and seal them so expansion shouldn't be much of an issue.
You don't know what you don't know till you know it

Thanks John.

Diane,
I've done holly into ebony. What John says is quite right. One consideration is that the inlaid wood should be roughly the same durability as the primary fingerboard wood. I know that holly doesn't wear like ebony and needs to be sealed carefully to avoid grime 'infiltration' (experience talking there).

-d.

Hey Diane, I've never dyed wood before but as you mentioned in your original post, concern #4 I would worry that over time with the strings rubbing and other such use that you may wear the dye some. The operative word being "may", I don't know for sure but I do know that there are plenty of naturally different colored woods that you could use so as not to risk having to use dyed wood. I'm by no means an expert, I'm just telling you what I would or wouldn't do.

David L

Hi guys,

I thought of durability, but not of dirt infiltration. I've made a list of woods that are of similar janka hardness as ebony, for possible inlay. I'm also concerned about any dyes eventually rubbing through, because of string wear, so I'm inclined to just stay with natural wood veneers.

I'm still undecided on the wood marquetry. Now I've found a mop and abalone inlay design, that I really like. Although I did the inlay on my OM, the inlay design that I found for my new build would be extremely ambitious.

Thanks for your suggestions.