Fret Marker Inlays

[stevemac00]

I have a Blues Creek Martin 000 kit. Cory's book and the Martin book show the fret markers already inlaid but mine are in a bag. Where I can get Forstner Bits to match the two inlay dot sizes, or what do you use/recommend for drilling the holes I thought I read about some special bits at one time but now I can't find the reference.

What do you recommend for adhesive? I have StewMac Black Slow-set epoxy. Does this sand off pretty good?

I don't play guitar as build is for my son so a naive question: what frets get the dots and which ones get the bigger double dots?

[darren]

A sharp brad-point bit to match the dot diameter is all you need for those.

The double dots mark the 12th fret. I use CA for gluing these.

Fret markers typically go at 5,7,9,12,15,17, but you could also do 3 and even 19 if you've got the fret. I guess 3 is pretty common, now that I think about it.

How many to include really depends on if the player relies on the markers to play. Personally I've done a few with only side dots (same positioning applies) and like those the best. I also like 7/9/12/15... less is more to my eye. As a player I only care about the side dots, really.

[darren]

And welcome to the forum - we'd love to see pictures of your build process, if you've got them. :)

[stevemac00]

Thanks for the tips. Like everything else so far there's a difference of opinion. I notice the Martin Handbook included starts at the five and has two sets of two (7,12).

I'm going to go with the single 5/7/9/15 and double on the 12. I like the fewer is better comment.

I have three different sizes in my kit so I'm going to order two sizes from Stew-Mac. Is the smaller size used for the double marker on 12? So I would plan to order 4mm for the double and 6mm for the single. Any other recommendations?

Thanks for the comment about side markers - that makes sense so I'll order pearl dots for these as well.

As for pictures, I have more than you want to see. The good ones are what's gone wrong so far and what I did about it. I'll try to get around to posting. I assume you do these in the "blog" section?

[Ben-Had]

Thanks for the tips. Like everything else so far there's a difference of opinion. I notice the Martin Handbook included starts at the five and has two sets of two (7,12).

I'm going to go with the single 5/7/9/15 and double on the 12. I like the fewer is better comment.

I have three different sizes in my kit so I'm going to order two sizes from Stew-Mac. Is the smaller size used for the double marker on 12? So I would plan to order 4mm for the double and 6mm for the single. Any other recommendations?

Thanks for the comment about side markers - that makes sense so I'll order pearl dots for these as well.

As for pictures, I have more than you want to see. The good ones are what's gone wrong so far and what I did about it. I'll try to get around to posting. I assume you do these in the "blog" section?

If you were to follow the Martin style it would be 4 large dots on frets 5 (1), 7 (2), & 9 (1) and 4 small dots on frets 12 (2), 15 (1), & 17 (1). For a guitar player it is sometime beneficial to have the double dots on 7 and 12 to highlight where to play harmonics (at least for me).

[darren]

If you were to follow the Martin style it would be 4 large dots on frets 5 (1), 7 (2), & 9 (1) and 4 small dots on frets 12 (2), 15 (1), & 17 (1). For a guitar player it is sometime beneficial to have the double dots on 7 and 12 to highlight where to play harmonics (at least for me).

Thanks for noting that Tim - every builder/guitar company does things a little differently and if this is a Martin clone then you need the doubles in more places than 12th fret. :)

[stevemac00]

Do you guys use CA glue or Epoxy for the pearl dots?

Here's what John Hall says about the dots:

• 5th fret largest dot 1
  7 next size 2
  9 same as 7 1
  12 2 of the smallest
  15 1 of the smallest

Note this Martin at Elderly
http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/ ... 18AUTH.htm

00018AUTH_front.jpg

[Ben-Had]

Is that Elderly a Golden Era Model? Bottom line is do it like you like it (or how you think your son will like it). There are a number of varieties to choose from. The modern Martin 000-18, 000-28 (and others) use what I said the golden era use the Elderly pic style. What John tod you was correct too and he should know!

PS - I use CA and have used Epoxy.

[tippie53]

The finger board position markers moved through the years. I have a Martin from 1857 that has a 10 fret marker.
The normal inlay used on 28 style are round , square and square / diamond
On the round there are 3 dot sizes. A 5/16 for the 5th fret 3 1/4 inch for 2 on the 7th and 1 on the 9th then there are 3/16 and they go 2 on 12 and 1 on 15
Then the squares are 2 on 5 1 on 7 2 on 9
then square and diamond are
diamond on 5 and 9
2 sq on 7 and 12
1 sq on the 15

Most builders I have seen I would agree the common markers are
3 5 7 9 12 15 17
any combination will be cool.