Headstock inlay - how would you do that?

[Bettyboo]

Betty has been so customized that I thought I'd add a custom mark - not to sell or make a value claim, I just feel that her headstock currently looks a tad bland, and doesn't suit her general Queenliness:



I ordered up these yesterday:

Now, how should I go about installing them?

I was thinking about tracing around them on the headstock then gently and slowly going at the headstock with a stanley knife until I have the right size. I'm not sure of this is a good idea at all; I don't have any woodworking tools, so if I buy some then what should I buy?

After looking at a few vids - they all go at it with machines. Maybe I should just leave it alone? I don't like the stickers.

Any advice o wise ones?

 

[Norton]

Sharp, and I mean sharp chisels or woodcut printmaking knives/chisels will get you there.

 

[Bettyboo]

Thanks, Norton; I can pick up one or a set of those. I'm a bit worried about cracking the 'enamel' coating on the headstock. I think it might be the same nuclear resistant stuff Epi put on the body?

 

[JohnnyGoo]

BOO if you just go buy a guitar like the one in my avitar youll get that inlay free.lol lol. ya im no help am i.hey do want ya want,i told ya this guitar modding gets under ones skin.i warned ya

 

[Bettyboo]

I'm a bit worried about this one. Maybe, I'll practise on my cheap Tele first!

 

[eS.G.]

Wow that is a big chunk of work. I went the lazy mans way with a decal
Before

After

5.00 and took 5 minutes
The look I was shooting for below

 

[Bettyboo]

Betty doesn't do fake, eS.G. - she's the real deal...

 

[DrBGood]

You WILL crack the finish.
When done at the factory, I think they put in some black filler around the inlay, where the routing wasn't 100% right. Then they spray the finish coat on.
Have fun ...

 

[Bettyboo]

^ I think you're right. It is a problem; can I heat it or will that just be worse?

 

[Crazy_8]

If I were going to do that I'd go about it this way:

1) cover the headstock area with blue painters tape or making tape
2) position the inlays and transfer the outline to the tape
3) cut through the tape and finish surface with new razor blade or Exacto blade.
4) remove the tape from the inside boundary of the template outline.
5) following the outline already cut start removing the finish from inside pf the template outline using the chisel to remove the finish working your way to the already cut boundary line cut, trying to keep the edge of the blade parallel to the already established cut boundary.

Nothing comes out perfect, but this method gives a good chance of an unnoticeable edge match when combined with a gap filler as mentioned above.

 

[dbb]

and then touch up the finish over the new inlay

It might be easier to remove the finish from the whole headstock face, do the inlay, and refinish the headstock.

 

[Bettyboo]

It might be easier to remove the finish from the whole headstock face, do the inlay, and refinish the headstock.

This may be a bigger job than I thought... I'm worried about this.

 

[DrBGood]

It is not a one hour job, that's for sure. And you'll be adding to the neck dive syndrome.

Nahhh ... pulling your leg here. The material you'll remove willl be about the same weight as the inlays.

Personnally, I wouldn't do a complete refinish, with paint and all. Do as explained above to cut out the area. Then slightly sand the whole surface of the headstock, after gluing the inlays and doing the black putty. Then you can spray a new finish coat.

OR ... send Betty to me. I can live with her without the cosmetic surgery.

That must be an old photo you posted. The nut is the plastic original isn't it ?

 

[Bettyboo]

That must be an old photo you posted. The nut is the plastic original isn't it ?

You are correct, Sir; here's a pic I just took:



I'm thinking that I might not do this job because I'm gonna wreck the headstock finish... I bought a pretty trussrod cover, so she'll have something new to wear. I'll probably leave it there for the time being.

 

[El Marin]

and then touch up the finish over the new inlay

It might be easier to remove the finish from the whole headstock face, do the inlay, and refinish the headstock.

Y added a Crown to a 335 copy.... you definitely will need to refinish.

I first dismount the tuners, sanded the headstock, made some photocopyes of the "charm", cover the headstock with mask tape, carved to shape, insert the mother of pearl thing, fill every gap with black epoxi, let it dry, sand everything, spray some laqquer, sand and polish... is not easy and fast...

 

[oldleftySG]

I'd do a practice run first on a block of wood. I have a friend who added a custom inlay on the headstock of an expensive custom guitar. He did 8 or 10 dry runs first on scrap before he started cutting (he's obsessive/compulsive...). A Dremel can do most of the work and is a good tool to have if you work on guitars much. A fine cutting bit can even get into most of the corners and then an Exacto to cut the points.

It is a "skill" job and it's in a very obvious location, so "proceed with caution".

 

[DrBGood]

... so "proceed with caution".

... or don't proceed at all :)

 

[alexander paul]

hopefully this will be of help, a acoustic guitar building site & john is a master @ inlays with dozens of instructional videos...

http://www.bluescreekguitars.com/

 

[Bettyboo]

Thanks, Alex.

 

[eS.G.]

I wont tell the Agile you said that ---it weights as much as a Volkswagen.....it might sit on BEtty lol It allready broke 1 guitar stand---really---

Seriously though. I hack cut rip grind and manipulate guitars all the time......however.....I would not undertake the headstock inlay unless I had a couple things planned.
#1. A back up neck---just in case
#2. planned on taking the headstock down to bare wood and starting over.
or the best option IMHO
#3. Hire a pro to do it.