Well, I am in the process of my first attempt at a guitar, and I have decided to go with Walnut to build it out of. I am designing it somewhat similar to a Les Paul, but I am putting my little twists on it here and there.
As they say, when it rains it pours. I guess that applies here as well. Because I attempted my first inlay today. It isn’t perfect and there are some spots that need a little filler but I think for my first attempt I did fairly well.
I first sawed off a couple pieces of maple and then a piece of ebony. Once I sanded those down and glued them together, I cut off thin strips which I then cut with a razor blade to fit my template. Once the glue dried, I sanded it down flush and this is what I came up with.
I have the truss rod on the way in the mail, and hopefully I will get it in soon along with the fret board. I am thinking of using some curly maple. I just need to find a really nice piece.
-- San Diego, CA US Navy























7 comments so far
Loucarb
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951 posts in 341 days
posted 73 days ago
Looks good. Keep the post coming of your progress.
a1Jim
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16910 posts in 473 days
posted 73 days ago
pretty darn good
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
bill merritt
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61 posts in 185 days
posted 73 days ago
Can’t wait to see finished job. Good work.
-- Bill Merritt -Augusta Ga. woodworker
3fingerpat
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909 posts in 564 days
posted 73 days ago
I would hope my first attempt at inlay looks as good as this, great job.
-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"
interpim
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448 posts in 354 days
posted 72 days ago
it was pretty nerve racking to cut into perfectly good looking wood to do this, but I am pleased with the result.
-- San Diego, CA US Navy
Autumn
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104 posts in 48 days
posted 23 hours ago
Great job on the inlay. And this was your first? Looks like it was done by a pro. When I have to match miters, I use my disc sander. If you’d like, I can add that description to my inlay blog.
-- Autumn
interpim
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448 posts in 354 days
posted 12 hours ago
I have been following your blog Autumn… I think my biggest problem with my inlays is the fact I am hand chopping them out with a chisel instead of using a router like you suggested in your blog.
I recently finished a pair of gun grips for a friend that I inlayed an ebony diamond over each screw hole… I plan on posting a project once he gets them mounted on his Kimber, and sends me the photos. Bloodwood is a difficult wood to hand chop LOL.
-- San Diego, CA US Navy