MartyGrass Posted December 31, 2010 Share Posted December 31, 2010 I noticed that traps are exclusively on H150s unless custom ordered. Otherwise its dots, split blocks, or rectangles. (No birds or skulls.) Is there a story there? Does anyone know why there are inlays to begin with? Early Spanish guitars didn't have them. Why does Gibson use plastic inlays? Does is really save them much money? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tbonesullivan Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Gibson uses acrylic inlays becuase they did back in the late 50's and 60s, and they are essentially making reissue guitars. If you change anything you end up completely POing your fanbase. As far as I know the cost of making the holes and inlaying the actual material is probably far more costly than the actual material. You can get pre-cut inlays for LP style guitars from stew-mac for under $50. I really have never understood the reason they still use the acrylic honestly. It just looks so cheap... and kinda like shampoo. I would wager that inlays started mainly to help people keep track of where they were. I don't know whether the early spanish guitars had side dots or not, but it does help to have some kind of reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartyGrass Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 The classic guitars had side dots. If the old catgut boxes had inlays, it was exceptional. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gitfiddler Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Don't quote me on this, but didn't fret markers orignate to mark the various positions on the fretboard? The were a guide for beginners and advanced players. As one advanced, there was less of a need for markers, but they looked so cool, they became the norm on guitars. From the original dots marking these positions, builders got more and more ornate, until they became trapezoids, rectangles, pearl, abalone, vines, etc... Any guitar historians out there can chime in and correct my off the top of my head ramblings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartyGrass Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 I've had a couple without fretboard markings, a Roy Clark and an Eagle Classic. There was a period of adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chico Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Have you ever been on stage playing and trying to find the side dots on a dark stage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brentrocks Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 I love traps...they are my fav Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GuitArtMan Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Spanish guitars have a shorter fingerboard and join the body at the the 12th fret. This serves as a 12th fret marker. With longer necks and joining the body at different locations, fret markers became a necessity. I think trapezoids, block, split block etc. were all added for elegance, much in the way that the fingerboard edge is bound - it's a touch of class. Personally, traps are by far my favorite fret board marker. They are simple yet elegant at the same time and look great on both plain, or ornate guitars. As for mother-of-peral vs. mother-of-tolitet-seat, the cost difference isn't so much for an individual guitar, but multiply that out but the thousands of guitars the Gbrand produces a year and the savings is quite substantial. And as tbonesullivan pointed out, if the Gbrand changed the formula the fans would cry foul and swear up and down that plastic inlays sound better than MOP. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kbp810 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 All I know is that it's always fun when your jamming along trying to figure out where someone is playing a song you've never played before... and they happen to have no markers on their fretboard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MartyGrass Posted January 1, 2011 Author Share Posted January 1, 2011 I would love abalone traps. I have traps and I have abalone. But not on the same guitar. Someday, maybe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zookroo1 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 It's interesting how you get used to certain inlays on certain body shapes. I've never seen traps on a strat style, but I'm pretty sure it would look odd... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog52 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Traps are my favorites followed by split blocks. I have one with hollow hexagon that's pretty sweet. I agree a plain board takes a little getting used to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Traps are my favorites followed by split blocks. I have one with hollow hexagon that's pretty sweet. I agree a plain board takes a little getting used to. That group of headstock pics is really cool. I played the one with these inlays last night... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 That group of headstock pics is really cool. I played the one with these inlays last night... Fred those in lays are awful. Awful pretty!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skydog52 Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 That group of headstock pics is really cool. I played the one with these inlays last night... Fred you have the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen IMHO. Pictures don't do it justice. When I saw it at last years PSP I was just floored. Talk about guitar envy! My signature is for anyone with headstock envy. Although you have the biggest headstock I've seen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FredZepp Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Fred you have the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen IMHO. Pictures don't do it justice. When I saw it at last years PSP I was just floored. Talk about guitar envy! My signature is for anyone with headstock envy. Although you have the biggest headstock I've seen. Wow, thanks . That's quite a compliment. I normally would have edited that pic a bit, but wanted to leave the binding in the shot for those looking closely at it. It is a constant thing here to see a Heritage that makes you covet it. Like the 357's and the 555's and ... well , there are a bunch. I took Steiners advice and played the Centurian acoustically last night... that was quite enjoyable. ( and yes, Kuz , I was careful with your inheritance... ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kuz Posted January 1, 2011 Share Posted January 1, 2011 Wow, thanks . That's quite a compliment. I normally would have edited that pic a bit, but wanted to leave the binding in the shot for those looking closely at it. It is a constant thing here to see a Heritage that makes you covet it. Like the 357's and the 555's and ... well , there are a bunch. I took Steiners advice and played the Centurian acoustically last night... that was quite enjoyable. ( and yes, Kuz , I was careful with your inheritance... ) That a boy!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barrymclark Posted January 3, 2011 Share Posted January 3, 2011 Dots fan. I have grown to like them a great deal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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