Fretboards with Faux Shell Overlays
Moderator: Brad Bechtel
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
Fretboards with Faux Shell Overlays
Anyone have any possible interest in black plexiglass fretboards with faux shell overlays? The overlays are made using a process I developed for pickguards that incorporates printed plastic and holographic material and from not to far away looks very real and shines and glimmers - Below is a small scanned sample of what they would look like - I will make small samples on a thinner plastic that I would mail to people so they could examine them before they buy - the plexiglass would be black and I have several styles and colors of real shells scanned - the black plexiglass would be the fret marker lines and I can incorporate different design markers - I will be posting this in both pedal and non-pedal sections - any length and any width would be available - Obviously cost would depend on the amount of customization the customer wants - Feel free to make any helpful comments - DB
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Niiiice!!
Totally trippy! Dennis, I'm diggin' those quite a bit. If I ever get around to making my own lap steel, I'll definitely give you a ring. I think it would be cool to do the whole top of a guitar or uke with this stuff...very trippy indeed!
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Merely a fretboard, well, sure...
An entire party room ceiling? YES!
- Dennis Brooker
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- Location: Iowa, USA
Re: Merely a fretboard, well, sure...
If you've got the money - I've got the time - DBRon Whitfield wrote:An entire party room ceiling? YES!
- Stan Schober
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- Kekoa Blanchet
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Very cool-looking material, Dennis. And it's durable enough for a pickguard? Great!
Any idea how the color holds in the long term? Would the inks fade after a few years of exposure to light and air?
I agree with Fontaine. A guitar top made of this material would outshine any MOTS guitar out there! Let us know when samples are available.
Any idea how the color holds in the long term? Would the inks fade after a few years of exposure to light and air?
I agree with Fontaine. A guitar top made of this material would outshine any MOTS guitar out there! Let us know when samples are available.
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
Kekoa - The images are printed on a laser printer so the toner will be on this earth long after you and I are gone - It will be a couple of weeks before the samples are avaiable and I will post to let you all know - I was mainly just wanting to see if there was any interest at all and there seems to be enough for me to build a webpage and create the samples swatches and a couple of sample fretboards - Thanks for the comments - DBKekoa Blanchet wrote:Very cool-looking material, Dennis. And it's durable enough for a pickguard? Great!
Any idea how the color holds in the long term? Would the inks fade after a few years of exposure to light and air?
I agree with Fontaine. A guitar top made of this material would outshine any MOTS guitar out there! Let us know when samples are available.
- David Doggett
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- Mark Bracewell
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- Stan Schober
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WHat he said.Mark Bracewell wrote:Coudn't you print the striping as well?Dennis Brooker wrote: Stan - I would have to use white vinyl for the striping so, yes I could do that - DB
Coming from someone with such innovative ideas as yourself, I consider that an extreme compliment.That sure is a pretty design Stan.
The credit should go to the maker of the shell pattern, though.
(it doesn't look as good on a white fretboard)
- Tom Pettingill
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- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
Here's some more general comments that will hopefully answer some of your questions - I will have shell patterns in several different shades but many red, blue, green and gold to start with - the material is printed on small sheets and will be cut into small pices and applied to the black fretboard so that what is left are black fret lines - If you want a white fretboard then I would use white plexiglass so understand I'm not "printing" the fretlines - to make white fretlines on a black fretboard I would have to use white vinyl or if you want red line then I'de use, you get the idea - I can't print white and I can't print the whole fretboard - the thickness on this material once applied is only .012" thick which is pretty thin - I can also make it look as though the markers are inlaid as well - I will post an example shortly - Feel free to make comments and ask more questions - DB
- Dennis Brooker
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- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
Here's just a quick sample of "inlays" - When I do projects like this for customers I can post the design on a private webpage and email them the link (as I'm my own webmaster as well) or I can email them the design in a PDF so they can print it out and see it actual size or in this case a section of the fret board - DB
- George Piburn
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Questions
How about the Reverse, using the Shell as the Markers and all White or Black?
Can you cut the Fret Boards at a Tapered ?
exapmle: 3" on the narrow end and 3.25" on the wider end. -- plus the length , 17- 20" is there a limit?
lastly , vinyl with shell markers, peel and apply. -- no plexi or wood.
In every case you have a good thing going and are an asset to the lap steel folks.
GeorgeBoards
Can you cut the Fret Boards at a Tapered ?
exapmle: 3" on the narrow end and 3.25" on the wider end. -- plus the length , 17- 20" is there a limit?
lastly , vinyl with shell markers, peel and apply. -- no plexi or wood.
In every case you have a good thing going and are an asset to the lap steel folks.
GeorgeBoards
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
George - Yes, I could use the shell as just the markers as well - There is no limit on length or taper of the plexiglass - The material is peel and stick and I may make the material available to customers to do their own peel and stick - I can also make labels as well with logos, initials, etc. I would not use any copyrighted material without permission - But for now my plan is to offer fretboards from black or other colored plexiglass with my "digital shell" material - If you want something made special or other than a fretboard anyone is welcomed to ask - DB
Maybe this stuff would look good on mirror plexiglass
Maybe this stuff would look good on mirror plexiglass
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- Posts: 36
- Joined: 21 Aug 2009 11:25 am
- Location: Tennessee, USA
Hi Dennis,
I am working on my first re-build of a lap steel.
It's a 30ish Bronson. I like the fret boards you are making. Can you supply these finishes on a crack n peel vinyl? I will not be removing the existing fretboard, maybe a thiner plexi will work better then crack n peel.
I'm kinda thinking out load here. I can fill in where I removed the fret markers and some of the low spots on the board itself. This axe was played hard as a conventional 6 string over the years, and has a lot of wear to the board. I like this idea from Stan Schober wit a couple of mods to it
Here are a couple of pic's of my lap steel. I am still not sure about the color of the body, I am just winging it as I go.
Thanks,
Jim
I am working on my first re-build of a lap steel.
It's a 30ish Bronson. I like the fret boards you are making. Can you supply these finishes on a crack n peel vinyl? I will not be removing the existing fretboard, maybe a thiner plexi will work better then crack n peel.
I'm kinda thinking out load here. I can fill in where I removed the fret markers and some of the low spots on the board itself. This axe was played hard as a conventional 6 string over the years, and has a lot of wear to the board. I like this idea from Stan Schober wit a couple of mods to it
Here are a couple of pic's of my lap steel. I am still not sure about the color of the body, I am just winging it as I go.
Thanks,
Jim
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
James - I can supply the sheet in the fashion as I intend to and then you can apply the sheet to whatever thickness of material you wish - You would then need to apply that material to your existing fretboard with an additional adhesive - PSA material does not work well with wood - I would suggest applying my faux material to a thick paper and then gluing the paper to the wood fretboard - Maybe someone else on the forum may have some other suggestions as well they can offer - DB
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- Posts: 36
- Joined: 21 Aug 2009 11:25 am
- Location: Tennessee, USA
Dennis,
Have you tried laminating your product? Say maybe a 10 mil film laminate. Since it is toner based it should hold up to the heat. We do a lot of laminating where we afix a double sided adhesive backer for perminent applications. I think once I fix up the fretboard this stuff will stick well. I own a Printing and Graphic Finishing business in Nashville, so I have a lot of toys to play with.
Jim
Have you tried laminating your product? Say maybe a 10 mil film laminate. Since it is toner based it should hold up to the heat. We do a lot of laminating where we afix a double sided adhesive backer for perminent applications. I think once I fix up the fretboard this stuff will stick well. I own a Printing and Graphic Finishing business in Nashville, so I have a lot of toys to play with.
Jim
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
- Dennis Brooker
- Posts: 395
- Joined: 3 Jul 2009 7:18 am
- Location: Iowa, USA
Here's the page link http://www.dbrooker.com/shell-mat.html to my webpage for my faux shell material - Forum members get a discounted price - I'll put a link and price in the "ACCESSORIES FOR SALE" section - Still feel free to ask questions - DB