The Steel Guitar Forum

I just pick up a 2007 GFI SD-10 Ultra. After playing Emmons with colored fret markers and nearing 70, I find it uncomfortable and somewhat difficult to read the GFI black and white fret board.

So, I had this brilliant idea. I have a couple of new Emmons fret boards so i will just put a little double sided tape on one and set it on top of the GFI board. NOT!! Apparently the scale is a different length.

So the question is, does someone make colored fret board for a GFI Ultra?

Thanks.

I also iike different colored fret markers, and MSAs come only in red and white. So I created a photoshop document consisting of different colored squares, and printed it on transparent label paper. Then I cut the squares down to size, and put them over the fret markers.

Voila. Colored fret markers.

I slipped a putty knife under my old Sierra black and white fretboard and pried it off. Studied one of, (I think Benzian's) guitars for a good colour scheme, got out my acrylic paints and painted mine of which I'm fairly happy with. Then I applied some glue, slipped it back in place and using some shims twixt the strings and weight on top over night,.. I think it looks pretty good.
I really liked one of David Hartley's with the little tear-drops,.. but my Sierra already had the design of elongated diamonds so I just filled them in with bright colours and I'm happy.
. . Mike

I used yellow and green sharpie permanent markers. If you don't like the colors, a bit of lacquer thinner or acetone on a cloth will wipe the color off.

Hi Jim,
I just double-side taped a Sho-Bud fretboard on top of my GFI board. That was 6 years ago and it hasn't had a problem. I never liked the GFI fretboard design, just a personal taste thing. I also removed the front logos and glued them onto the underside. Both mods can be easily reversed, if the need arises.

I find it easier on the mind and reflexes to have the same style fretboard on different guitars.

I'm willing to try the Sharpie thing but tell me again the acetone and lacquer thinner doesn't harm the original board if I change my mind!!

I don't mind sticking things on the board either, IF I know I can get it back off without making a mess of the original fret board.

Hey Joey - It's been awhile since we've met in person. Haven't been back to a Michigan show in a long while. Or, St. Louis for that matter.
I'm with you on the mind and reflexes thing. That's why I had that brilliant idea of sticking the Emmons board on there. That is, until I found out the fret lines didn't match up.
I don't really mind the ShoBud thing. Where do you get the board?

JimE

Dale has some great tips on GFI mods.

He uses a normal highlighter pen. Claims it wipes right off.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TriNEV7ZOCg

I personally own one of Dale's Slide cars and the pedal brackets. They are top quality.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xqoIuXEnUFE

Sorry to say they are no longer in stock, or available, from SGC where I got them for my Carter and GFI.

I also have a 1970 Emmons that has the original fretboard.
I can't change that. Putting a 'Bud fretboard on an Emmons would cause an unforeseeable disruption in The Force

Besides, those Emmons atoms are way cool.

I've been told that the Emmons scale length is 24&1/4 inches, and the Sho-Bud is 24. Apparently the CFI is also 24.

You are right Joey, the Emmons atoms are very cool.

just moisten a cloth with the thinner, don't saturate the fretboard.
try a small spot before doing the whole thing.

At Performance, we got some complaints about the colored fretboard markings disappearing under various, changing stage lighting. We switched to black with white markings, which solved the problem.