The Steel Guitar Forum

Can any tell me where to find Pearl or Abalone in lay. I'm building a non peadal 10 string steel and would like either of these two type inlays. Need 3 pieces 1/4" X 34" long

David,
Stewart-MacDonald has everything you could want. Look up their website, stewmac.com, and send for their free catalog. Good luck with you project.
Bob

Also check out Luthier's Mercantile:
http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/Secondproducthead.asp?CategoryName=Shell+Inlay

I think you can also get catalogs from them.

Do a search on "The Duke of Pearl" (Chuck Erikson 18072 Greenhorn Road Grass Valley CA
95945 916-273-4116) who supplies lottsa folks with abalone and pearl. He's fun to talk with and can direct you to folks that will help as well.

I used Abalam (a processed abalone product, ground and cast) and found it was very easy to work with. It was my first inlay project and came out great. Luthiers Mercantile was the supplier, I think Stew-Mac also has it. Take your time and you will likely have good results.

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Doug Earnest
The only Zum Keyless U12, Fender Cyber Twin

It's also available from Constantine. Check their website.

If you've not done it before, all of the above dealers also sell books on the subject. It's worth it, just for some of the tips that seem pretty simple but that you might not think of yourself.

Hi there David,

Also give "Craftsman Wood Products" a try in Chicago, they put out a realy good "Cattle-Hog" with all kinds of interesting woods, kit instruments, inlay tool etc etc...

Good luck.

Bob Mainwaring. Z.Bs. and other weird things.

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First Quality Music has a lot of pre-cut inlays, especially some of the fancy old-style patterns used on Gibson & other prewar b*nj*s. Some of those might look mighty nice on a 10-string plank. Their web page is www.fqms.com.

Also if you know anyone who has a trophy shop you might be able to persuade them to assist you via the use of a laser engraver. Contact me if you'd like more information~