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Topic: Fretboards with Faux Shell Overlays |
Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 11:44 am |
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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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Fontaine Burnett
From:
Germany
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 2:00 pm Niiiice!!
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 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! 
_________________
www.fontaine-burnett.de
www.myspace.com/fontaineburnett
"...when it hits, you feel no pain!" |
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Ron Whitfield
From:
Kaaawa, Hawaii, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 4:15 pm Merely a fretboard, well, sure...
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| An entire party room ceiling? YES! |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 4:22 pm Re: Merely a fretboard, well, sure...
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| Ron Whitfield wrote: |
| An entire party room ceiling? YES! |
If you've got the money - I've got the time - DB |
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Stan Schober
From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 4:31 pm
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Hey Dennis !
Anyway to possibly do this ?
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Kekoa Blanchet
From:
Kaua'i
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 4:37 pm
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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. |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 5:11 pm
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| Stan Schober wrote: |
Hey Dennis !
Anyway to possibly do this ?
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Stan - I would have to use white vinyl for the striping so, yes I could do that - DB |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 5:15 pm
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| Kekoa 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. |
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 - DB |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 5:35 pm
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Man, I don't know. I have a hard enough time keepin' up with the rest of the band as it is. Spacin' out on my own fret board could be embarrassing.  |
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Mark Bracewell
From:
Willow Glen, California
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 5:49 pm
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| Dennis Brooker wrote: |
Stan - I would have to use white vinyl for the striping so, yes I could do that - DB |
Coudn't you print the striping as well?
That sure is a pretty design Stan. |
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Stan Schober
From:
Cahokia, Illinois, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2009 6:04 pm
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| Mark Bracewell wrote: |
| Dennis Brooker wrote: |
Stan - I would have to use white vinyl for the striping so, yes I could do that - DB |
Coudn't you print the striping as well? |
WHat he said.
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| That sure is a pretty design Stan. |
Coming from someone with such innovative ideas as yourself, I consider that an extreme compliment.
The credit should go to the maker of the shell pattern, though.
(it doesn't look as good on a white fretboard)
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Tom Pettingill
From:
California, USA (deceased)
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2009 4:30 am
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| 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 |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2009 4:59 am
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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
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George Piburn
From:
The Land of Enchantment New Mexico
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Posted 2 Sep 2009 6:35 am Questions
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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 |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2009 6:51 am
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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 |
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James Fleming
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2009 7:50 am
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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
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2009 9:27 am
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| 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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James Fleming
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2009 10:12 am
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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 |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 10 Sep 2009 10:29 am
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| James - It won't take the heat but I'll keep trying to come up with something that will work for you - DB |
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Dennis Brooker
From:
Iowa, USA
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Posted 13 Sep 2009 7:18 am
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| 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 |
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