Replace Shrunken Block Markers?

[motopsyche]

Hey gang,

I have a dead original '57 CA-100 that is sporting substantially shrunken pearloid block markers on the fretboard. I'm getting some work done on the guitar and was going to have the markers replaced as the old ones are just glued in place. They look a bit strange on close inspection, but it doesn't seem to affect play. Any opinions on whether or not to keep the old markers in place to preserve vintage value of the guitar? I'm not considering the dollar value so much as the originality. The pickguard has also curved from shrinkage, but I'll try to have it flattened out a bit. I'm also ready to mount a DeArmond 1100 and go electric.

Many thanks.

Bill

'57 CA-100
'59 X-175
'60 T-100DP
'62 Starfire III
'63 X-175
'64 Starfire III
'66 Starfire V
'67 Starfire XII

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

Moto,

Personally, I prefer original, and I don't care about shrunken inlay unless it hurts playability. Same for binding and peghead overlay.

Did you find out what it would cost to replace the inlay?

 

[Guildmark]

I had a project last year that involved this same question.

Here is the before:

And after:

The shrunken fret markers on this one made the guitar unplayable because the strings snagged on the edges of the pearloid.
Replacing the markers made a huge difference in an early 60's guitar that wasn't worth a lot but was made quite playable after the repairs. It looked a heck of a lot better, too.

 

[guildzilla]

Mark's guitar looks real nice with the new inlays.

One thing I'd consider, Bill, is how long have you had the guitar? It's certainly your instrument to do with as you please. But if you just got it, and the inlays are shrunken but still tightly glued in the routes and not affecting play, you might want to live with them a little longer. OTOH, if you've had the guitar long enough to know that the inlays are bugging you and standing in the way of your enjoyment of the guitar, then that would decide the issue for you.

 

[jp]

Hi Bill,
If you can find a willing and capable luthier, perhaps there is another option. Although I've never heard of anyone doing this, I'm guessing it can be done although very labor intensive.
-- Remove original inlays.
-- Slightly raise the bottom surface of the original routes with filler.
-- Reglue inlays so that they are slightly above the surface of the fretboard.
-- Fill around with "magic sauce,"--cyanoacrylate glue and meticulously color-matched sawdust.
-- Sand down and properly radius the surface of inlays level to the fretbaord.

Maybe I'm crazy? I would think it all depends on the tenacity and skill of said luthier, as well as the severity of shrinkage. I've seen luthiers go to greater lengths before, so I wouldn't rule it out. Prolly not cheap either.

Just a thought.

 

[bootbun]

I just had a guitar dealt with for this issue - it wasn't a Guild however, it was a Silvertone S1429. It looked very similar to the situation in Guildmark's guitar, inlays shrunken and raised up beyond the "cosmetic problem" level.

I was dubious that anything could be done about it short of pulling the frets and re-inlaying, but I took it to Brad Keogan here in Toronto's Capsule Music, and he had no reservations about tackling it. He popped the blocks, flattened then out (with some heat and clamping, similar to what you would do do straighten an old pickguard) and re-glued them with a bit of sanding and fill. It worked out absolutely great, and was not expensive. I do think that actually re-inlaying the neck is a pretty big job, and involves pulling the frets for a re-radius, so I would definitely check out with competent luthier folks around you to see if someone is willing to work with your existing inlays.

 

[motopsyche]

Many thanks to everyone for sharing advice and experiences. Based on more hours of play with the guitar, the shrunken markers do not seem to affect play in any way. As a guy who loves to keep original as long as original works, I've decided to keep the original markers, at least for now. I've turned my attention to installing a DeArmond 1100 pickup. If that leads to a step down in string gauge, the markers may yet present problems. With 12's on the guitar, they don't seem to be an issue. My markers are all lower than the fretboard.

I've read any number of alarming home remedies for straightening warped pickguards. Anyone found a sure-fire source to bring these back to flat?

Gracias, amigos...

Bill

 

[jp]

I've read any number of alarming home remedies for straightening warped pickguards. Anyone found a sure-fire source to bring these back to flat?

Depending on the material it's made of, I'd be wary. I know the older ones made of certain plastics can be pretty volatile. Applied heat may have unpredictable results. I did once read about a trick in which one submerged the pickguard into boiling water until it flattened out. Then cold water was poured in to cool and harden it. Pretty interesting. What's yours made of?

 

[Darryl Hattenhauer]

...sure-fire....

That's the problem.