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Thread: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

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    Default Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Good morning folks. I will be building an octave mandolin at Don Kawalek’s workshop at the end of this month. He will provide a 2 by2 inch piece of inlay material to use. Any suggestions besides the usual simple star or initials. I was thinking of using an old silver dollar or Indian Head pennies as a substitute. Any ideas would be helpful.

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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Something that would be personal to you would be my suggestion. The coins would be fine, maybe a coin minted the year you were born, or cutting something out of the pearl that has special meaning for you.
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Perhaps consider something like turquoise or other semi precious stone combined with the inlay material, mother of pearl? Exotic wood pieces can also offer some nice contrast. Like pops1 said "something personal to you." Inlays with straight lines are much easier than ones with lots of tight curves.

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    Registered User G7MOF's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    How about linking your initials together.
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    Kelley Mandolins Skip Kelley's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    There has been good advice so far. What would mean something to you is a great idea! Take your time thinking about it and also research ideas. Depaule Inlay has a lot of cool designs on the website to give you some ideas.

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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Check out the stuff Dave Nichols does. It might give you some ideas.

    www.custompearlinlay.com
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    Registered User sunburst's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    I'd say keep it simple. As an admitted novice, you will probably do a better job of with a simple design, and a good job on a simple design looks a lot better to me than a... lesser job on a complicated design.
    BTW, nothing says there has to be a peghead inlay at all. A peghead with no inlay can look very classy, and since the instrument designs that Don offers in his classes are of the elegantly simple variety, "blank" might be a good look.
    (Sometimes less is more.)

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    Registered User fscotte's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    What John said. Not knocking folk's preferences, but simple designs are classy and much easier.

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    Registered User William Smith's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Yes simple, make it personal, something you like, all above are great ideas. My first inlay was on a herringbone Martin kit guitar, granted inlays came cut but on the end where the two sides come together instead of the plastic I cut a piece of ebony and inlayed it-I can't think what that piece is called but that was simple and it looks pretty good the ebony between the rosewood. Contrasting wood,pearl,abalone,stones etc..inlays like that sure hit it.

  11. #10
    Registered User Matt Harris's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    You mention using a coin, which I think is a cool idea. Round is good! For my first handful of builds I had some logos cut into 1" plastic disks which I was then able to inlay using only a 1" forstner bit. Super easy.

    Here's what I did.

    Click image for larger version. 

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    Registered User Drew Streip's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Ha -- I admit, I used a moon and stars for my fiancee's ukulele, as it was also my first build.

    A fleur de lis probably wouldn't be too difficult, and looks classy AND classic.

    I've been doing some scrimshaw lately on bone-handled knives. You could scrimshaw a pearl/abalone/bone disc with your preferred design. It'd be easier and more unique than trying to cut and inlay the same design!

  13. #12

    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Maybe your favorite animal? Religious Symbol?

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    Registered User Ivan Kelsall's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Matt - Purely for my info. - what am i looking at in your pic. ?. Is it an acoustic Bass headstock or.... ?. Whatever - it looks superb !!. A really nice piece of design there,
    Ivan
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    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    I would love to have The Simpson cut out for me in the font style of The Gibson as a nod rather than a copy for my current project. Thanks to Mike Edgerton, I've sent a request to Mike Nichols.
    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

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    Registered User Matt Harris's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Quote Originally Posted by Ivan Kelsall View Post
    Matt - Purely for my info. - what am i looking at in your pic. ?. Is it an acoustic Bass headstock or.... ?. Whatever - it looks superb !!. A really nice piece of design there,
    Ivan

    Ivan,

    Thanks for the compliment. It's an electric bass actually. Here's the rest of it:

    Click image for larger version. 

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    1918 Gibson F4
    2016 Northfield NF-5S
    2017 Black Guitar Bodied Octave Mandolin #42

  17. #16

    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    An 8 pointed star or sun might be a place to start. The simplest version has one square of material over another with the same dimensions and center, but they are rotated 45 degrees out of phase.

  18. #17

    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Quote Originally Posted by Sterling View Post
    Good morning folks. I will be building an octave mandolin at Don Kawalek’s workshop at the end of this month. He will provide a 2 by2 inch piece of inlay material to use. Any suggestions besides the usual simple star or initials. I was thinking of using an old silver dollar or Indian Head pennies as a substitute. Any ideas would be helpful.
    Fun, I’m currently building a 000 guitar and decided on an owl/moon inlay from Depaule - they have a lot of nice choices.

    If it’s your first time I’d say stay simple. It was my first time in a wood shop period and boy have I gained a lot of that darned experience...it’s coming along very well under the teachers watchful eye but there’s a crooked brace here and there and maybe sanded something down a little too far but the inlay....oh, the inlay - yeah that was a pain in the backside.

    I would suggest getting your design then getting some scrap and practice cutting the spot to fit your design...if you take your time and do a practice run you’ll see why...heck if you don’t practice you’ll definitely see why...sawdust and superglue can fix a lot of things just don’t glue your finger to the headstock...

    A couple people have used coins or grandpas tie tac, etc. make it something that is special to you, it’s a great experience and when you’re done it will be special.
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    Registered User artdeco's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Marquetry can be fun also.Click image for larger version. 

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  20. #19
    Registered User jim simpson's Avatar
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    Default Re: Headstock inlay designs for a novice.

    Quote Originally Posted by jim simpson View Post
    I would love to have The Simpson cut out for me in the font style of The Gibson as a nod rather than a copy for my current project. Thanks to Mike Edgerton, I've sent a request to Mike Nichols.
    Update: received my finished product today from Mike Nichols.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Click image for larger version. 

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    Old Hometown, Cabin Fever String Band

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