Block in-lays.

[Joey Anchors]

Is it possible to install block inlays on an already fretted mandolin?

(Mando in question is a gorgeous Waterloo WL-M that I would love to add block inlays to the 5, 7, and 10th frets)

[William Smith]

Yes it is, I love me some pearl blocks and have them on some of my old Gibson's!

[William Smith]

Is yours a flat fret board-that's easy radius not so much! If so add them like the old Gibson F-5's? Some started on the first fret-others the 3rd! I love the look of my 34 F-5 Fern with blocks and my 24 Gibson Tenor Lute to Mandola conversion-blocks are just sweeeeet!

[Joey Anchors]

Is yours a flat fret board-that's easy radius not so much! If so add them like the old Gibson F-5's? Some started on the first fret-others the 3rd! I love the look of my 34 F-5 Fern with blocks and my 24 Gibson Tenor Lute to Mandola conversion-blocks are just sweeeeet!

William, glad to hear it’s possible. The Waterloo has a radius fretboard. I too love block inlays!

[William Smith]

William, glad to hear it’s possible. The Waterloo has a radius fretboard. I too love block inlays!

Well it can be done but if your not experienced I'd have someone else do it!!!!

[Bernie Daniel]

William, glad to hear it’s possible. The Waterloo has a radius fretboard. I too love block inlays!

I think that it would be tricky to inlay blocks on an already radiused fret board. In the past I have added a 10" radius to a flat board which already had block inlays and that was another set of problems! But it was do able.

If I were to want to add block inlays to an already radiused board I think I might consider first inlaying your blocks of MOP into piece of hard wood that is shaped like a fret board (i.e. make a dummy fret board) then sand that to the radius of the mandolin board.

This would put the required radius on the blocks of inlay. Then when you get to inlaying them on the mandolin board only a little sanding would have to be done on them to get it cleaned up? In theory that should work I think anyway.

[pops1]

A lot would depend on the radius and the thickness of the pearl blocks. You would have a better chance with a slight radius and thicker blocks.

[sunburst]

"Possible", yes, but so difficult to do with good results that it is questionable whether it is practical.

[Dick Hutchings]

If I was to do it, I would remove the frets first. Then replace them with some EVO Gold frets for a real nice look. If you have the chops.