Official Luthiers Forum!

I was thinking about an idea for fret markers.

What if you had inlay of a "little baggie" of dots and the dots are "spilled" in a pile ont the fretboard. You could also have a drill bit laying there and maybe even a few other odds and ends... Sort of looking like the fb would as it is in process.

That would leave a large % of the fretboard bare and have sort of an artsy kind of look to it.

I don't know how hard that would be to inlay, but I have not seen anything stump Craig yet.......   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

C'mon Brock, what luthier do you know that spills things in his shop? I mean, jeez, don't we all work in clean-room type environments?
By the way, I really like your idea.

I have pm'd Craig to view this thread. Since he is donating the material and labor, I think it is time to get him involved. He had asked week before last that we put togather some ideas. The peghead veneer is ready to ship or has shipped to him and the fretboard will be ready to ship to him next week. We need to get a move on this as soon as possible. So it is time for the artist to chime in and put our thoughts into a game plan.MichaelP38776.6582407407

I have to side with those looking more towards the theme the owner will appreciate. I have no problem doing Mark Twain. I even like the idea of doing him. The truth is though, Buffalo Billl, Sitting Bear, and any other humans I have done aren't thematic ideas at all from me, just customer requests that happened to be linked as a theme. Ie; there is no Americana series in the works as of yet.

I was hoping some of you might know the recipient well enough to get into his head a little and come up with more personal (guitar related?) ideas. NO offense to anyone, but I don't see the Twain link either..
Cost isn't the issue as much as timing is, however I would like to stay within materials that I have, and not need to make a special order. I have a lot, but I am limited on ivory and more rare things like that.
keep ideas coming guys.
I don't know him, but I am thinking about it.
Craig Lavin

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www.handcraftinlay.com

O.K.

I like the Japanese fonts because they are easy to inlay, very attractive, and very peace-spiritual healing related.
I Like fish (koy) because hey that's me...

What about this- Do the fonts provided by Michael P - the ones from his friend- and the meanings, but on the headstock do a koy swimming in from the sides, with color patterns in the shapes of guitars?
Is it rediculous? I have tried to emulate Grit's style and quality, maybe this "humor" idea is gong too far?
Thoughts?

Craig L.

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Craig, where I like you ideas, I still don't see where they fit any sort of "theme" from us to him.
One thing I think we need to be careful of is that, since none of us REALLY know him, we run a risk of offending him by introducing other cultures.
I'll try to be sensitive here:
For example: let's just say hypathetically that we all decided to use the German words for Peace and Love on a guitar. We thought it would look nice in that Old English sort of type. All went well until we found out that the recipient was offended because they were Jewish and had a family history of concentration camps, etc. That's the type of thing that I think we need to think more carefully about since we really don't know the recipient, his herritage, his beliefs, etc. Some people might be offended by cultural symbols.

Another issue I have with Asian symbols is that, at the gym I go to, EVERY bulky muscle man has some sort of Asian symbol tatooed on their arm. To me it's become sort of kitschy, and overused.
That's my $.02 worth. I'll shut up now and will go along with anything the group decides.Pwoolson38777.3800347222

enough to assist?
The recipient is in the luthiery field right?

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

Yep both building and supplies, Enough with out giving away who it is.


Brock you might want to PM Craig with some thoughts MichaelP38777.5405208333

Done...   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

This may be trite, but I'll give it a shot:

A fanciful stream of musical notes and musical notation symbols, twisting and turning as if they are a "jazzy" stream or a long wisp of smoke. At the 3rd, 5th, 7th, etc frets, there could either be simply more of them clustered, or perhaps use pearl for the 3,5,7... and medium-dark shell like some grayish-black abalone for the notes and symbols that fall between other frets.

That would leave the headstock open for any musical and/or lutherie business themed graphic as well, but would tie together.

I have seen Craig's inlay execution, and it is incredible! But perhaps we could tap into Bill N's mind for some additional design ideas.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

Not a bad idea

There's a maple vine on Andy DePaule's site, designed by some unknown luthier in Odessa TX that probably is the most elegant vine design, with the key fret positions marked, that I have seen. I sorta had that in the back of my mind, and added a dose of Walt Disney's Fantasia, and thought of the musical note stream.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy]But perhaps we could tap into Bill N's mind for some additional design ideas.
Dennis[/QUOTE]

No offense intended to either this idea or to Bill Nichols (his work, like Craig's is truly amazing), but out of respect to all our creative types I think this is a bad idea.

I work with artists as part of my job and trying to make these combinations usually leads to a lower quality product. Collaboration usually takes something away from the process because you lose the singularity of vision. I think it is best just to pick who is doing the work, give them a broad idea of what we want, then see what they come up with. Let them execute their vision.

Imagine if:

Mozart had a project to collaborate with Beethovan
Picasso to work with DaVinci
or
Shakespeare with Tarantino

Clearly what you would end up with is not a better product but just something that failed to reflect the genius in either of them. It is hard to compromise on vision....

Again, nothing against Bill or his work... it is outstanding.... but I have never seen a truly successful art collaboration.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

"Shakespeare with Tarantino" - that one really makes me shudder!

I certainly did not want to suggest that the pool of grey matter already in this think tank was insufficient, when I mentioned Bill. I wasn't thinking collaboration, just tapping into yet another creative mind for concept ideas. Again, Craig's work is mind-bogglingly beautiful and creative. I mentioned Bill N because of the "flavor" of Craig's post, that sounded as if he was still asking for suggestions, and noted that he was not yelling, (like a center fielder), "I've got it!" When Craig has his mind made up, we won't need Picasso, DaVinci, or Tarentino.

If somehow I have put my foot in my mouth, and left the impression that I am not amazed at Craig's work, or that I thought he needed artistic help, I will publicly state right here and now that I will let Craig do ANYTHING he wants to inlay my next 10 guitars, absolutely free of charge. (Sorry Craig, I'm such a smartass - maybe by my 10th guitar, I will have produced a guitar worthy of your creative talent.)

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

O.K.
Hi guys   

1) I definitly am open to ideas. ANYONES..

2) I really like Bill's work, and think he is a great inlay artist.

3) I think we both have a very different vision. This is a GOOD thing!

4) If Bill wants to get involved, and you all like HIS ideas, he should be the executor. Not me. It will be for the best, should he be willing to do it.


5) If anyone is not absolutely amazed with my work I want to know who they are! I know a great vision specialist in Boca.. Absolutely joking here!!!! Art is art. I am sure more than a few people hate my stuff. They have that right..


6) I do want a pool of ideas. Some people on this forum might know the recipient better than I. That said, I did have an idea I really liked, and I told it to Brock. We'll see what happens.


7) Dennis I'll schedule you in for number 10 O.K?

Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

[QUOTE=DennisLeahy] "Shakespeare with Tarantino" - that one really makes me shudder![/QUOTE]

I sort of think if old Will was around today he would be making movies in the Tarantino style... In his day he was mixing it up.   

Sex, violence, betrayal, intrigue.... he had it all.   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

[QUOTE=clavin]

... I did have an idea I really liked, and I told it to Brock. We'll see what happens.


7) Dennis I'll schedule you in for number 10 O.K?

Craig
[/QUOTE]
Hi Craig,

OK this reminds me of something I did about 35 years ago... I needed work, and went to the kitchen door of a fancy restaurant. When the chef came to the door, I asked the chef for a chef's job. (I had been a cook in a restaurant before, and they called me a chef.) Little did I know, I was asking the chef for her job. She told me to wait right there, and she would go check. I heard an explosion of laughter from the kitchen area, and then she returned. "No", she said "we don't have an opening for a chef. We could use a cook though."

So, now I seem to have dropped into this thread, where a visionary artist who is arguably among the best inlay artists in the world has agreed to do an inlay for a charity guitar - and then I mention another inlay artist. (the embarrassed emoticon has a smile, and I don't - I'm just embarrassed.) You'd think after 35 years, I would get a clue...

Sorry, Craig. Carry on. I plan to listen more, and talk less. [slinking away] ... [/slinking away]

Possible inlay theme for my 10th guitar: man with foot in mouth.

Dennis

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Dennis Leahy
Duluth, MN, USA
7th Sense Multimedia

I think you are being a little hard on yourself....

I had to learn this too.... in fact, I have sent more than one artist screaming from the room with my suggestions....

I have just picked up a thing or two along the way in helping smooth out the process of working with highly creative people.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Thanks for the nice coments. You are very flattering... But you are being hard on yourself. I put my pants on the same as anyone else (although at 37 they don't fit as well as they should lately )
Please don't drop out, Please don't slink away.. Please don't feel embarrased. And, honestly, I need some more ideas before I carry on. Inlay can be a very personal thing. I was just hopeing someone knew the person better than I. Nothing you did was wrong.
That said, I do know this person has seen my work and was very impressed with it. I would think that the recipient would enjoy my style of inlay on one of their guitars.
Craig

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www.handcraftinlay.com

OK my thoughts on the inlay are this. Let Craig do his thing. You know a Craig Levin style of inlay that he is known for. Beautiful work and that's what I would want on my guitar. Makes even more sense if the recipiant knows and likes Craig's work. Just my $3.00 worth.

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Beautiful and unusual tone woods at a reasonable price.
http://www.rctonewoods.com/RCT_Store
The Zootman
1109 Military Rd.
Kenmore, NY 14217
(716) 874-1498

Your going to make some unknown luthier in West Texas blush Thanks I hate to brag but I did the first one four years ago and it is on my Koa toped Om. I have had so many requests for it by clients over the past couple years but did not want to cut it again. It is very tedious with the leaf serration. I caved in to a client last year but had Andy cut it for me. I was so impressed with the work that I gave it and a couple other designs to Andy with permission to retail them if he wished. The Yellow Rose of Texas is really spetaculur but my favorite is still the Jap Maple leaf vine
Don't tell anyone but my granddaughter still thinks it is a controled substance

So do I..   

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Rather than a realisitc or semi realistic picture perhaps an ornate monogram of the recipient's initials on the peghead or a design incorparatiog the name of his busness. This avoids any culyural in appropreatness ( sorry about the spelling but I have a cat
on my lap helping to type)