Official Luthiers Forum!

I have some Les Paul style inlays made from Maple and thiniking of inlaying them in an ebony fingerboard. Question is: Will I need to apply any finish over the Maple inlays after they are inlayed or will the be ok as is with a little fingerboard oil added??

Beg to differ: unfinished maple, inlaid, will look incredibly dirty, incredibly fast. I know. I've got several instruments with figured maple binding that needed some shellac and artists brush love to be restored to not looking manky really quickly.

Also, you have to be careful when levelling/sanding the maple, so you don't get the ebony dust stuck in places you don't want it.

If I was set on maple fingerboard inlays, I'd probably contact Larry Davis (Gallery Hardwoods) and get some acrylized maple.

Thanks guys. Mattia, not hung up on the Maple, was just an idea. I had bought these Les Paul style inlays on ebay some time ago and thought they might add a nice touch but after reconsiderin, thinking of going with small prearl snowflakes instead. When I laid out the Maple inlays they take up so much room that I didnt like the look for this one. Really like the contrast of the ebony against the sitka top and Maple back/sides which are bound in black and have ebony headplate.