The Muse I Adorn

RVA said:
My favorite thing to do is sand off those nibs as I plane the fretboard. They add neither style or function.

I didn't touch the inlays. Do they look off to you?
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The job you've done on the frets, around the binding especially, looks good; more work than I'd wanna do!

&, you do realize that talking about nibs is similar to tonewood! :D The special is my first nib guitar (always found them a bit strange tbh), and they seem fine; no issues for me.

I was talking about the headstock inlays, they look really nice, perfect, in your guitar. As for the fretboard inlays, that style are not my favourite, I prefer dots or blocks, but yours look nice - due to the way Gibson does them, changes sizes with frets, then it always seems to make me dizzy when I look at them closely, and I also wanna feel wood on my fingers rather than plastic/acrylic/pearloid/MoP; but, it's no biggie (although it is one reason I prefer a special to a standard - you get the binding, but not the over-the-top inlays. I do love the gold headstock inlays, just as your guitar has them - my ideal Gibson solution; seen some nice new 339s just come out with the binding and dots, gold crown and Gibson inlay on headstock!)...

Screenshot 2020-01-12 at 14.55.11.png

Screenshot 2020-01-12 at 14.54.51.png

Now that gets my juices flowing!

(Not fond of the tuners though; I'd never have Grovers on a Gibson unless they were locking grovers - even then I'd go for the Gotoh locking tulips...)
 
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Mr Grumpy said:
The job you've done on the frets, around the binding especially, looks good; more work than I'd wanna do!

&, you do realize that talking about nibs is similar to tonewood! :D The special is my first nib guitar (always found them a bit strange tbh), and they seem fine; no issues for me.

I was talking about the headstock inlays, they look really nice, perfect, in your guitar. As for the fretboard inlays, that style are not my favourite, I prefer dots or blocks, but yours look nice - due to the way Gibson does them, changes sizes with frets, then it always seems to make me dizzy when I look at them closely, and I also wanna feel wood on my fingers rather than plastic/acrylic/pearloid/MoP; but, it's no biggie (although it is one reason I prefer a special to a standard - you get the binding, but not the over-the-top inlays. I do love the gold headstock inlays, just as your guitar has them - my ideal Gibson solution; seen some nice new 339s just come out with the binding and dots, gold crown and Gibson inlay on headstock!)...

View attachment 36935

View attachment 36936

Now that gets my juices flowing!

(Not fond of the tuners though; I'd never have Grovers on a Gibson unless they were locking grovers - even then I'd go for the Gotoh locking tulips...)
Click to expand...
Ah, the headstock. Got it, and thanks. I agree that dots are better. Nibs are only a problem if the grab your strings when bending.

That is a sweet semi hollow. 339s and 336s are just the right size. However, I have been wanting an iced tea 335.
 
@RVA
Nice work as usual Ray.
what method do you use to cut the fret end tangs back?
I tried a sheet metal nibbler but it was not up to the task; I use plain old diagonal cutting pliers but it leaves a hump on the underside of the fret.
I file them smooth but it adds more time and tedium to an already long and tedious process.
Nice job planing down the nibs too.
 
Thanks! After a long search for "fret end cutters" that were any good, I bought commercial grade metal end cutting pliers and flattened the face on a grinding wheel for use with fret ends. Good names are Knipex and Klein. I use these for the underside, and then take the fret over to the grinding wheel to finish the job. They have tang cutters, but they are rather expensive and single purposed.

IMG_20190630_212046.jpg

 
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RVA said:
Thanks! After a long search for "fret end cutters" that were any good, I bought commercial grade metal end cutting pliers and flattened the face on a grinding wheel for use with fret ends. Good names are Knipex and Klein. I use these for the underside, and then take the fret over to the grinding wheel to finish the job. They have tang cutters, but they are rather expensive and single purposed.
Click to expand...


I did the same thing with a pair of Channellock end cutters.
 
Mr Grumpy said:
The job you've done on the frets, around the binding especially, looks good; more work than I'd wanna do!

&, you do realize that talking about nibs is similar to tonewood! :D The special is my first nib guitar (always found them a bit strange tbh), and they seem fine; no issues for me.

I was talking about the headstock inlays, they look really nice, perfect, in your guitar. As for the fretboard inlays, that style are not my favourite, I prefer dots or blocks, but yours look nice - due to the way Gibson does them, changes sizes with frets, then it always seems to make me dizzy when I look at them closely, and I also wanna feel wood on my fingers rather than plastic/acrylic/pearloid/MoP; but, it's no biggie (although it is one reason I prefer a special to a standard - you get the binding, but not the over-the-top inlays. I do love the gold headstock inlays, just as your guitar has them - my ideal Gibson solution; seen some nice new 339s just come out with the binding and dots, gold crown and Gibson inlay on headstock!)...

View attachment 36935

View attachment 36936

Now that gets my juices flowing!

(Not fond of the tuners though; I'd never have Grovers on a Gibson unless they were locking grovers - even then I'd go for the Gotoh locking tulips...)
Click to expand...
yes & more yes...339
 
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