Anyone comments playing on a non inlay fret board?

**jzucker** · 08-01-2011, 01:39 PM

Several times I've had guitars with no inlays and had dot inlays installed by my luthier. No change of sound that I could hear or measure.

**Funkwire** · 08-01-2011, 01:42 PM

Originally Posted by spiral

Genuine question: How were you be able to tell?

With my ears. There is a difference in the sound of a fretted note played on an inlay opposed to the sound of a note fretted on the wood. It doesn't resonate the same way.

I can hear it acoustically. Amplified, it's not evident. So it's not something that's going to drive me to dig the trapezoid inlays out of my Les Paul and fill the fingerboard in with rosewood plugs!

I notice it with large inlays--blocks or trapezoids, etc. Dot inlays don't seem to change the sound.

**jzucker** · 08-01-2011, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

With my ears. There is a difference in the sound of a fretted note played on an inlay opposed to the sound of a note fretted on the wood. It doesn't resonate the same way.

Sorry, but I disagree. The string doesn't hit the fingerboard and the resonance occurs throughout the entire range of the instrument. Playing the same note fretted on an inlay and not an inlay on different strings is going to sound different no matter what and so are adjacent notes on the same string, whether there is an inlay or not.

**spiral** · 08-01-2011, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

With my ears. There is a difference in the sound of a fretted note played on an inlay opposed to the sound of a note fretted on the wood. It doesn't resonate the same way.

So you had two exactly the same guitar one with and one without? Or you had one without and then had inlays added and noticed a difference? I don't know how you would be able to tell that it was the inlays vs. something else like moisture content, age, finish, etc. Maybe it is partially psychosomatic since it may feel different fretting those notes? Very curious about your findings.

Originally Posted by jzucker

Playing the same note fretted on an inlay and not an inlay on different strings is going to sound different no matter what

This is a good point i hadn't thought of. If there truly is a difference in sound, then you should hear it as you play notes up the neck. I could see the inlays having an affect on the neck overall, but i find it hard to believe it affects those specific frets.

**jzucker** · 08-01-2011, 02:07 PM

My ears have tested to be accurate from 2hz up to 40khz and I can't hear a difference.

**Scotto** · 08-01-2011, 02:12 PM

How about a set of cross and skulls for that archtop.!

Inlay Stickers Decals For Guitar,Bass. Fret Markers,Signature Type.

**jzucker** · 08-01-2011, 02:16 PM

This is one of those topics, like the feiten one that folks will insist they can hear a difference and that if you can't, it's just because your ears are inferior.

**loydb** · 08-01-2011, 02:17 PM

I feel dirty having looked at that.

**spiral** · 08-01-2011, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by jzucker

This is one of those topics, like the feiten one that folks will insist they can hear a difference and that if you can't, it's just because your ears are inferior.

True. I just assume my brain is inferior... always. Safer that way.

**Funkwire** · 08-01-2011, 02:17 PM

Please don't put words in my mouth. I would not presume to say your ears are inferior.

**spiral** · 08-01-2011, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

Please don't put words in my mouth. I would not presume to say your ears are inferior.

Pretty sure he didn't. His point was it is a religious debate like Mac vs PC or wood types on telecasters--no verifiable proof either way--just preference.

**barrymclark** · 08-01-2011, 02:33 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

Please don't put words in my mouth. I would not presume to say your ears are inferior.

Originally Posted by spiral

Pretty sure he didn't. His point was it is a religious debate like Mac vs PC or wood types on telecasters--no verifiable proof either way--just preference.

Agreed. I don't think he was putting words in your mouth or inferring you think his ears inferior. Based on his postings here and elsewhere, I'd say that would be outside of his normal posting behavior.

**jzucker** · 08-01-2011, 02:36 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

Please don't put words in my mouth. I would not presume to say your ears are inferior.

i just meant that you stating you can hear a difference is too subjective to be meaningful in any kind of quantitative way. Like if I said, "no you can't". Neither statement is meaningful and in essence, they cancel each other out.

**DonEsteban** · 08-01-2011, 03:29 PM

"listen to the sustain!"

"but you don't play!"

"yes but if I would....!"

movie?

SCNR! :-)

**Funkwire** · 08-01-2011, 03:41 PM

Spinal Tap! AKA One of the 10 greatest films.

**helios** · 08-01-2011, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by Funkwire

Spinal Tap! AKA One of the 10 greatest films.

Hey man, it's one of the 11 greatest films ("these go to eleven")!

**Funkwire** · 08-01-2011, 04:38 PM

I stand corrected.

**ronjazz** · 08-01-2011, 08:47 PM

When folks play my classical guitars, they get all flustered over the lack of dots and inlays. I tell them "this is the professional model".

Practice in the dark. Sight dependency decreases your ability to follow a conductor, communicate with the band, and, as mentioned, check out the scenery.

**hot ford coupe** · 08-01-2011, 10:40 PM

My strings never really touch the fingerboard of whether or not I'm on an inlay, it doesn't matter. What Jimmy D'A says, I agree with. However, being a big fan of John D'Angelico and his work, I love the look of the inlays. I'm a fairly decent player but my sound isn't such that the presence of inlays would affect my playing.

**jzucker** · 08-02-2011, 01:13 PM

Originally Posted by ronjazz

When folks play my classical guitars, they get all flustered over the lack of dots and inlays. I tell them "this is the professional model".

Practice in the dark. Sight dependency decreases your ability to follow a conductor, communicate with the band, and, as mentioned, check out the scenery.

I've been playing for 35 years and can play with a conductor, play in the dark and check out the young scenery very well.

However, I do like to have dot inlays when i'm practicing and working on new material and there are tons of professional guitarists who do the same.