Anyone comments playing on a non inlay fret board?

[Scotto]

Just wondering if anyone had any comments playing on a non inlay fret board? I've been thinking about a new guitar with a clean neck and was curious if it was harder to play on or something that you can get used to?

[lkmuller]

I wouldn't think so. When I play I look at the dots on the edge of the neck, not the fretboard.

[barrymclark]

I have played on them. To be honest, I have never used the neck-face fret markers for position reference. I use the side dots.

I tend to prefer either dots or nothing at all on the neck face.

[TruthHertz]

If I can see the fingerboard, my hand position is wrong. Side dots are all I see. The fingerboard markers are most useful in the showroom and from the audience.
That's one person's opinion.
David

[valriver40]

i guess i am different, i look at the fingerboard markings most. at my age i seem to see them better.

[spiral]

I see the side dots only as well. I had a guitar with no inlay and i never even thought about the fretboard not having it--no adjustment necessary.

[marcwhy]

My background is in classical guitar -- no fret inlays, no side dots -- so I learned to "feel" where I was. I have no fret inlays on my jazz guitars, either, but I do have side dots. I still try to know where I am, though, without looking at my left hand ..

You'll get used to it.

Marc

[BigMikeinNJ]

I've owned and own a number of Eastmans - almost all of them have no fingerboard inlays. Guys at ICW were saying they thought the omission of inlays helped the fingerboard resonate more freely (as a part of the whole guitar body/neck/fingerboard/tailpiece singing out).

I have an old Eastman 810ce prototype, one of the first made - it had no fingerboard inlays (normal for the stock 810) and I put on inlay decals - I have severe glaucoma so they "help" me keep my place easily.

My AR880JP has no fingerboard inlays but John Pisano requested much larger oval "dots" on the sides due to his failing vision.

[Jake Hanlon]

practice with your eyes closed and you're good to go.

[Tom Karol]

I do like the look of inlays, but I actually use the side dots for reference. My travel guitar has only side dots, and it's not the least bit of a problem. I'm told Danny Gatton put cubic zirconia side dots on his guitar so he could see them with dim stage lighting.

[Vihar]

You could even use tritium dots like in some reticles and wrist watches. jk

[Gitarguy]

I also have a classical background, so the transition from inlays on my Ibanez AF220 to the bare board on my Benedetto Bravo wasn't too difficult. But I have to admit I do like the inlays; even though I use the side dots mostly, I can still see the fretboard edge-on, and the big inlays did help with quick position changes.

[NSJ]

Originally Posted by Jake Hanlon

practice with your eyes closed and you're good to go.

My teacher plays that way, but he says its an occupational development stemming from the necessity of being a lifetime non-smoker after decades and decades of playing smoke filled rooms, clubs, bars, hotels and supper clubs.

The Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.

Jimmy D'Aquisto never liked inlays. The quote I read on another site about his guitars was as follows: "The absence of pearl inlay and other ornamentation is not a cost-saving measure--in Jimmy D'Aquisto's opinion, inlays and any other artificial materials added to an instrument detract from its tone." Said another luthier: "Jimmy D'Aquisto started modern luthiers down this path of removing all but the most necessary accouterments from the instrument, refining the form to it's essence, and opening the structure to speak freely".

The Sadowsky Jim Hall is very elegant looking precisely because of the absence of inlay.

[Scotto]

I notice that when I'm paying simple notes or scales, I tend to play without looking at the board and I get a natural feel for what I'm playing. Once I start playing octaves then I tend to let my index finger lead and I use the inlay to guide me... I don't even look at the side markers. I guess my fear is getting lost during an octave solo which probably means I'll start to make more use of those side markers. I also like a simple minimal inlay on the 12th fret which also looks nice. Regardless, like anything new, it just might open up new approaches and possibilities if you give it the chance. Thanks for the input...

[helios]

Originally Posted by Scotto

Just wondering if anyone had any comments playing on a non inlay fret board? I've been thinking about a new guitar with a clean neck and was curious if it was harder to play on or something that you can get used to?

I prefer as easy as possible to see: Mother of pearl block inlays on an ebony fretboard:

[Cooperro]

Originally Posted by valriver40

i guess i am different, i look at the fingerboard markings most. at my age i seem to see them better.

I hate blank fingerboards. I NEVER look at the side dots - they're too close to my old eyes - especially when I'm sitting. I even had Benedetto put inlays on my Bambino. Nice Fratello ones. I tried playing without, but I've been looking at the fingerboard my whole life of playing. If that's you too, then you've answered your own question.

I have a Taylor GS with no inlays. I love that guitar, but sorely miss the inlays. In fact, one of the reasons I got the 345 instead of the 335 was those gorgeous (IMO) parallelogram inlays.

I say, go with your gut. There's a zillion guitars out there with inlays. Why take a chance? Yes, lots of cats can play without - I'm not one of 'em!

[DonEsteban]

The first rule of guitar playing:
Don't look at the fingerboard!

The second rule of guitar playing:
Don't look at the fingerboard!

and so on...

[Retroman1969]

I'm guilty of looking at the fretboard when playing and rarely notice the side dots. However, when I picked up a classical guitar (no inlay) I put "white-out" side marker dots on it. I very quickly got used to looking at the side markers then.

[Cooperro]

Originally Posted by DonEsteban

The first rule of guitar playing:
Don't look at the fingerboard!

The second rule of guitar playing:
Don't look at the fingerboard!

and so on...

That's funny. Wonder who made that rule? What's the difference? If you look at the side dots, that's the same thing, isn't it?

How many of you would play a million clams a night with no side dots or fret inlays. I know I would...

Never look? Nobody "never looks!" Not Joe Pass nor Wes, nor anyone else - even YOU!

[TruthHertz]

The first rule of jazz: Rules are made to be broken.
The second rule of jazz, if it works for you, make it work to the limit.
The third rule of jazz, know your rules, and then forget blind obedience.

That being said, sometimes when you know what you're looking for, seeing it in front of you is a part of it, but you don't necessarily need inlays to do it.
Sometimes you just gotta have it your way:
Custom Luthier, Custom Inlays, Custom Guitar Inlays, Custom Pearl Inlays, Custom Fretboards Inlays, Custom Fingerboard Inlays, Abalam, Mother of Pearl

Seriously, I know I tell my students "don't look down" to establish good habits and skills, independence from visual guidance, but at some time when one's consciousness can handle a higher level of visualization, there's a lot to be said for "seeing" on different levels.
Just because life is never simple!
David

[DonEsteban]

Originally Posted by TruthHertz

• The first rule of jazz: Rules are made to be broken.
• The second rule of jazz, if it works for you, make it work to the limit.
• The third rule of jazz, know your rules, and then forget blind obedience.

Full ACK. And remember The Matrix: There are no rules!

I learned the guitar following William Leavitt and his 12 finger set system. One day I decided not to look at the fingerboard anymore (for reading purpose in the first place). First it was horrible. I was surprised how much my eyes where involved in playing. Once achieved I found it the most liberating experience in playing the guitar. Made me stop using finger sets at all.

And it frees up your eyes to look at the girls attending the show....

[Pierrot]

Originally Posted by DonEsteban

And it frees up your eyes to look at the girls attending the show....

Heyyyyy...I like this rule.

[Funkwire]

Originally Posted by NSJ

Jimmy D'Aquisto never liked inlays. The quote I read on another site about his guitars was as follows: "The absence of pearl inlay and other ornamentation is not a cost-saving measure--in Jimmy D'Aquisto's opinion, inlays and any other artificial materials added to an instrument detract from its tone."

I agree with Jimmy. I like the look of inlays on a fretboard, but they do change the sound.

[jzucker]

i also look at the fingerboard dots. Because of an astigmatism, i'm unable to see the side dots accurately

[spiral]

Originally Posted by Funkwire

I agree with Jimmy. I like the look of inlays on a fretboard, but they do change the sound.

Genuine question: How were you be able to tell?

[jzucker]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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