Necks in the showcase without front inlays.

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I officially request necks without front inlays! Side inlays are sufficient. Since I am requesting I want that in a strat neck, goncalo alves wood, stainless steel frets, and maybe even 1 3/4 nut width  :toothy10:

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

You'll see some from time to time.

Funny story.  In '09, I ordered a custom neck with no inlay.  The salesperson told me it would be non-returnable for other than mfg. defects.  It struck me as odd, because I didn't know you could return things for other than shipping damage or mfg. defects.  Anyway, the threat of no return, I got abalone dots.  2 months later, I had to return it for glue residue discoloration on the fretboard around the dots.  In casual conversation, I mentioned I initially didn't want dots but opted for them because it would be non-returnable, and ironically am returning it for an option I didn't even want.  "Well, no inlay is now returnable because we have no trouble reselling them."

 

[Cagey]

I have to defer to their judgement, but I think they could sell a lot more necks without inlays if they'd speculate a bit. I know I'm firmly embedded in the no-inlay camp these days. It's surprisingly easy to do without them - literally only takes minutes to get used to - and the neck looks so much better, especially if you've got an exotic wood fretboard.

 

[bbl4ck]

I have to defer to their judgement, but I think they could sell a lot more necks without inlays if they'd speculate a bit. I know I'm firmly embedded in the no-inlay camp these days. It's surprisingly easy to do without them - literally only takes minutes to get used to - and the neck looks so much better, especially if you've got an exotic wood fretboard.

Totally agreed :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
A nice exotic neck that is blemished with neck inlays is a waste of fine wood; IMHO.
I have purchased a couple necks from the showcase with front markers just because the wood was so sweet...
But I would never order a custom neck with front markers.  The only exception was my 2 LP's with trapezoid inlay.  They seem to fit well with a LP.
:rock-on:

 

[Kostas]

Personally I'd like the option of 3.5mm dots for all necks. I wanted MOP 3.5mm dots in my last order and I learned there are available only in black, in an ebony fretboard there wouldn't be much help... Dots are the simplest inlays anyone can order. It's not hard to make them available (without extra charge) to every neck.

Small dots are the perfect compromise. Although I have played classical guitar with no inlays they make my life easier and I want them.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Maybe it's because I'm fat, but standing or sitting, I never see any fretboard inlay.  All the assistance I need is from side dots.  Dots are the simplest, give up form of inlay.  No dots or something fancy;  blocks, trapezoids, etc.  Dots are for nostalgia.  Can't imagine a sunburst Strat without them.

 

[DslDwg]

I've been in the minimalist inlay camp for years - probably due to the fact that I started on classical guitars.

That being said I wouldn't mind seeing options for offset dots or dots only on twelve or smaller dots.

All would seem to me to be easy enough for "W" to accomplish.

Until that time all of my neck will come with no inlays, side dots only.

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

They don't have to remove em completely from the showroom. I just want to see a few  :toothy11: especially on the exotic woods. Maybe maple and rosewood can still be mandatory... if you go old school ya gotta go all the way  :toothy10:  I wonder if it would be hard to leave them without markers and then upon ordering you could add them like adding what fret wire you want. I don't know it might screw up the process somehow.  :icon_scratch: 

 

[Cagey]

No, the build process has those installed before the fretboard is done being surfaced. I think maybe even before the fret slots are cut.

What I'd like to see is some credit during a custom build if you don't want inlays. Saves them some labor and material, so why are we still paying for it? Same with ordering without frets. Should be some credit there, as the fret install is priced into the neck. If you don't want frets, why do you have to pay for them anyway?

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

No, the build process has those installed before the fretboard is done being surfaced. I think maybe even before the fret slots are cut.

What I'd like to see is some credit during a custom build if you don't want inlays. Saves them some labor and material, so why are we still paying for it? Same with ordering without frets. Should be some credit there, as the fret install is priced into the neck. If you don't want frets, why do you have to pay for them anyway?

Awhh that makes sense.  I thought it might mess up the build order. I agree with the credit. I got abalone side markers and had to pay extra for the abalone (which is fine) and then when I said no front markers it was like cool... less work for us, but that will still be the same charge. No complaints on the quality but the charge did strike me as weird.

 

[bbl4ck]

What I'd like to see is some credit during a custom build if you don't want inlays. Saves them some labor and material, so why are we still paying for it? Same with ordering without frets. Should be some credit there, as the fret install is priced into the neck. If you don't want frets, why do you have to pay for them anyway?

You are dead on point about not paying for frets if you want a neck without them  :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright: :icon_thumright:
I wanted to have custom inlay on one of my builds, but the inlay person would not do it on a neck that had frets in place.
So, I called around to get pricing on having frets installed after the inlay work was complete.  The three people I asked for quotes were between $225 and $275. 
That is a sufficient amount to pay on top of the price of the neck and the custom inlay.  The big W should not charge for work they do not preform  :dontknow:

 

[Cagey]

I've done a couple necks where I wanted to burnish the fretboard, and that's impossible with frets installed. So, order without and do it myself. But, I paid for a fret install anyway. Seems unfair.

Incidentally, I'm a fret monster. I can level/crown/dress/polish frets better than anybody, and I'll also install them for substantially less than you were quoted, including stainless and gold parts. Next time you get the urge, send me a PM.

 

[bbl4ck]

Next time you get the urge, send me a PM.

You will be the first one I call!!!  Thanks for the head's up  ccasion14:

 

[Surf n Music n Ski n Bike]

I've done a couple necks where I wanted to burnish the fretboard, and that's impossible with frets installed. So, order without and do it myself. But, I paid for a fret install anyway. Seems unfair.

Incidentally, I'm a fret monster. I can level/crown/dress/polish frets better than anybody, and I'll also install them for substantially less than you were quoted, including stainless and gold parts. Next time you get the urge, send me a PM.

That is good to know Cagey. I like the idea of a burnished fretboard but am a little intimidated about the thought of doing frets.

 

[Cagey]

I've been very pleased with the results so far. Next one's going to be Ebony - looking forward to how that's gonna turn out. That stuff is so dense to begin with, it oughta be like a hard plastic surface after burnishing. And with no finish to begin with, there's nothing to wear off.

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

I think another reason that more manufacturers are catching on about producing parts and/or instruments with no face inlays is that by omitting them, it speeds production up and gets product to market that much sooner.

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Rather than wanting credit or a discount for no face dots or nickel frets, look at it like those services are free.

 

[Cagey]

I have a hard time fooling myself. It's like setting your clocks ahead 5 minutes in some misguided attempt to get ahead of schedule. You know the clock is wrong, so you still tempt fate with timeliness.

It's the same way with paying for things you aren't getting. You can say when you do get them that they're free, but that's bullshit. TNSTAAFL (There's No Such Thing As A Free Lunch)

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

Start itemizing them, and it turns into, "I order a neck, frets should be included!" or "Why do 6130s cost the same as 6150s?"
It's best to just have a flat price, like they already have in place, and pay for upgrades like abalone or custom inlays and SS frets.

 

[Cagey]

I understand the advantage of a flat price. No confusion. But, installing frets is not a trivial task. If you don't want them, you're saving them a helluva lotta trouble. Seems like there should be some compensation. Dots? Maybe not so much. But still. You're paying for a service you're not getting if you opt out.