Custom inlays of your design or mine are made with mother of pearl, abalone, select woods, and other materials.
I cut all inlay by hand, making each piece unique. A custom inlay is a great way to make a guitar your own, and can be placed in many different areas on the guitar. The headstock and fingerboard are the traditional choices, but the back of the headstock, the guitar tail, the bridge, and back of the body are also options.
This Satyr playing tambourine is from a Jean Berain (1640-1711) drawing. I was in South Carolina for a wedding, and came across a Jean Berain drawing hanging on the wall of a home we were visiting. I had never seen his work before, and found the cast of magical creatures that drift through his grostesques really interesting.
This inlay is on an acoustic bass, forever reminding the bassist the importance of the pulse (not that they need reminding).
This set of inlays was for a person who is a fan of a certain band. The turtles are inlaid in the tail of the instrument, creating a nice surprise when the guitar is turned over.
Materials used: Mother of Pearl, Abalone, Malee burl, and Ebony.