How to Replace a Fretboard Inlay on a Martin D-45
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- Опубліковано 5 чер 2024
- Have you ever wanted to repair or replace a fretboard inlay on your guitar? Dan Erlewine tackles that project in this video. He replaces a dark abalone inlay from a Martin D-45 with a brighter, more colorful piece of shell.
This project is easier than you might think.
0:00 An 'almost perfect' guitar
0:59 Choosing an abalone blank
2:41 Making a template
3:57 Removing the old inlay
8:53 Cutting and shaping a new inlay
14:50 Radiusing the inlay
19:27 Installing the inlay
ITEMS USED IN THIS VIDEO INCLUDE:
Abalone Inlay Blanks
www.stewmac.com/item/0959
Abalam Inlay Blank
www.stewmac.com/item/4444
Pearl Cutting Saw
www.stewmac.com/item/4611
Pearl Cutting Jig
www.stewmac.com/item/5194
4" Radius Blocks
www.stewmac.com/item/0413
Two Cherries Wood Chisels
www.stewmac.com/item/1619
Fret Slot Depth Gauge
www.stewmac.com/item/5435
3M Stikit Gold Abrasives
www.stewmac.com/item/5766
StewMac Fish Glue
www.stewmac.com/item/0702
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StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
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Now the customer is going to see all the abalone lines and Dan has to replace them all for it to be perfect.
Yeah, he should've never pointed that out! Lol Now that's all the customer will be looking at when he plays it!
That was terrifying. I wouldn't have had the guts to do that on a Martin D-45. Thanks Dan!
Wow! Dan Erlewine is like the "Norm Abram" of guitar repair.
Much respect for the inlay surgery.
there's a little Bob Ross mixed in as well - and that's a good thing. Happy little abalone...
Dan is one of the few people that wouldnt make me cringe taking a drill to a D-45. I knew he'd do a fantastic job and the finish at the end was superb.
I love these long-form repair videos. Informative, entertaining and just a great break from reality. Please keep them up whenever possible.
That's our plan! Thanks for watching :)
@@stewmac Keep em coming !
@@malcolmhardwick4258 Find you here too!!! interesting vids!
@@IsmailsGuitarWorld Hope you are well !
I highly doubt I'll ever use this video in reference to replace a D45 fretboard inlay. But boy, I sure love watching Dan work his magic.
....there is a teeeeennnnsssyyyyy bit left to be desired here....
Kinda like sitting at the feet of Solomon as he's casting his pearls of wisdom. This is what UA-cam was meant to be.
😱who else could hack into a guitar like that while narrating the video like it’s just another old bit of firewood! Dan is the coolest dude on the planet! This was awesome to watch.
Anyone know where Dan got his presenting skills? He's a natural teacher. There's not a word that comes out of his mouth that isn't completely intentional and informative. Never too much information, never too little. He's a master.
Toastmasters
"This will probably make you cringe." How did you know I was cringing? Super craftsmanship!
Dan is an absolute treasure. He is a master of his craft but is also such a great communicator and teacher. From watching these videos I am learning not only about luthiery but also about how to present information in an effective and engaging way. Please keep up the amazing work!
Awesome - thanks so much for the feedback!
Dan is the bob ross of guitar repair and maintenance. LEGEND
This is a testament to Dan's absolute artistic mastery but I couldn't imagine being so picky about the appearance of a fretboard inlay to have him go through so much highly intricate work.
Some people are just dumb
@@justsomeguy7650 I can't imagine having a D-45 and not being able to enjoy it because one of the inlays is a bit darker than the others. Maybe I'm not discerning enough.
@@jltrem I agree with you. To me it just seems like more trouble than good.
Yeah this is just silly. Wasting Dan's precious time on a guitar that's perfectly fine just because one inlay is slightly darker than the others?.. Give me a break. Did you buy it to play it or just to look at it?
It made for a good video; helped StewMac promote some of their products; educated all of us on inlay replacement; and the owner (who can do whatever they want with the guitar they own) gets a guitar they like better. Win-win-win-win.
Dan is the reason I got into working on guitars. He is a wealth of great knowledge and inspiration.
I had no idea that replacing a fretboard inlay involved that much precision. Dan and Rodrigo Gomez replaced my 35 year-old Matrin D-28 fretboard, added a truss rod and added my name on the 12th fret. I am ever so pleased with that fine professional job. I am always proud to play that guitar and tell those who ask who did the professional neck/feet work that Dan and Rod Gomez did it!
Hope Dan Erlewine goes on forever!
I could watch Dan work his magic 24/7 !
Very educational as always - great work. I'd love to own a Martin, but I must say if I had saved and bought the dream guitar, I think I'd be a bit disappointed if the inlays were not all whole abalone.
Especially if the guitar was $10k
If you don't have Abalam or the correct piece of abalone on hand, or you don't have the time and/or skill to order and cut your own, you can call Martin and get a laser cut 3rd fret position hexagon in different shades and pattern densities. Just tell them what you need.
Thanks. That is the info I need. Have a D52 with an inlay missing
@@jjiacobucci Tell em Dan sent ya
True but you should not need anything for a brand new D45. The original inlay was a scar that should not have made it out the door to begin with.
I wouldn’t have accepted it. It’s a $9,500 guitar ffs
@@brianhanson9367 You should see the big money instruments I see people accept.
Dan is an absolute artist; I’ve had the privilege of him repairing/restoring two guitars for me and the work was absolutely perfect.
Oh my God, this is the greatest gift of a video in the channel's history! Thanks guys!
Just excellent.Tricks like the acetone magnet cup, the fence, and the piece of scrap to prevent the tipping are what separate a true master from everyone else doing this work. A D45 is roughly a $10,000 purchase that should not require remodeling. It’s too bad whomever inlaid that guitar at the factory couldn’t have taken an extra five minutes to look at the big picture and get it right. Martin should reimburse this customer 200% of whatever this repair cost to execute, along with a letter of apology. My $.02.
You buy a D-45 purely for the eye candy as it's not superior to cheaper models, it's all about the looks. I think Martin should use real abalone, not abalam. I don't like those obvious straight lines in the inlays. At that price I expect the best of the best only.
@@AndreaAustoni agreed. For that price real abalone all the way around would be a must in my book.
just like this guy should have taken the extra time to recut that piece of abalone to fix that gap instead of using glue...terrible
Wow the anxiety when you stared drilling into that inlay!!!
It's hard to watch, for sure!
Dan truly is the Norm Abrams of guitars. Anyone who whittles into the neck of a brand new D45 like it's no big deal has balls that clank. You're the man, Dan!!!
I hope you continue to do these longer videos. Love the channel!
Thanks so much!
I love watching these videos, they remind me of watching my dad work. Dad was a master cabinetmaker with many, many years experience. He was virtually silent when he worked - never speaking. I could ask questions but he rarely said what he was doing so in that regard it is much more informative to listen to all of the insights that a lifetime of work as a luthier provides. Thank you for sharing these videos.
I mean for $10,000, Martin should be the ones doing this job, for free.
I believe Dan said they would do it for free but it would take a while. The customer didn't want to wait that long.
@@stewmac Well, I probably would have gone the same route. At least the owner knew that the job was going to be done right. One of the first video’s I watched was when Dan fixed the 50’s Stratocaster that was routed for a Floyd Rose. Spectacular!
I don't see why Martin would have to do this for free. It's not like it's a defect; the customer just didn't like the inlay color.
@@reverb508 Of course he didn't like the inlay color, because it was the wrong color. Jut like he wouldn't have liked it if one of the tuning keys was a completely different shade than the others. Most people just expect better craftsmanship at that price point, which is exactly why Martin said that they would fix it for free.
Yes they've dropped the ball on this one,shame on you Martin using abalam on such an expensive instrument,I'd expect this low standard from Gibson.
It’s always great to see Dan at work.
Nice to see you Dan!
Dan, I love the way you "guide coated " that inlay with pencil lines ! That's essentially the way we guide coat auto panels for straight ( flat ) panels. Great job,Dan ! You are the man.!
Bout time we get to see Mr. Dan again! Legend!
Dan with your history your knowledge your skills you should be honored with a congressional metal I mean this from the bottom of my heart
I'm surprised that particular piece of inlay made it out the door and passed final inspection!!! I have used Stew Mac abalone on my 1902 Fairbanks Senator Banjo!🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸🎩🇺🇸
These StewMac videos are always so well done, and Dan is a national treasure. I purchase things from StewMac sometimes just to help support this good work they do.
It is a good day when I get to watch old Dan work on a beautiful Martin!
These videos are how I destress. Having him explain every single step and not missing a beat. master at work.
This man is the bob Ross of guitars. You’re my hero Dan!
The Master of Doing Things!
A tall cup of coffee...and watching Dan replace a inlay on a Martin....it's gonna be a good day.
Heck yeah, excited to see another video of Dan working his magic.
Dan takes a drill to a new D-45. Nice. He is a national treasure!
All the abalam fret markers would have to go, the lines in it are obvious and my eye would go straight to them every time I looked at the guitar.
WOW Dan, no one does it better than you. Your the BEST!!
Always a great start to the day when there’s a stew Mac video with dan! A true craftsman. We want more!
Thanks a bunch! More to come!
Man he is as pro as pro can be! Idk why he is so easy to watch. Great teacher!
Nothing as soothing as watching and listening to Dan do his magic. Just perfect.
"Ruined a good pair of boots". Dan's a legend!
free hand dremel on a D-45... you, sir, are a legend
Fantastic...as usual from Dan. Not everyone wants to drill into a D-45.
I bought my D-45 new in 1989. It’s not been played much but has been back to Martin 3x for warranty and non warranty repair- to include a bowed top, a bridge replacement, repair of a cracked brace, repair/replacement of split bridge plate, it’s 2nd neck reset and some refretting. What really surprised me was a shim under the fingerboard at the body joint. At this point in my ownership I’m seriously considering selling it.
I was surprised at the mix of Abalam and Abalone. The Abalam is very noticeable. Mind you, we need to cut down on abalone fishing. like everything.
Great video and very relevant to the d-41 inspired build I’m currently working on. I’ve cut my first hexagon in my fingerboard
I love this guy. He is a master at his craft and seems so humble and genuine.
This gentleman is truly a genius craftsman!
The fretboard for me is the most personal part of the guitar.
Thanx for showing your work, Maestro.
Dan, you are the man. Not many folks left who have that knowledge. So happy you are passing it on to a new generation of luthiers.
You should be proud. Here’s to another 50 years! Love your work.
Uncle Dan , you are a treasure!
I must send all my guitars to you!
Awesome work. All I could think while watching this video was “Whoa Black Betty…….Abalam.”
I enjoy the longer videos as well. Great info. I could listen to Dan read the phone book! Awesome teacher.
Awesome! Thank you!
Dan is such a gem, love watching these videos!
That story about bleeding out, but finishing the job tho. “Ruined a good pit of boots” what a guy
I’d hate to ruin a pit of boots. What a pitty.
It's just a privilege to watch this man do his work
Good to see Dan again. Great work.
Dan is a treasure
I thought this was a re-upload of the old video of Dan replacing a Martin inlay, haha. Glad I got to see him do it again.
It's always a pleasure seeing a high end repair by Dan.
When I watch these videos I can only conclude that either you are a genius or I am an idiot. You have tips that never crossed my mind and they are so good
What I really like is that you explain so well why you choose one product not the other, I appreciate this a lot.
Wonderful craftsmanship !
I like how this repair video mirror my repair experience of not having anything go easily.
Dan is just the best. It's such a treat to watch him work!
Great work Dan, looks beautiful.
i love small imperfections in guitars i think those give a unique character to them. if i was the owner i would not get it fixed
Absolutely stellar work Dan! Looks incredible!
Fantastic work but why do Martin mix Abalone and Abalam on such an expensive guitar?
Excellent work Dan.
All I want for Father’s Day is all of Dan’s tools and stuff.
Thanks, Dan! That was really educational in so many ways!
Great job Dan.
this is basically magic. what a job. i was actually captivated watching this whole video!
Just Magical .... great result !
Amazing craftsmanship! What a beautiful job.
Great job Dan....
Thanks Dan, that was a lot of little tips that added up to a perfect finished job. Cheers.
So precise in every step! I learn so much every video yet could still never do this myself. Love your videos!
I love Dan’s videos! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
dan: starts drilling
me: cringes HARD.
dan: "this will probably make you cringe"
but above all else, if i ever had enough money to buy one, dan is the only guy id trust drilling into it.
Tx Dan. Glad to toon in again. Very nice job.
Wow, Martin really blew on matching those inlays. I'm glad my 914 came out perfect.
The man is in pain and his leg is bleeding out, but he ignores it to complete the task at hand. That is freaking dedication.
I’ve watched twice and enjoyed both, thanks!
Protect this man at all cost!
Dan graces us with a new video.
Finally, some good entertainment.
Dad Gum, you've got a great touch! So long ago you worked on my Stratocaster at Herb Davids' in Ann Arbor. Yes, sir, some time ago, what a time!! Eh? Thanks Dan!!
Awsome procedure. good Job
Thanks Dan, I always learn a new tip or trick from your videos. I’m an amateur builder and used the hexagonal inlays on a guitar for my nephew a few years ago. Modeled on my brother’s Yairi (but it all stared with the beautiful D-45!).
Dan you are always amazing.
Very nicely done!
Another fascinating video.
This was super cool to watch!