replacing pyramids on a jem neck - any info?

[abwalsh]

I have what used to be a Jem777sk, but has been greatly modified. I would like to change the pyramids on the neck, but don't know if it is worth it,(or possible). Does anyone have any experience with this? I forget which one, but one of the jemsite links to a guitar parts manufacturer shows a picture of the plastic pyramids that they use, but I don't know if they sell them seperately, or if they are only used for their own custom work.

[darren wilson]

What kind of "change" to the pyramids are you thinking of? Restoring them? Replacing them with abalone or mother-of-pearl pyramids? Filling them with something else?

I would imagine Herc Fede would cut the pieces for you and/or install them if you wanted them replaced with pyramids of a different colour. Glen would know for sure, because he put some nice abalone/mother-of-pearl pyramids in his GC Custom. (All the pic links are broken on that page, by the way, Glen)

[abwalsh]

I was going to replace them with another color, as kind of a project/learning experience. The whole guitar has been butchered, so I figured I would fool around a little. I got it really cheap, so if things don't work out with it, I can always use it for parts. I just wondered if anyone had tried this on their own.

[jemsite]

(All the pic links are broken on that page, by the way, Glen)

- thanks. they're fixed now. Click here for GC Custom

One problem with replacing the inlays is typically it requires a refret to get them level with the fingerboard radius. Especially if you're using shell inlays... glen

[Flobanez]

Originally Posted by jemsite

- thanks. they're fixed now. Click here for GC Custom

Nice Custom Abalone Jem, Glen.

[jem7vwh]

If it's just a matter of changing the colors, could he just pop those things out by himself and paint them? *Since you rarely really touch the fretboard, would that do about the same job?

[abwalsh]

That's what I was wondering, but I don't know how they are sealed in. Is it a plastic chip clearcoated in, or is the insert one piece, color and clear?

[tomizm]

I always assumed that it was some kind of clear resin poured into the hole. *It would be more difficult to fill in a hole with a solid piece of plastic, rather than just let a liquid fill it in and dry. *Perfect fit. *That was just my assumption though.

Bueler.........bueler........?

[jemsite]

ibanez inserts the plastic then radiuses the fretboard. You can see the gaps and this would be much cheaper, since it's the way all inlays are done. Herc (from what i can gather) devised a way to fill the inlay with a liquid resin of sorts. That is the only way he could be doing the flurorescent vines IMHO. Nice work... glen

[abwalsh]

Thanks for all the insight. I think I know where I am going to go with this little project, and I hope it will be very amusing when it's done. But I'm not giving anything away.
Again, thanks for the input. I always know where to go when I'm stumped.

[jemsite]

[JiMoSiTY]

Thanks to Brian at UniversalJems / ProjectGuitar.com -- I just happened to be reading thru some older threads and figure I'd update this one with this link.

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/3dinlay1.htm

[JLXXX]

can you get new pyramid inlays from Ibanez or do you have to have them made in a custom shop?

[dannymills]

Originally Posted by JLXXX

can you get new pyramid inlays from Ibanez or do you have to have them made in a custom shop?

Search evil bay. There's a shop that specialises in JEM inlays and fretboards.

Dan

[rickcard71]

I think I am going to have my BRMR installed with some white pyramids.