Fretboard Decals
Jul 24, 2018 - Explore Steve Storms Sr.' S board 'lap steel & CBG guitar plans' on Pinterest. See more ideas about lap steel, guitar, cigar box guitar. Use tape or spray adhesive to attach it to the fretboard and a straightedge and razor knife to scribe the position; The StewMac Fret Calculator can give you fret measurements for many different instruments. It doesn't print a template but will give distances in inches or mm, it's more precise to choose mm.
First cut out and offer up the decal onto your chosen instrument.The join is on a fret line and these will need to be lined up carefully when ready to apply.
There will be a slight overlap. | Place in a bowl of luke warm water and wait for the backing paper to turn a darker grey colour.
This may take a few minutes but be patient as trying to rush this will result in a torn decal.
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Be careful how you handle the decal at this stage. Have some kitchen roll to hand and gently slide the decal into position being careful not to stretch it!
Apply the forward portion first. Once in position, use the kitchen roll to smooth out bubbles behind the decal and remove all excess water.Do this using a side to side motion so as not to stretch the decal length wise. | Apply the rear portion being careful to align the fret overlap and follow the previous instructions for this piece.
You can apply 'Decal Fix' or similar to the edges to seal in the decal if required.
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Lap Steel Fretboard Template
Allow 48 hours to dry thoroughly before applying any laquer, although the decals are pre finished and do not require further finishing. Do not apply Cellulose laquer over the decal, this will desolve it and cause it to crinkle.
The decals once applied on two Dano style Lap Steels by JAGuitars.
They could be applied to dark coloured instruments if a light coloured 'Fret Board' Backing is applied, maybe a piece of thin white plastic as we did on our Gretsch copy.
Above are some pictures of the latest decals suitable for lap steel guitars. This one is a special Danelectro twin neck for Kevin Brown.
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| Author | Topic: Lap Steel Fretplate (fretboard Template) Plans | THE FRETBOARD MEISTER
unregistered | posted 14 November 1999 07:39 PM editI produce templates for GBDGBD resophonics in 6 scales G major,C major,D major,G blues, E blues, and chromatic.Check out my concept and products at www.fretplates.com. With some encouragement form Ted Smith @ Melobar I am begining production of some short scale Lap Steel Fretplates,initially in EBEG#BE tuning. I plan to start with Emajor,E blues,A major and Chromatic. B major, C# Blues would make sense since all the open string notes are availabe, but I wonder if most steel players could relate to the patterns. I also would consider some other tunings if the demand is there. Let me know what you think the most common tunnings and scales would be needed. ------------------
[This message was edited by THE FRETBOARD MEISTER on 11-15-99] | Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA | posted 15 November 1999 08:45 AM profilesend emaileditThis sounds like it could be a very good learning tool, especially if it can be applied and removed without harming the instrument. I'd suggest beside open G and open E tunings, that you consider C6/Am7, which is bass to treble C E G A C E.------------------
Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
| THE FRETBOARD MEISTER
unregistered | posted 15 November 1999 07:57 PM editThanks for the input Brad. The Fretplates are easily placed without harming the fretboard. I will considere the C6 tuning. What scales would be the most desirable in E and C6 tunings. Also how common is GBDGBD for steel players as opposed to resophonic pickers? I use DADF#AD on my Weissenborn and am producing some fretplates for those in the full length size(24.5 in.). How likely are lapsteel players to use that tuning? ------------------
| Brad Bechtel
Moderator From: San Francisco, CA | posted 16 November 1999 08:48 AM profilesend emaileditWell, I use open D, open E, open G and C6/Am7 tunings on different lap steels, so I think if it doesn't cost you that much, it won't hurt to have them available in all tunings. Since open E and open D are the same tuning but one whole step apart, couldn't you just create a template that references the scale steps (1-8) rather than the notes (E-e or D-d)? ------------------
Brad's Page of Steel:
www.well.com/~wellvis/steel.html
A web site devoted to acoustic & electric lap steel guitars
| Bill Leff
Member From: Santa Cruz, CA, USA | posted 16 November 1999 09:42 AM profilesend emaileditIn response to Brad's comment, I would respectfully disagree. I think it's far more useful to have the actual notes rather than the scale steps (for a given tuning) as it enables you to find other chords and scales for all keys in that tuning (rather than just the major scale notes for the tuning). I also agree with Brad about the need for a
C E G A C E (C6) tuning template. Sidebar: In the early days of the Java language, there was a freeware application available that showed the fretboard of a guitar. The app allowed you to specify the number of strings and the notes for each given string (a virtual steel guitar!). You could then tell it to display any scale for you and markers with the note numbers would appear on the fretboard over the appropriate string and fret position. You could also display chord forms for a very large number of types of chords (maj,min,7th,9th,11th etc). This was a fantastic application and I wish I had a copy of it now (it's long gone). I can't find it anymore on the web. Anybody know what I'm talking about and have a copy? I'd be eternally grateful to you for sharing it with me. Thanks -Bill
| Bob Kagy
Member From: Lafayette, CO USA | posted 16 November 1999 01:43 PM profilesend emaileditThis is something I've been looking for, and have resigned myself to trying a crude do-it-yourself project. Right now, I'm learning notes on differently tuned fretboards using ClicTab output on paper. If you fulfilled all my needs, you'd be making one each for a C6th 10 string, E9th 10 string, 3 tunings on a 24 1/2' triple 8 string, and another 24 1/2' 8 string with different string spacing. I'm guessing your cost & trouble to meet all kinds of specific individual needs might tend to drive you a bit towards insanity. So, assuming that's out of the question, could I talk you into selling me a blank to try out? No notes printed on it; I'll use grease pencil or something. What are the dimensions if you're interested? | THE FRETBOARD MEISTER
unregistered | posted 16 November 1999 08:58 PM edit It seems from Brad and Bill's observations that C6/Am7 fretplates are needed. I have so far finished getting the CAD work done on a blank for a 6 string fretplate that fits the scale length of the short Melobar lap steel. I have done the graphics for E major tuning. I can adapt the blank to other tunings but it is not economical to program the the commputer cutter to make less than 500 of any blank size. I need about the same number of any given tuning and about 100 of any given scale overprint to justifiy the printing setup.
So Bob I would be happy to provide blanks for you to play with if they have the dimensions of the two standards I currently am making. I would be willing to work on other sizes (and tunings) but I need to start with the most common. I need precise dimensions of any other fretboards that might be candidates for templates.I dont really know what the needs are in relative or absolute numbers of various formats for slide players.
Incidently Bill, I would love to find that Java 'virtual steel guitar' program as well.
Thanks for the input guys,
Deloy Oberlin.[This message was edited by THE FRETBOARD MEISTER on 11-16-99] [This message was edited by THE FRETBOARD MEISTER on 11-16-99] | bigmar
unregistered | posted 17 November 1999 05:31 PM editHey guys, I seem to remember that software (Virtual Steel Guitar). But I'll be damned if I can find it. I use a similar software called Easyscale. You can find it at Harmony Central. Just go to their homepage, click on 'Software', then 'Guitar'. Its free!! You can copy it to your wordprocessor and then edit it to your liking. I have assembled a template that pretty much matches my fretboard. Hope I was of some help. Take care. [This message was edited by bigmar on 11-17-99] |
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