heymisterk Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Hi All, Just a quick question...I know that years ago Gibson moved to acrylic fret inlays and away from mother-of-pearl. I can only assume it was for cost. My question: Is real mother-of-pearl actually better than acrylic, or is it strictly a cosmetic thing? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbabig Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 As far as I know mother of pearl just looks better and is much harder to inlay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share Posted September 14, 2010 Thanks! It would be interesting to hear what Gibson says too... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Artie Owl Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 I imagine acrylic wouldn't degrade the same way as MOP would. MOP seems like it would flake and crack over time, but I'm just assuming given that it's a natural substance vs the acrylic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak show Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Just a quick question...I know that years ago Gibson moved to acrylic fret inlays and away from mother-of-pearl. I can only assume it was for cost. Cost has nothing to do with it. Henry decided to go with acrylic inlays in order to improve sustain! Just ask him... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 One positive aspect to acrylic is that MOP, being made up mostly of calcium, is susceptible to erosion from acids in body sweat. MOP is dirty, stinky and nasty to work with, i.e. machining into a flat form. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Plains Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Thanks! It would be interesting to hear what Gibson says too... I think you'll be waiting for a long while. Don't think any of the Gibson staff here ever answered my question of why 50th anniversary '59 reissues were still being made in 2010. Figure that one out... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share Posted September 14, 2010 I think you'll be waiting for a long while. Don't think any of the Gibson staff here ever answered my question of why 50th anniversary '59 reissues were still being made in 2010. Figure that one out... Touche. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freak show Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Touche. Actually, it's spelled with a "D"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted September 14, 2010 Author Share Posted September 14, 2010 Actually, it's spelled with a "D"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shnate McDuanus Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 Actually, it's spelled with a "D"... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted September 14, 2010 Share Posted September 14, 2010 I have really mixed emotions on this one. The traditionalist in me sez, "It should be real MOP or abalone." The realist watched a very talented friend inlay banjo necks many years ago and as a result, I agree with Tommy that, as with buttons even on fine clothing, MOP probably is not the best choice even though by tradition in pre-synthetics days it had been. Another problem with "real" MOP is that it will wear inconsistently whereas a synthetic crafted to a specific formula will be more consistent - and probably will have consistently longer wear. I appreciate the appearance of gold hardware on a new guitar, but I've yet to see that stuff continue to look as good as chrome after some years. So... would one say my/Gibson choice is gold or chrome on a basis of cost or???? Ditto inlays. And when's the last time anyone saw real tortoiseshell guitar picks or glasses frames? Or beaver hats or a 100 percent rubber tire for their vehicle, or... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbabig Posted September 15, 2010 Share Posted September 15, 2010 I nearly died when I saw that Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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