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I am planning my next build and I would love to do a sunburst Finnish. I have been looking at allot of the old Gibson style guitars I really like the looks of this old L1 I saw with a pearloid fretboard and headstock overlay. I looked around and don't see fretboard blanks in pearloid or other types of pearl material. Is there a source for these?

Pearl fretboards are pretty out of fashion. I doubt you'll find a pearl blank.

I suggest you get a pearloid pickguard blank from an electric guitar parts supplier, use it to cut your own blank(s), and laminate it to the fingerboard.

On a lot of the old guitars the pearloid has shrunk and is kind of icky. Probably one reason they went out of fashion.

One of the reasons it is known as MOT!

Alex

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I would try looking for pearloid drum wrapping. I think it is actually celluloid but would come in sheets big enough to cover drum sides.


Bob

I am doing the same thing. Here is one of many sites on ebay that offers the material:

http://stores.ebay.com/lanjianmin2012/c ... 34.c0.m322

I haven't found a piece big enough to do the entire fretboard, but since it is interrupted by frets that is not necessary.

I also have a local artist who can paint little local scenes on it like the Florentine version of many instruments that Gibson made.

Keep in touch as I will want to share experiences with this stuff.

@Ruby50, You have some very interesting binding material on your page. I can imagine doubling some of them up to create some very interesting bindings or pick guards.


Actually what I was referring to is more like this:


http://www.alibaba.com/product-gs/634488487/Celluloid_drum_wrap_cover.html

It is the real "Mother of Toilet Seat" which comes in large rolls 61"X 71" and is made of Celluloid.




Actually I think they are due to make a comeback and Wes Paul is on the cutting edge of a new revival of MOT fretboards...

Cheers,
Bob

I believe the picture is of a Gibson Century guitar. Google for additional images and info.

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Thanks for the info fellas!!! I have noticed that Gibson makes a few models like this still but with maple instead of MOTS. Maybe a nice curly maple fretboard and head stock overlay would give the same aesthetic in more functional form.