Design Question

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Perhaps you've been following our KB Pine/Blackwood 000 build thread--and of course perhaps you haven't. Either way, you can still share an opinion about this question.

In thinking of the fretboard decoration, we were kicking some ideas around in our shop.
Since this is an Aussie-themed guitar, Ryan suggested we inlay the Southern Cross into the fretboard. What say about that? This is about the only constellation I'm familiar with from the Southern Hemisphere. And thus I am probably missing one of your favorites.
Any suggestions? (And it doesn't have to be stars... goodness, we could inlay the strange creature we have pictured as our avatar, which would be loads of fun.)
'Roos? Koalas? Bob Connor having a cold one?
TIA,

Steve

[kiwigeo]

Since this is an Aussie-themed guitar, Ryan suggested we inlay the Southern Cross into the fretboard. What say about that?

Is the owner a card carrying member of the BLF?

[Bob Connor]

Translation.

BLF = builders Laboureres federation which is one of the more militant unions here in Australia.
Their logo is the Southern Cross.

Martin have used the Southern Cross inlaid into the end of the fretboard as have Maton, the local manufacturer.

No use inlaying me having a frothie. There are only 20 frets on an acoustic

[sebastiaan56]

What about full glasses of beer getting emptier as they get up the fretboard?

Or a drop bear (nee koala) falling out of a tree?

[P Bill]

I like the beer glass motif!

[DarwinStrings]

Great question Steve, in some ways and or to some people images of the southern cross are associated with the flag of the southern cross and can carry negative sentiments for some Australians. If it is a flag theme you are after then this one below, being the most accepted design for the Australian aboriginal flag is seen as positive by aboriginal people and non-aboriginal people who support the need for recognition of the disparity between the conditions of aboriginal and white Australia, very political but so is the southern cross.

aboriginal flag.png (7.24 KiB) Viewed 22788 times

This next one though is probably one of the most romanticised images in Australia and is representative of the plight of the underdog.

Ned Kelly's helmet.

neds head.jpg (27.99 KiB) Viewed 22788 times

Jim

So they gave me a tin hat and they gave me a gun.

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Thanks guys, I knew you would give useful info.
And even a laugh from Bob!

This is not a political statement, and I don't want to appear to be taking sides in any causes other than acoustic music. So perhaps I should inlay a banjo at the 12th fret?
Actually, that aboriginal flag does give ideas....

As for customers, I plan on selling this to someone "up" here.

How about Nick Dundee...or is that too stereotypical?

Cheers,

Steve

[DarwinStrings]

Shrimp on the BBQ?

Jim

[liam_fnq]

personally, nothing would say Ustraya to me like a "Cashed up Bogan" theme.

inlays could include:

V8 ute
Ski boat
Jetski
100 inch flat screen TV
5 Adult offspring still living at home

the 12th fret would have to be set aside for a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom, media room, outdoor kitchen, 4 bay garage McMansion in a range of 3 glorious shades of beige.

[AidanHarris]

You could have words inlayed along the fretboard
something like
"Boss is a dickhead!" or " goin fishin mate"

or even both together hahaha

Ive been told with design that you should always try and make it abstract, if you inlay a fish, and its a little out of proportion then it will look wrong, but if you make a fish that doesnt look like a fish then the mind will accept it better. I hope that makes sense.

good luck.

Aidan

[Allen]

personally, nothing would say Ustraya to me like a "Cashed up Bogan" theme.

inlays could include:

V8 ute
Ski boat
Jetski
100 inch flat screen TV
5 Adult offspring still living at home

the 12th fret would have to be set aside for a 5 bedroom, 5 bathroom, media room, outdoor kitchen, 4 bay garage McMansion in a range of 3 glorious shades of beige.

Don't forget the Red Cattle dog in the back of the ute that would just as soon nip that Achilles tendon clean through as lift it's leg and piss on you.

Flags are a bit too political for my liking Stephen. How about some inlay of gum leaves falling down the fret board?

[rocket]

Can't resist this,,, A dude wearing a navy singlet, pot of VB in one hand and a four,n,twenty in tuther.
Cheers,,,, Rod.

[Lillian]

Um, Rod, could you translate that please? I got some of it, but ...

[Allen]

We'll need to go to the Urban Dictionary for that one Lillian.

Blue Singlet, also know as a Wife Basher - An Australian term referring to a dark blue singlet. Commonly worn by labourers, the term was derrived from the "rough as guts" hard working men back in the 50's & 60's who had great expectations of their wives; if the wife didn't do what was 'her duty' she would usually get roughed up by her husband.
The greatest example of an Australian male is he who walks in flip flops, wears a pair of stubbies, a wife basher on his his back, an akubra on his head and holds a tinnie is his hand while talking about cricket over the back fence.

VB - A rather horrid beer favoured by the proletariat and Northern Territorians. Still remarkably better than the weak swill that Americans call beer. Also known as green death and Vaginal Backwash


Four'N Twenty Pie - The Four'N Twenty Meat Pie is Victoria's best selling meat pie. It is considered a tradition to consume a Four'N Twenty Meat Pie at an Australian rules football match. While not as iconic outside of Victoria, Four'N Twenty pies are still the most commonly available brand in hotboxes in service stations and corner stores across the country.

[DarwinStrings]

Why do northern territorians call VB "green cans"?............cause they can't spell VB.

Jim

[Puff]

Steve - I don't speak for anyone else; not an Aussie but pretty proud to be sort of related as a Kiwi. For me the Southern Cross has always meant home. No politics just a constellation that is home. On the postings to SE Asia and other parts under the grey funnel line and five voyages around the orb under sail, dropping the constellation below the southern horizon as we headed north was always a bit sad. Raising it again homeward bound was as glorious as any sunrise. For mine the Southern Cross is the light in the night sky down- under, as is the Pole Star for the north. Home.
Shine on.

[Dennis Leahy]

Someday I hope to inlay one or more Yowah (boulder) opals into an Oz themed guitar made of all Aussie wood species.

YowahOpal444.png (278.61 KiB) Viewed 22674 times

Dennis

[Stephen Kinnaird]

Well alright--looks like I'm gonna have to build an entire series of guitars.

Dennis, tell me that you've got enough of that opal to share some?

Puff, thanks for that memory. I guess if we kept this guitar in the northern hemisphere, there would be no political overtones associated w/ an inlay of the Southern Cross. Just the pleasant memory of the CS&N tune, eh? Or was that CSN&Y?

I'll just have to send pics of this guitar and not the guitar itself. (Man, who knew....)

And Lillian, thanks for asking your question. I was as clueless as you.

Cheers,

Steve

[Puff]

xxxx

[rocket]

Allen,, thanks for that more than satisfactory explanation of my idea of the blokey ausie okka, i couldn't have said it any better myself.
Cheers,,, Rod.

[Lillian]

Thanks for the translation Allen. I was doing okay until the meat pie.

Interestingly, we call them wife beaters.

[Allen]

Interestingly Lillian, the taste of VB leaves the same look on my face as your cat.

[Lillian]

And yet Allen, its better than American beer.

All I can say is that the only beer I've enjoyed was German.