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I realized I don't know what material rosettes are made of. I realize the center is something like herringbone but what are the outside rings made of. Is it usually fiber laminated purfling like they sell in Stew Mac and LMI? Do Martins use plastic in their rosettes? Thanks

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Mistakes are mandatory-learning from them is optional. http://www.opensourceluthiersupply.com

Well, rosette are usually made out of wood.

Some people like to use fiber to B/W/B purfling. There's also plastic available for these, but well.. plastic...

Some people use shell, abalone, ivory, bone, metal, etc... there's no limit.

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Francis Richer, Montréal
Les Guitares F&M Guitars

You can use whatever you want. Fiber, plastic, wood, shell, stone, metal. Not sure what Martin uses, probably plastic or fiber. I like fiber because it's bendy so you don't have to get out the hot pipe, and I generally don't like the idea of plastic on guitars. But I usually prefer maple rather than white fiber on cedar/redwood tops for the more mellow color combo.

hello,.. if I use woods for rosette, how thick should I plane???

I use .062 ( 1/16 th if of an inch ) Most commercial rosettes are plastic material IE CF Martin Gibson Etc. You can use any material you choose . I like the abs plastic but do experiment with wood .

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I order veneer from these guys they are pretty nice I just called on the phone they come in 1/20" to 1/30" thickness.
They have really nice black dyed veneer thats great for black lines I also have red and then your varied natural wood veneers.


http://www.certainlywood.com/

Below is a pipe strap with a stack of veneers glued with the quark for padding.
Then its sliced to 1/16" pieces.

And the abalone with dyed black veneer and walnut veneer.

There are also numerous videos on youtube that will give you some good ideas!

Hey Bill,

You might check out LMI's and StewMac's web sites to see what they offer for rosette materials (and pre-made rosettes). I like to browse those sites just for ideas/inspiration.

By the way - thanks again for the wonderful mahogany sets!! Beautiful old stock mahogany that I feel fortunate to have in my possession considering the quality of most mahogany these days.