TRADITIONAL SOLID STRIPS

All strips are cut from solid shell, are .050” (1.27mm) thick in random lengths averaging around 1” or so, and do not have squared or fitted ends. Strip ends can be squared with a file or nipped off with a sharp pair of side-cutters. It usually takes about 70” to do one edge on a large guitar body, about 290” for a Martin D-45 style guitar (more, if adding shell along the neck edges, heel, peghead, back center stripe, etc.). Sound hole rosettes take about 15”. Always order extra, especially if you wish to more closely color-match the pieces.

Strips can be sorted into color or figure categories for matched-piece work. If care is taken to color-match adjoining ends, joints between pieces will be almost invisible. Another effect is to gradually “fade” from one color to another, or even set up a “pulsing” rhythm by alternating light and dark pieces, or alternating pieces which light up at different visual angles.

In addition to musical instrument work, strips are also used in furniture, jewelry, boxes, picture frames, pool cues, letter openers, signs, nameplates, and many other applications.

Green Abalone includes any heart or rippled material; Paua Abalone includes any heart.

METHODS OF WORKING SHELL/"Methods of Shell Strip Installation"