Bobbe Seymour told me that the Emmons Company stopped making the "chrome" fretted boards with the yellow, orange, red and blue "atomic" symbols because pro players complained about stage lights causing the frets and the atomic markers to “disappear”. Regardless, Emmons owners seem more interested in the original “chrome” and colored fret markers than boards with white fret lines and black spacer with white atomic symbols. In other words, they want the original design. I'd certainly like a lot of input before I proceed with yet another project, when this current one is very far from even reaching the break-even point.

And Steven, I've had several people ask for ZB boards. Again, I'd sure like to know how many out there will want them if I do decide to have them made. Either posting here or sending me an email would give me a clue as to whether yet another such project could pay for itself. I had a large number of people tell me (with the Sho-Bud, Dekley and MSA boards) that they really wanted them, then when the time came to ask to see them, they were no longer interested. Fortunately, about as many players who didn't "sign up" at the beginning have contacted me wanting the boards. For Forum members, I've just sent boards to all those who expressed an interest in seeing what they looked like, without paying in advance. It is gratifying to discover that thus far, not one board has been returned. So Brian, your "WOW" appears to be what everyone else feels upon seeing the boards.

I received inquiries about boards for the BMI, Blanton, Miller, Marlen, Fender and a few others. I believe that there will never be enough of these owners to justify making boards that replicate the designs on those boards. However, if a "generic" board would be agreeable to those owners, a design could be developed that would provide replacement boards for all of those brands. Forum members John McClung and Ronald Steenwijk have asked if they could work up a generic design. I've encouraged them to work together on this.

r_lashley@bellsouth.net

The "chrome" fretted ones sell for $36.00 and the white fretted boards are $30.00 (packaging and shipping included, except for foreign orders). You can order them directly from the firm at:

Emmons Guitar Company
1771 East Webb Ave.
Burlington, NC 27216

Learning that these boards are now available, it doesn’t appear that any kind of survey is necessary. I recommend that interested persons go directly to the source for these boards. I thank the Emmons’ folks for alerting me to the availability of these boards. They approved of this posting.

If anyone else knows where new boards can be obtained for other brands of guitars whose production has been suspended, alert me via email. ...Tom