What are Inlay Stickers?

Tree of Life for 23–23.5" Scale Travel Guitars - Inlay Stickers Jockomo

What Are Inlay Stickers?

Inlay stickers are ultra-thin decorative stickers designed to give guitars, basses, and ukuleles the look of real inlay work without permanent modification.
Available in abalone, mother-of-pearl, silver, and other finishes, they bring a high-end inlay look to any instrument — without the cost or permanence of real inlay work.

They let you customize your instrument's fretboard, headstock, body, pickups, or soundhole area with detailed inlay-style designs — no routing, cutting, or special tools required.

A Simple Way to Add an Inlay Look

Traditional inlay work is beautiful, but it usually requires cutting into the instrument and setting shell, wood, or other materials directly into the surface. It's a permanent modification that often requires professional work.

Inlay stickers offer a more accessible way to enjoy that look. They're applied directly to the surface, so you can change the look without touching the wood itself.

They don't replace traditional craftsmanship or claim to be the same as real inlay work. They simply give you another option: a practical, affordable way to customize your instrument without permanent modification.

Not Just Regular Stickers

Inlay stickers aren't the same as ordinary decorative stickers. A regular sticker may be too thick, too stiff, or simply not made with musical instruments in mind. On a fretboard, that can make the sticker feel noticeable under the fingers or interfere with playing.

Jockomo inlay stickers are designed to be very thin and flexible, so they lie flat against the instrument's surface. When applied correctly, they add a custom look while keeping the playing feel as natural as possible.

Where You Can Use Them

Inlay stickers can be used in many different parts of a musical instrument, depending on the design.

Common uses include:

Jazz Bass Block Fret Markers - Inlay Stickers Jockomo

Fretboards

Add position markers, vines, blocks, tree-of-life patterns, dots, custom shapes, and other decorative designs.

Dancing Hummingbirds - Inlay Stickers Jockomo

Headstocks

Add a small accent or traditional-style ornament without modifying the headstock.

Bodies and Pickguards

Decorate larger visible areas with motifs, graphics, or themed designs.

Pickups

Add visual detail to pickup covers or pickup areas with designs made for that purpose.

Rosette Stripes (Abalone Green) - Purfling for Guitars - Inlay Stickers Jockomo

Soundholes and Rosettes

Give acoustic guitars or ukuleles a rosette-style look without replacing or modifying the instrument.

Before ordering, always check the size chart and product description to make sure the design matches your instrument.

Choosing the Right Inlay Sticker

The most important thing is getting the size right. Some designs are made to cover standard dot markers. Others are decorative designs that don't necessarily cover existing markers. Scale length, fret count, marker size, and instrument type can all affect the fit.

Please check each product's size chart before ordering. If your instrument has unusual dimensions or non-standard inlays, measuring your instrument first is the safest way to choose the right design.

Why Jockomo?

Jockomo was among the earliest brands to develop ultra-thin, realistic inlay-style stickers for musical instruments. It all started with a simple need: how to add visible position markers to an instrument without affecting playability. From there, we continued developing inlay stickers that could offer a realistic look, easy application, and a comfortable feel for players.

Today, our designs are used by musicians around the world to personalize guitars, basses, ukuleles, and other instruments in a way that's simple, expressive, and fully reversible.

Easy to Apply, Easy to Enjoy

Most inlay stickers can be applied at home with care and patience. No special tools are needed.

For best results, make sure the surface is clean and dry before you apply them. If you have recently used lemon oil, orange oil, or another fretboard oil, allow the surface to dry fully before applying stickers.

For detailed instructions, please see our application guide.

How to Apply

Explore Inlay Stickers

Whether you want to cover standard dot markers, add a vine design, decorate a headstock, or give your instrument a more personal look, inlay stickers offer a simple way to make your instrument your own — without any permanent changes.