First fret inlay?

[TyDonald]

Do any of you have thoughts on omitting the first fret inlay with a MOP block set? I'm building a 5 string bass and think it will look better if I start the inlay at the 3rd fret.

[Pete Halliday]

If you don't like it, leave it off! While it wouldn't be fun, you could always add it later if you or whoever ends up with the bass really wanted it.

[John Kingma]

I don't own a single guitar with a first fret inlay. I really don't think anyone will even notice.

[Warren May]

In sets I've purchased that have the first fret inlay, I use it for something else like a headstock logo. It's your choice, use it or lose it unless it's supposed to be "historically accurate" (which seems like an oxymoron since no 2 guitars were the same back then).

[Dave Stewart]

This is really a matter of preference & personal taste. Some of the "big block" inlays can look a bit weird to my eye starting at the third ... like there's something missing... although it was quite common in the '30s. (Google old L5 & D'Angelico pics)
Depends on the inlay & guitar design. Maybe mock up (ie dry fit) everything with the inlays laid onto the neck, & take a shot with & without the first in place... see which looks better.

[Gordon Bellerose]

My opinion is like Dave's. I like the first fret inlay. It always seemed weird to me that they would start at the third fret.
It looks like something is missing. In the necks I've done, I inlay the first fret.

[Nick Middleton]

I guess I'm in the minority. I don't care for 1st fret inlays for a couple of reasons. First, I think the whole point of the inlay is to give you a quick reference-point to identify fret-locations in a hurry. I don't seem to have any trouble finding the 1st fret! Second, inlays are usually proportional to the size of real estate available and the 1st fret seems to command a giant one that to me, seems over-sized and cluttering the fret-board. I don't mind it so much when it's just a small dot.