Fret markers - why ???

Espidog · #1 07-24-2006, 03:57 AM

It's funny what pops into your head when you've nothing better to do.

I was just looking at an ebay listing for a bass with illuminated (LED) fret marker dots - not on the top edge of the neck, where they might be useful in a dark situation, but on the fretboard itself. "How bloody useless," I thought....

...and then I got to thinking: For that matter, why do electric guitars and basses have markers on the fretboard at all, given that 99% of us play 'em standing up, with the instrument hanging off our neck, so we can't possibly see the damned things anyway?

I can understand their usefulness if you're playing it like a lap steel, with the fretboard facing upwards, but otherwise they're pointless, really, aren't they?

Interestingly, classical acoustic guitars have no fret markers at all - and a wide neck with no taper.

Discuss.....

vindy500 · #2 07-24-2006, 04:18 AM

you cant see your fretboard when standing up?

Der Bluten Kat · #3 07-24-2006, 04:27 AM

useful for hi-fi shows?

vindy500 · #4 07-24-2006, 04:36 AM

were the leds blue? we all know what blue leds do for our tone

Der Bluten Kat · #5 07-24-2006, 04:39 AM

what do they do?

KJung · #6 07-24-2006, 04:43 AM

+1 When possibly, I order a bass without any dots or markings on the fretboard. I'm with you, not really sure why they are there for the reasons you site. Regarding the 'lighted' markers.... those seem useless, but I guess some think they look cool. If you need lighted dots in order to know where you are on the neck, you need a lot more practice time before you get on that dark stage

However..... blocks and binding on a Jazz Bass style instrument can look pretty cool!

Funky Doctor · #7 07-24-2006, 04:49 AM

I must admit, even though i don't need to look at them, the big block inlays on 70's jazz basses do look very cool, useful or not.

Espidog · #8 07-24-2006, 05:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Der Bluten Kat

what do they do?

Get real, man.... Ain't you never played the blues?

Espidog · #9 07-24-2006, 05:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by James Hayes

I must admit, even though i don't need to look at them, the big block inlays on 70's jazz basses do look very cool, useful or not.

Yup. Likewise, the triangular things on my 4003. Very nice.

BurningSkies · #10 07-24-2006, 06:01 AM

I have a bass without markings. Actually, I have two.

The two bands I play with ALL gripe about them. Why? Because when playing, they can't look at my hands and judge what key I'm playing in. It drives them nuts when we're working on new material.

Diggler · #11 07-24-2006, 07:37 AM

If you can't see the fretboard when you're playing, you need more work on your beer belly.

NJL · #12 07-24-2006, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diggler

If you can't see the fretboard when you're playing, you need more work on your beer belly.

Jive1 has quite a few techniques for this.

s.m.80808 · #13 07-24-2006, 08:53 AM

Fret markers help in a teaching situation so the other person can see what fret you are at.

None of my custom instruments have fret markers.

CrazyArcher · #14 07-24-2006, 10:44 AM

I never look at the fretboard markers in order to find myself on the neck, I look at those at the upper edge. True, fretboard markers can be useful in band/teaching situations, but simple modest dots are enough IMO. Anything else acts as a distractor for me...
All in all, I try to keep my instrument as modest visually as possible. Aesthetically pleasing, but quite plain. One should impress people with his skills, not with the looks of his instrument...

Pajama_Bottoms · #15 07-24-2006, 11:02 AM

To repeat what other posters have said, it can be frustrating to attempt to show someone else what you're playing only to realize they're lost because they have no idea what fret you're on. Not a huge deal, but it will occasionally slow down a rehearsal for a couple of minutes, and I can imagine it would be a hassle in teaching situations.

Richard Lindsey · #16 07-24-2006, 12:37 PM

I agree with Diggler: it's the belly factor.

As you age, your stomach will stick out more. This, depending on how you hold your bass, may well tilt the bass back somewhat, thereby rendering the fingerboard markers increasingly visible.

Geoff St. Germaine · #17 07-24-2006, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BurningSkies

I have a bass without markings. Actually, I have two.

The two bands I play with ALL gripe about them. Why? Because when playing, they can't look at my hands and judge what key I'm playing in. It drives them nuts when we're working on new material.

The same thing drives me nuts about one of my guitarists Les Pauls. No front dots so I have to count up to some of the frets. It's highly annoying.

Jazz Ad · #18 07-24-2006, 02:14 PM

I use my bass with face dots with students so they easily figure what I am doing. Otherwise I live without them.

They're nice to have for jamming though, when you pick chords from other necks. Although now that I think about it, most of the time I use my ears rather than the dots.

Marcus · #19 07-24-2006, 02:20 PM

The face dots serve me as a road map to playing in certain positions... LEDs are simply an extravagance that some prefer when designing a bass to make it truly custom.

BurningSkies · #20 07-24-2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Geoff St. Germaine

The same thing drives me nuts about one of my guitarists Les Pauls. No front dots so I have to count up to some of the frets. It's highly annoying.

I had a short discussion with a certain luthier about it, and he had never thought of it either. I personally don't need front dots and like the look of the neck without them, but I'm in too many playing situations with guys who are thrown off by me not having any markers compounded by me having a 5th string.

My new bass is going to have markers at 5 & 12 only.