really going blind

[ReneesMan]

I'm not asking for jokes or sympathy--just advice. Renee is going blind, and I'm trying to figure out how best to make fretmarks for the back of her 5 string. She is out of practice playing, and we both feel some sort raised marks would be helpful.

[Dirk Diggler]

Have you considered these?
https://fretfx.com/
You can almost see them with your eyes closed.
Or you could inlay something like braille dots on the side of the neck at the markers perhaps.
Dirk

[Lady Kayri]

Perhaps use some artist's tape on the back of the neck? It's thick enough that you can feel it, and can be bought in rolls that are thin enough in width that they aren't much wider than a fret. The glue won 't damage the neck, and is removable (that also means you may have to periodically reapply some of the fret 'markers' as they'll eventually start peeling off.) I use it to make 'cheater lines' on my fretless bass, as it has an unlined neck.

[tplyons]

When I first started playing out, I had a chat with Jerry Only of the Misfits and he recommended I put electrical tape stripes on the back of my neck. I had a piece of tape across the entire back of the neck on my Ibanez SR400 from fingerboard to fingerboard and I could feel where the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th and 12th frets were from the tape. I used thinner tape for the 15th fret up.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

The electrical tape will shift, usually sooner than later, and leaves a sticky goo that will annoy the heck out of everybody.

I'd use super glue to attach small dimples of her choice onto the back of the neck if a semi-permanent solution is the goal. A small indent would probably be better for many reasons, but there's no practical way to fill 'em if they become a problem later.

Regards
Sam

[ReneesMan]

Thanks to everyone who have answered so quickly. I had some thoughts on raised or dimpled markers before, but I don't want to make changes until I'm sure about the best placement and size of markers for her.
The l.e.d. lights look interesting, but I doubt they would help Renee very much considering the particulars of her vision loss. I'm leaning toward something she can really feel.

[Wademeister63]

I think I got this from a suggestion I read on TB a while back, but I glued little rhinestones on the side of the necks on the two basses I usually play with my band. I think I used 8mm stones on the single mark positions and 6mm at the 12th fret. It works great in low light since the sparkly things pick up light pretty well, but it also works in total darkness since I can feel them with my thumb.

Even better though, it doesn't take a whole lot of practice to be able to play without looking at the fretboard. A little encouragement and support I'm sure will go a long long way.

[Lady Kayri]

Now, rhinestones or similar ... great idea. May try that myself for when I'm playing in low levels of light...

[BurningSkies]

I've mentioned the rhinestones before... An old Tele player trick. Danny Gatton had his necks outfitted like this.