Adding side markers to my fretless

[HogieWan]

I know this may be sacrilege, but i just got a cheapo 5-string fretless from Rondo and I'd like to add position markers. It has dots on the side where the dots would be on a fretted bass, not at fret positions. I'd like to add a thin line on the side of the neck at the fret positions, so that the side of the fingerboard would look like a fretted or lined bass (lines for note positions, dots between lines to mark 3rd, 5th, etc), while the front/top of the board would be blank.

What's the best/easiest/closest-to-idiot-proof way to do this?

I'm probably going to get some thin white drafting tape to put temporary lines on for now, but I'd like a permanent mark. I've seen this type of marking on Godin and Clover fretless basses. I wonder why other companies haven't done this.

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by HogieWan

...What's the best/easiest/closest-to-idiot-proof way to do this?...

That would be to buy a fretless from someone that knows how where to put the dots in the first place

[HogieWan]

Originally Posted by Son of Magni

That would be to buy a fretless from someone that knows how where to put the dots in the first place

Well, this is a 5 sting fretless, neck-through, etc for ~$200. The lines aren't necessary and I could live without it.

Anyway, I'd rather lines/dots look, so I'm glad it has the dots where they are.

[HogieWan]

bump - any suggestions?

[Davo-London]

Check out FretLords fluorescent position dots. They are fantastic and real cheap:

http://www.fretlord.com/

Check out the glow dots

Davo

[Son of Magni]

Originally Posted by Davo-London

Check out FretLords fluorescent position dots. They are fantastic and real cheap:

http://www.fretlord.com/

Check out the glow dots

Davo

That's actually a pretty good suggestion. There's another company that makes them too but I forget the name.

[D.Don]

Originally Posted by HogieWan

I know this may be sacrilege, but i just got a cheapo 5-string fretless from Rondo and I'd like to add position markers. It has dots on the side where the dots would be on a fretted bass, not at fret positions. I'd like to add a thin line on the side of the neck at the fret positions, so that the side of the fingerboard would look like a fretted or lined bass (lines for note positions, dots between lines to mark 3rd, 5th, etc), while the front/top of the board would be blank.

What's the best/easiest/closest-to-idiot-proof way to do this?

I'm probably going to get some thin white drafting tape to put temporary lines on for now, but I'd like a permanent mark. I've seen this type of marking on Godin and Clover fretless basses. I wonder why other companies haven't done this.

I use rub down transfers: http://www.fredaldous.co.uk/product_130941643.htm

They stick quite well, but dont harm the bass, of course they got worn off every now and then, but then it's just to rub on new ones. Just between the rows of letters, there are nice thin white lines, these can be cut up and used as fret dots (that's how I do), a bit tricky the first times, but after 2-3 times it's no biggie, use a bass pick to rub with.

I got mine on ebay in a lot with total 12 mixed black and white (3 white sheets these I use) with different fonts, for like nothing (15 euro).




D.Don

[McDreads]

You can also try http://www.fretfx.com/, looks spectacular on dimly lit stages!

[HogieWan]

Thanks guys. I don't want anything flashy, but the rub-down lettering D.Don suggested looks like a good solution. I think I've seen those at Office Depot for pretty cheap.

I was envisioning some method of carving a groove for each line, painting/filling and then refinishing those lines, but if the transfers last a decent amount of time, that would be great.

[D.Don]

The rub-downs are good, coz now after a while when I start finding my way on the fretboard, I look at them less often, and in the end I most probably wont need a lot of them, and when I find out if I need any at all, and then in that case, which ones, I can look then for a more permanent solution for those.

:P

D.Don

[Jools4001]

Assuming that you have a fretted bass of the same scale length, take a strip of masking tape and lay it along the neck flush with the top edge. Mark off the nut position, then mark off the fret positions from the middle of the fret onto the tape.

Transfer the tape to your fretless and mark off the fret positions onto the top edge of the fingerboard. If I was doing a cheap quick job on a cheap bass I would simply cut a small slot into the top of the fingerboard with a craft knife, fill it with contrasting filler and refinish.

The fret markers are only a guide on a fretless anyway, even if you have a perfectly placed 'lined' fingerboard and intonate by the usual 12th 'fret'/harmonic method you will find that you have to play slightly sharp of the lines in the lower positions to stay in tune

[HogieWan]

Originally Posted by Jools4001

The fret markers are only a guide on a fretless anyway, even if you have a perfectly placed 'lined' fingerboard and intonate by the usual 12th 'fret'/harmonic method you will find that you have to play slightly sharp of the lines in the lower positions to stay in tune

I've noticed that - I'm getting pretty comfortable without the lines, but I'll put the tape on and see if I want to trouble myself with a permanent solution