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Can't You See?

#21
Bruce Johnson said:
Changing the black side dots to white side dots is pretty easy. The trick to drilling out the old dots is to use a drill size smaller than the dot. Drill down in the center of the dot and, when you get through the dot itself, the hollow shell will kick up out of the hole. The hole is unharmed.

Use white styrene rod stock from the hobby shop. Glue them in with CA glue, gently file them flush with a fine small flat file. No need to put any finish over them.
Click to expand...
Exactly. Or use Luminlay:

Luminlay high quality phosphorescent fluorescent inlays
 
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#24
Gravedigger Dav said:
I knew somebody would say that. Sorry, but I've been playing bass sine 1963, so I can pretty much do that. There are, however, times when I need to reorient. For example, before a song starts or if there is a break in the song. Please don't try to tell me you never look at fretboard.
This adds nothing to my question.
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If you knew it were coming, why didn't you say that before? We don't know what you've tried. We don't know how long you've been playing.
 
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#27
@Gravedigger Dav, I have a bass (Jackson Concert Bass) that I have only gigged a few times. The first night I gigged it I noticed that, on the poorly-lit stage (blinding lights), I was having trouble making out the SIDE dots on the neck. This was a revelation - I never realized, until that point, that I look more at the side dots than I do the fretboard dots!

The solution was cheap and effective - I went to an office store and bought a package of self-adhesive white (my bass has black side dots - each is about 3/8" in diameter). I gigged it again - not an ideal solution, but quite effective.

Side note (another boring old man story) - I had never played that pointy headstock bass with this particular band, and no band members even semed to notice the switch in basses that night.

Edit: Just read a previous post. Phosphorescent dots - maybe! But, I might think twice about putting them directly on the fretboard.
 
#28
I don't know if these are inlays or just electrical tape, but this is something Prince had on one of his basses on the top back of his neck...

20230729_145551.jpg


20230729_145650.jpg


Notice the back top of his neck, the black blocks

:)
 
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#30
Gravedigger Dav said:
...
The problem is, I have two basses with very dark roasted necks and black fret dots. I found out the hard way I can't gig with them unless I know there will be ample light.
The fret dots are totally invisible....
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I hear ya. I've noticed as years go on that I need a whole lot more light to distinguish colors that are close together. It's just a fact of getting older. Nothing to be done about it, which is why your optometrist wasn't too helpful. Is there a simple way of making the fret markers more contrasting with their background neck color? I don't know. Maybe refinish the neck to a lighter color? Possible solution but not simple by any stretch. Maybe something simpler posted above Mickey-Mouse but effective? I'd go for effective. Who cares but you?
 
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#31
While I do care for my instruments and would like to do mods and such the best way possible, money can be a constraint, especially lately.
And at the end of the day my bass is a tool. My fix for side markers was small glow in the dark adhesive stickers with a light coat of clear nail polish over them.
 
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#33
mrjim123 said:
@Gravedigger Dav, I have a bass (Jackson Concert Bass) that I have only gigged a few times. The first night I gigged it I noticed that, on the poorly-lit stage (blinding lights), I was having trouble making out the SIDE dots on the neck. This was a revelation - I never realized, until that point, that I look more at the side dots than I do the fretboard dots!

The solution was cheap and effective - I went to an office store and bought a package of self-adhesive white (my bass has black side dots - each is about 3/8" in diameter). I gigged it again - not an ideal solution, but quite effective.

Side note (another boring old man story) - I had never played that pointy headstock bass with this particular band, and no band members even semed to notice the switch in basses that night.

Edit: Just read a previous post. Phosphorescent dots - maybe! But, I might think twice about putting them directly on the fretboard.
Click to expand...
It is the side dots I use most. I have a couple of basses with no markers on the fret board at all. That doesn't bother me, I seldom look there.
 
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#36
Gravedigger Dav said:
I knew somebody would say that. Sorry, but I've been playing bass sine 1963, so I can pretty much do that. There are, however, times when I need to reorient. For example, before a song starts or if there is a break in the song. Please don't try to tell me you never look at fretboard.
This adds nothing to my question.
Click to expand...
I screwed up and said it all backwards. Actually, gain at 9 and volume at 10.
The coffee had not kicked in when I posted earlier.
 

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