Fret markers - why ???

[lateralus423]

I never use the ones on the upper fretboard, dunno why.

 

[vindy500]

wouldnt it be better at 7 and 12, i dunno those are the ones which are usually more inlaid so i thought they might be important...

 

[steve21]

They look cool. [Invalid or Expired Link Removed][Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

 

[Der Bluten Kat]

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

haha i've played "the blues" but not while lighting the frickin room up

 

[BurningSkies]

For me, 5 works better than 7. I don't spend too much time up past 7th fret position anyway. I'd much rather have a set at E/A/D than at F#/E/A.

 

[Munjibunga]

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.....

Yeah, I realized that I can't see the danged things anyway, and I always use the ones on the edge, so I started ordering basses without 'em. I don't miss them a bit. And no, I can't see the fretboard when I'm standing, and it looks really dufus to hang your head out there like some kind of vulture to look at the dots.