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Double Bass Inlays for thumb position

#2
Not a good idea... the string length on an upright is not totally fixed, and so the inlays will inevitably be in the wrong place. Also, it's a really bad idea to rely on your eyes for finding notes, you should be doing it by muscle memory alone. On top of all that, next time you need your fingerboard dressed (which WILL happen), the inlays will then be in the way.
 
#3

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#5
Eminence EUBs have inlaid side position markers as an available factory option. They are inlaid at the first, third, fifth, seventh, tenth, and octave positions.They are inlaid into the side/face of the fingerboard as a sawcut, and would readily survive a planing, although one would want to take care...
 
#8
I had 5 fingerboard inlays put in my bass that match the capos on my extension a few years ago. They're placed on the harmonics. I haven't found them to move much at all when I change the height of my bridge or during seasonal climate changes. If you have your luthier use wood rather than mother of pearl or abalone your fingerboard can be planed normally. I payed approximately $75.

I'm personally an advocate of using your eyes, ears, and proprioception to increase pitch accuracy. I don't understand how having visual cues could ever been seen as a detriment. As long as it is approached as an aid rather than a crutch...
 
#9
It might not be the best thing to do, but in drag racing, many drivers tape up the peripheral portion of their helmet visor, leaving a small 2x2 square in the center. The theory is you won't be distracted, leaving your brain to concentrate on less input.
 
#10
There are 3 tools we use to get good intonation:

1. Our ears
2. Muscle memory/tactile landmarks
3. Our vision

I have listed them in the order of importance. This is what I believe anyway.

Putting markers on your bass elevates the least important "tool" above the most important way to know if you're in tune: your ear.

Advice: don't use markers. There are already subtle visual ways to find a note on a bass, and if you need them, use them, but try to wean yourself off them as soon as possible. Your ear should be in control, but receive constant real-time support from tactile landmarks and muscle memory feedback. Vision shouldn't play a larger role than these two.
 
#11
You can use white out, or finger nail polish. Its true what people say about muscle memory and ear. But, I taught myself by putting a couple dots of finger nail polish in the thumb position, then would practice moving my hand from different positions constantly landing on the dots, reinforcing the muscle memory, and the tone. Then would play eyes shut. I am not certainly the best in the world, but I can play the thumb position.
I am self taught, have had a few lessons. Bought books, taught myself site reading and the fingerboard.
Its true about the note not being in the same place all the time, check your string length from nut to bridge, your string height are some of the factors if the bridge is moved or the weather/humidity changes drastically.
Not everyone learns the same way, some are more visual. Why limit them based on your views on what "should" be?

Think of a keyboard for a computer. some have to use one finger and look down no matter how many years they have used it, others all fingers and thumbs not looking.

As far as the race car driver analogy, when your driving that fast, less distractions are better. I am sure they learned with full view.
 
#13
If you want to know how to do it and how much it will cost, you should have this moved to "Set Up and Repair".

If you want to discuss the merits of doing so, you should have this moved to one of the technique forums.

Either way, this discussion shouldn't be in the basses forum. Check the stickies.
 
#14
From the Upton website:

Dot Inlay
We like to make our customers happy! Occasionally we are asked to Dot Inlay position markers on our basses. This can be a great visual aid to a beginner or someone crossing over to the double bass from bass guitar. Hey, even Edgar Meyer had Dot Inlays installed on his fine double bass!
Dot inlay are installed on the player side of the fingerboard as pictured. We always use select Pernambucco for a visually classy touch!
 
#15
LukeS said:
Edgar does it. He plays in tune.
Click to expand...

Edgar Meyer could play in tune on a sack of potatoes. :D

I say do it with white out or chalk, to help you learn if you want (though I never did it, or would want a theoretical student of mine to do it). that way when you're at a point where you feel more confident, the marks will likely be mostly gone or all gone. then if you want to put them as a lasting thing to make yourself happy, you can rely on them or not, because your ear knows where the notes are. The story I heard is that Edgar Meyer put them in just so the classical folk'd get mad!


eerbrev
 
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#16
I seem to recall an old thread on this forum where somebody said they thought Edgar regretted getting his dots installed, so one time about 10 years ago I was geeking around him after a show and asked him if he did have that regret and he said no--if he regretted it he'd have them taken off, but he did like having them as an additional tool to mark the spots of some of his favorite notes. Or something to that effect.
 
#17
Ludicrous idea! First of all how can you play looking at the fingerboard?? And also someone mentioned those dreadful elongated bass guitars called Eminence EUBs and such (firewood) they have dots only to give some direction to the doubling slab bass player where to put their contorted fingers :) Rely on your ears and learn proper fingering and with a little practice you can play in tune. I'll help your intonation and to grow as a double bass player. If you must put some markers on the side (waste of time)
 
#18
i dont use dots, and i dont feel the need, but i did see patitucci putting pencil marks on his fingerboard once before a set. he was playing and finding notes with a tuner, then he would mark them. from where i sat, the lights were reflecting off the pencil marks like reflectors. i could see them plain as day, so i watched to see when he might be using them. it was also the vanguard, and i was in the front row, so if i stretched out my legs i would have kicked the bass. he used them during an unaccompanied arco piece which had huge jumps from the low to the extreme high register with nothing in between. he obviously doesnt need them all the time, and seems to only use them for special occasions. just thought it would be an interesting tidbit for this thread.
 
#20
I had dots installed on my fingerboard about 8 years ago and I don't regret it. There have been some very good points made in this thread about why or why not to have them. My personal feeling is that muscle memory is the best way to find notes on the instrument, and we have to have this element developed in order to play. Having said that, depending on the repertoire you are playing, dots can simply aid what you are doing. I asked Edgar Meyer about his dots years ago, and he said they help eliminate bad nights in terms of intonation. I completely agree. I don't recommend that people start off with dots, and I have all of my students do their technique exercises without watching their left hand in order to develop muscle memory. Once they have that if they want to use markers that's their choice. The inlays on my bass are made of boxwood (Don Robertson said that is what Edgar Meyer's are as well) and should be fine when the fingerboard needs to be planed. I know the exact length of my strings so I'm not worried about them drifting out of tune.
 
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