L.E.D. fretlines?

[Reticle]

On a fretless, has this ever been done? I was thinking about giving it a shot. It seems like it is do-able with thin acrylic sheet and fiber optic cable.

 

[logicman69]

Nice idea. I would live to see this option on a bass.

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

Its definitely possible. But I've never seen it done.

 

[kesslari]

It would certainly give the "lined boards suck" people the heebie jeebies.

 

[colcifer]

I like it. It'll be hipper than hip/badder than bad on a darkly lit stage. Just fair warning though, if this thread doesn't end up with more pictures than a CIA darkroom, ****'s gonna go down.

 

[Mike Shevlin]

That would be REALLY bright~ u may need dark sungasses to play it.

 

[Tropic]

Sounds like a good idea. You've got me hooked.

 

[Reticle]

I'm going to go ahead and classify this as a work in progress. Hitting Ebay now to find the cable and L.E.D. kit.

 

[bassmanjla]

seriously... pictures, need to be posted.

and some of the process as well!

 

[Beej]

Search for LED tutorials in this forum. I think it was scottyd (?) who posted a nice one that could be adapted for your uses...

 

[clmayhew]

Subscribed.

 

[Buchada Azeda]

I'd love to see my fretless J with red LED fretlines. Subscribed.

 

[Reticle]

As usual, I am finding a wealth of information here. Between scottyd's "How To" and THIS thread from '07 where cricketfever32 had the same idea, I have found the answers to several of my questions. The main question I have at the moment, and one that will probably only be answered through trial & error, is what to use for the line material.

I saw it suggested in cricket's thread to use a semi opaque filler material and while that would probably be the quickest/easiest method, I'm inclined to think that a piece of acrylic sheet that has been roughed up on every side except the top (or possibly the top as well) would produce a more exact line. Anyhow, my work area has been neglected since my last project so I have a solid day's worth of cleanning in front of me before I get started. I am also waiting for my guitar player and a buddy who owns a guitar store to get back to me if they have any old necks I can tear apart for this.

 

[BassPsyche]

Subscribed.

+1

 

[Ruckus_Instrmts]

As usual, I am finding a wealth of information here. Between scottyd's "How To" and THIS thread from '07 where cricketfever32 had the same idea, I have found the answers to several of my questions. The main question I have at the moment, and one that will probably only be answered through trial & error, is what to use for the line material.

I saw it suggested in cricket's thread to use a semi opaque filler material and while that would probably be the quickest/easiest method, I'm inclined to think that a piece of acrylic sheet that has been roughed up on every side except the top (or possibly the top as well) would produce a more exact line. Anyhow, my work area has been neglected since my last project so I have a solid day's worth of cleanning in front of me before I get started. I am also waiting for my guitar player and a buddy who owns a guitar store to get back to me if they have any old necks I can tear apart for this.

I was thinking one could just use the round fiber optic cable, inlay it 3/4 of the way into the board and sand the tops flat/even. Although the makers of sideglow cable say you need a lot more wattage to achieve a comparable output to endglow cable. Then again I may be completely off.

 

[sonic assassin]

i must see this. glowing red fret lines.. yea boy.

 

[insanitycalls]

subscribed
how about leds for inlays? like have a clear piece of acrylic as your inlay and led underneath?

 

[gnasher1993]

This could be interesting if it turns out well...

 

[Jazz Ad]

I've never seen it but I love the idea.

 

[Rickett Customs]

I asked about this to a builder in 2005, wasn't viable because the battery draw. Nowadays, could be possible, maybe fiber instead of a ton of LED's.....