Making fret markers?

If you don't mind modifying your own bass. . .

Get some styrene from your local hobby model shop. I generally use 1/16" or 3/32" rods. Tape the side of the fingerboard, and mark a pencil line along the edge (on the tape!) where you want the dots to lie. Mark off the centre point of each fret position along this line with a pencil. Measure carefully. Use an awl to make a dimple where the dots will go, for your drill bit to seat in. For the 12th fret dots, I generally pencil in the centre line between the 11th and 12th frets, then mark my dot holes with the awl about 3mm to each side of that line. Remove tape. The dimples you've marked should be visible now. Apply some waxilit (or other glue release) around where your dots will go. Drill straight in (about 1/8" deep) and out using the marks you made with the awl. Drop a tiny dab of super glue from a pipette into the first hole. Push the rod in, then cut it off flush. You should be able to do this without scratching the finish if you are careful. Drop glue in the next hole, push rod in, cut flush etc. Clean off the waxilit with rubbing alcohol, unless you have a finished fretboard edge.

Double check all your measurements before drilling!

 

http://fretfx.com/ is another option. Less work, a bit more flash. I'm going to have this done to my Jazz bass - same problem as you; dark stage, old eyes, etc...

 

It would probably annoy me to try to play with that on my bass...of course, I am slightly photo sensitive. I occasionally have to play shows with sunglasses on if the lighting is bothering me.

 

You can get glow in the dark styrene rods too. . .

 

I bought some glow in the dark dot stickers off ebay for cheap.

 

I've been using brass rod lately. 1/8" brass rod, polished up nicely, is highly visible. Kinda large, as side dots go, but not bad

 

Yeah I've grown quite fond of brass myself. You can also buy 2 packs of mother of pearl (10) from Stew Mac, or there are tons of places online to get MOP side dots. The last time I had to get brass rod I think I got it at Home Depot or Lowes.
Dirk

 

I got mine at Lowe's... it was 1/8" rod, and it was ~3' long, IIRC... under $10, for sure...