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Seeing fret markers on a dark stage

S

scopar1

Guest
Jul 21, 2011
6
0
#1
I'm a lightly experienced bass player who relies heavily on the fret markers along the side of my neck. Last weekend, I found myself setup in a poorly lit area of a stage and really struggled to see the fret markers. Any tips for in inconspicuously, yet effectively addressing this issue?

Any and all suggestions appreciated in advance!
 
#2
Super cheap solution.
DV016_Jpg_Large_421659_web_pic.jpg


Not so cheap solution
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Super expensive solution
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#3
I remember being in the same boat 30 years ago. I took a tooth pick and some Rustoleum gloss white paint and put a small dot of paint over the fret markers on my bass.
It seemed to help and perhaps the mere act of doing it helped me to remember where the notes were a bit better.
I had that bass for many years and recall the paint wore off after just a few gigs. Probably because I didn't clean the film of cigarette smoke off the neck before the paint.
Mmmmm... Cigarette smoke....those were the days...
 
#5
I sat in with a friend's band last Saturday and it was very dark on stage. Luckily I have started using basses with maple necks and bought a LED light for my music stand. I turned the light towards my bass a few times. When my new band starts to gig I am going to make sure that I have some kind of lighting for myself. Just a single can pointed where I can see things. My old eyes!

Mighty Bright 54810 Hammerhead LED Book Light

http://www.amazon.com/Mighty-Bright-54810-Hammerhead-Light/dp/B007IHYBV2/ref=sr_1_2/180-6175388-1631829?ie=UTF8&qid=1403062015&sr=8-2&keywords=hammerhead light
 
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#7
scopar1 said:
I'm a lightly experienced bass player who relies heavily on the fret markers along the side of my neck. Last weekend, I found myself setup in a poorly lit area of a stage and really struggled to see the fret markers. Any tips for in inconspicuously, yet effectively addressing this issue?

Any and all suggestions appreciated in advance!
Click to expand...
I have FrexFX https://fretfx.com on two of my basses. The work great and are not that expensive.
 
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#8
Keep practicing and make a concerted effort to not look at your fretboard. I'm not saying you should never look down, but use your ears more than eyes as often as you can. That's what your audience wants to see of you on stage.
 
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#11
I cut small strips of blue painters tape and afix to the side of the neck at the marker dots. The contrast against the light maple stands out in challenging lighting situations. Super easy and cheap to do. I'm not a noob, but everyone has to look at the frets sometime or another.
 
#15
scopar1 said:
I'm a lightly experienced bass player who relies heavily on the fret markers along the side of my neck. Last weekend, I found myself setup in a poorly lit area of a stage and really struggled to see the fret markers. Any tips for in inconspicuously, yet effectively addressing this issue?

Any and all suggestions appreciated in advance!
Click to expand...

Muscle memory. Practice your tunes with a blindfold until your left arm, wrist, and fingers seem to know exactly where to be when without having to look at your neck.

It'll help with sight reading and not looking like one of those shoegazer indie rock ******** glued to one spot on stage.
 
#16
Yeah try to avoid watching your fretboard, it has helped me in a couple instances where I played in a totally blacked out stage for a few tunes. I'm pretty comfortable with hand position. But it takes a while to be confident.
 

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