Side dots are hard to see

[JIO]

Vintage Dano used aluminum side dots and since becoming aware of this I do this on all my custom basses. The metal catches any available light and is very easy to see in low-light situations.

 

[JIO]

Get a luthier to remove the dots and replace with luminlay. Then get a shoe wavelength UV flashlight to charge them before sets.

They look cool & all, but do not last very long and constantly "recharging" them during a live set is not something worth fussing with IMO.

 

[ivanthetrble]

Honestly just get another bass that doesn't have this issue. I wouldn't want to mess up an expensive custom shop bass by drilling into the neck either.

Yeah, not going to get rid of a CS bass that I otherwise really like due to this one little thing. Not going to toss the baby with the bathwater.

 

[fourstringburn]

The original side dots are as fourstringburn described. They are the medium tan color to match the clay dot colored neck markers. I bright light they are pretty easy to see but under dimmer or colored stage lighting they can be very hard to see.

Yeah, I figured yours were like that. I'm a bit surprised I haven't heard any others comment about this subject. Not only could I barely see the dot markers on top, but the fretboard dots were almost as difficult to see. Maybe I should make an eye appointment with you?

I never had much of an an issue with white fret dots even with minimal stage lighting at gigs.

I still think you should consider having them changed out by a luthier, It's not a difficult job for them. You will be much happier playing it especially on live gigs with stage lighting. As I previously stated, you have a C.S. Fender Bass which are rather expensive and putting stickers on would be just as tacky as refinishing a vintage Ferrari with Krylon aerosol spray paint in a rattle can.

LED dots is a good idea and would look cool but just have to wonder how much modification that would take.

Good luck with what you decide on!

 

[micguy]

Post in thread 'Look what the cat dragged in'
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/look-what-the-cat-dragged-in.1534938/#post-25758311

View attachment 7224110

Yeah, that's one of my basses - I build my own (except for one modded bass I currently have). When I get a neck, it gets that treatment, which is paint with clear satin polyurethane over the top. The triangles and rectangles have, over time, gotten a bit bigger on more recent necks - just because I can. My one modded bass (which doesn't have a roasted neck, so its pretty close to white) has the same basic pattern of markers, but in black. When I'm done with that, you can't feel the markers, and they are absolutely permanent . I play on a lot of big, dark stages, where the singers up front get a lot of light, but us instrumentalists are back there, without much light.

I've always been able to see what I'm doing with these markers, except for one time when we were doing the soundtrack for a video, which went to absolute black a few times, and I had literally zero light. Somehow I didn't lose my place - whew!

 

[fourstringburn]

Here's my other 1960 inspired custom Fender Jazz assemblage Bass which had the same Original 60's Jazz Bass neck that also came with the simulated tan clay dots. I had these changed out at the same time as the black Jazz Bass I previously posted. I don't recall the cost to have it done because I was quoted a single price to have both Basses done plus an ebony fingerboard and matching painted head stock on the black Bass.

Don't this look good with MOP dots?

 

[Bassistcool]

I used self-adhesive aluminum foil and punched out round dots with a belt hole punch. It works wonderfully and can be removed without leaving any residue if necessary.

 

[Rdore2000]

Yeah, not going to get rid of a CS bass that I otherwise really like due to this one little thing. Not going to toss the baby with the bathwater.

I meant keep both lol

 

[Koog]

Find a good luthier and have him/her install 3mm Lumenlay side markers. In my experience, this is not a cost prohibitive mod.

Good luck.

Koog

 

[Fuzzbass]

I'm also a fan of the FretFX stick-on LED strip: I use them on at least four basses. Installation is a bit tricky but not rocket science. A minor caveat is that once installed, it can't be removed without destroying the strip.

Another issue for me: my oldest FretFX strip is damaged on my go-to bass. Still works (except for the first LED at the 3rd fret), but I'm not sure how long it'll last. This is pretty much my fault: that bass has been placed on a hanging stand at gigs, so the yoke of the stand was rubbing against the strip. Once I noticed the damage I've been using a supporting stand... which I should have done from the get-go.

One of my basses has Luminlays, but after a decade they don't glow like they used to, and the glow fades far more quickly. I don't even bother to charge them anymore. The good news is that the light green Luminlay side dot was installed inside a contrasting black ring. So, if the stage isn't too dark, I can see the black ring fairly well against the maple neck even when the Luminlay isn't glowing.

FretGlo stickers from Etsy. They are staying on well.

Thanks, I just ordered a set and look forward to giving them a try! Much cheaper than FretFX, or Luminlays for that matter. I ordered the small side dots. I see that a much larger crescent shape is offered, maybe I'll try that too at some point.

 

[ad9000]

I was going to recommend Jockomo, too, in case they might fit the bill.

The side dots on my '62 P-bass are hard to see in low light - I can't believe that I rely on them at all after all these years, but I guess I do
I ordered the Jockomo 1/8" stickers, which seem like a good solution if they work. It seems like a less invasive way to go, and they aren't as noticeable as some of the other products suggested here
.
Thanks for the tip, Malak!

 

[singlemalt]

Luminlay is fairly easy DIY.
I’ve put the 3mm solid blue in three basses so far.

The last order was for 3 rods, and with $15 fed x shipping cost about $70. Arrived in a couple days. There was no other, cheaper shipping option. And these rods were not on the Amazon site.

Takes about an hour or so to install a set of dots. Remove the neck, drill, stick em in, cut em off, sand smooth.
Oil and clean the fretboard, buff frets and new strings while I’m at it.

I did both side and fretboard dots on this one.

I like the solid rods, but the rods with a black outer ring are also nice.

 

[jd56hawk]

OK, question for you all, expecially those who have some skills with instrument building and repair. I have a Fender CS J bass that I really like, except for one thing, the side dots on the neck are very hard to see, especially on a dim stage. They are not all that different in color from the neck or fingerboard. Any easy ways to make them more visible? I have been on the waiting list for the side dot LED thing but still no luck. I tried coloring them in with black Sharpie but that wore off fairly quickly and it wan't that much of an improvement. Any easy ways to make them more visible? Any non easy ways? I suppose I could take to the local shop to see about drilling them out and replacing with something lighter in color but that seem a bit excessive. Any thoughts or things that have worked for you in the past? Mucho grassy ass!

Glow dots from Amazon.

 

[MD]

Post in thread 'Look what the cat dragged in'
https://www.talkbass.com/threads/look-what-the-cat-dragged-in.1534938/#post-25758311

View attachment 7224110

For those of us figuring we'll be bumping into walls in a few years, these can be found in the geriatric isle.

 

[Modulus 96]

FretGlo stickers from Etsy. They are staying on well.

Just order a set. My bass neck is lacquered, so am reluctant to do luminlay which would be my preference.

 

[Akami]

They look cool & all, but do not last very long and constantly "recharging" them during a live set is not something worth fussing with

That's only an issue with the stickers. I had a friend install luminlays in two instruments and they last all night long. If the instrument is out they're constantly self-charging and the only time they require any attention at all is if they've been in a case.
I never tried the stickers but what you just described is exactly what he found too.
Stickers need constant recharging, luminlays just work, and will eventually be in most, if not all of my instruments. I only wish I'd tried them years sooner.

 

[Modulus 96]

The stickers came in. They're really big. Even if the "charge" doesn't last long I can at least see the dots on the neck. Previous the Mother of Pearl side dot markers were invisible on stage. We run an automated light show so seeing those dots depend on the lighting and the angle that your looking at them with. The glow in the dark stickers might not be a perfect solution but better than nothing at least. First show with them is on the 30th, I'll find out how effective they are then.