So the title basically says it all. I e played a few gigs with my fender cs p bass and the vintage clay side dots are useless. I got some stickers from amazon and they work ok but I’m looking for a better solution that won’t Peel off mid gig.
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Vintage clay side dotes are terrible for gigs
- Thread starter Tj smith
- Start date
I'm sure you don't want to buy a new bass. However, if you do, I have a couple of basses with Luminlay dots and they're the best on dark stages.A lot of basses offer them as an option. Totally worth it.
I play a right-handed bass upside down and sing lead. I find that I rely on side markers to keep me in the same relative key as everyone else 
. I bought a new bass at the first of the year and tried these glow-in-the-dark stickers for $8.
https://a.co/d/0TUz7Jq
They are raised and do not sit flush. I’m surprised they have stayed stuck on actually. I hit the side of the fretboard with rubbing alcohol first to clean off any oil etc and that alone seems to have helped the stickum stay stuckon.
. I bought a new bass at the first of the year and tried these glow-in-the-dark stickers for $8.https://a.co/d/0TUz7Jq
They are raised and do not sit flush. I’m surprised they have stayed stuck on actually. I hit the side of the fretboard with rubbing alcohol first to clean off any oil etc and that alone seems to have helped the stickum stay stuckon.
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Get your local tech to install luminlay side dots.
Or trade me basses
Or trade me basses
Watching this since I have a vintage P coming my way soon and realized this is going to be an issue. I’ve played a ‘68 Jazz as my main (and only bass) for ages and it has binding with black dots, so the contrast is perfect on even the darkest stages.
I cut dots from 3-ring binder reinforcement circles for my pre-CBS. Very bright, cheap, non-invasive, and they’ve stayed on more than a year.
They really do work. You can’t see them in the light, but when it’s dark they are plainly visible.
Exploiter8
Demons run when a good man goes to war
I've used a hole-puncher on reflective tape from the hardware store.
For a custom shop bass that you'll presumably want to keep for the long haul, you should take it to a luthier and have them replace the dark dots with typical lighter colored ones. The stickers get the job done ( I use them on lesser basses) but for a lifer type of bass just replace them
Agree. That’s what I’d do if it came to it. Won’t really hurt the value either, if done well.
I’ve installed Luminlay on several basses. Super simple, takes about an hour.
Remove the neck, drill out the existing dots, stick the Luminlay rod in with a dab of super glue, cut it off close to flush, sand it smooth.
3mm blue. I did both side dots and face dots on this one. Two 60mmx3mm rods.
Order direct from Luminlay, a 60mm x3mm rod is about $12, and does one bass with 2 two octave neck.
Shipping is a flat $15 for FedX air from Japan. 3 rods and shipping was $75. I did my Dbird while I was at it.
Super cool!
Remove the neck, drill out the existing dots, stick the Luminlay rod in with a dab of super glue, cut it off close to flush, sand it smooth.
3mm blue. I did both side dots and face dots on this one. Two 60mmx3mm rods.
Order direct from Luminlay, a 60mm x3mm rod is about $12, and does one bass with 2 two octave neck.
Shipping is a flat $15 for FedX air from Japan. 3 rods and shipping was $75. I did my Dbird while I was at it.
Super cool!
Attachments
I used a little bit of white nail polish. Get a dowel with the appropriate dot circumference, and ever-so-slightly dip the smallest bit of the tip into that nail polish and carefully apply the bit on the dowel rod end on those dots. Others have used other methods.
I use this .
Glow in the dark tape. One roll will probably last a lifetime. Easy to put on and take off. Cut it to the size you want.
Glow in the dark tape. One roll will probably last a lifetime. Easy to put on and take off. Cut it to the size you want.
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Luminlay for a real fix.
Fishing lure decals/stickers for a long-lasting temporary fix. I use these and they reflect even the tiniest bit of light. They are meant for water usage, so they hold up to moisture and sweat very well.
Realistic Fishing Adhesive... Amazon.com
Fishing lure decals/stickers for a long-lasting temporary fix. I use these and they reflect even the tiniest bit of light. They are meant for water usage, so they hold up to moisture and sweat very well.
Realistic Fishing Adhesive... Amazon.com
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
As previously suggested, White nail polish from the dollar store works great and if you dab the polish directly you can make close to a perfect dot that's bright enough to be easily visible, durable and removable.
I’m getting LASIK to solve for this but am going to try these while I wait.
www.chromalabel.com
Guitar Side Dots - Fret and Neck Markers Exclusively from Beards Riffs and Gear + ChromaLabel
These unique Side Dots are the best option for labeling your guitar's neck for playing in all conditions - low light, backstage, on tour, at home, and in the studio! This package contains everything you need to label up to 6 of your own instruments! 100 Fluorescent Neck Dots: they stay put...
www.chromalabel.com
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Agreed. Clay dots on a dimly lit stage = might as well have been NO dots.
