Would you buy a bass without side dots?

[smoothbrain]

Side dots don't matter at all to me. If anything, they get in my way.

 

[ga_edwards]

I learned trumpet, then piano, then classical guitar, then blooz/rock/metal guitar, then bass. I never needed dots.

The dots only help musically illiterate guitarists to listen to what I’m doing with their eyes, or if I’m using an alternate tuning then the dots will confuse the heck out of them.

I learned recorder, clarinet, keyboard, saxophone, piano, guitar and bass guitar (roughly in that order) not to mention I played trumpet-bugle, glockenspiel and snare drum in air cadets marching band.

I still need side dots.

 

[buldog5151bass]

They can be added easily and cheaply, or just dabs of glow in the dark paint (or stick on dots).

 

[Slevage]

I've never seen an upright with side dots....

I have seen them with masking tape though!

(I'm sure someone will post an example...)

Keep your eyes open, they do exist.
They can even be installed by a competent luthier.

 

[JRA]

If you liked a bass enough, would you buy it if it didn't have side dots on the neck?

yes --- i'd actually prefer a neck without side dots. because i depend on them for visual referencing, i'd rather place them myself.

 

[pklima]

Sure. I play left and only own righty basses. Haven't bothered to put side dots on them, just a piece of masking tape at the 12th fret of the one that doesn't have fingerboard inlays. Had a few lefty basses with side dots on the proper side years ago, never really thought that was a significant advantage.

Having said all that, I rarely venture above the 7th fret, practically never above the 15th...

 

[jd56hawk]

You mean those tiny little dots that you can't see if you're performing at an open-mic night, bar or nightclub?

These stickers can be added in a matter of minutes, so it seems ridiculous not to buy a bass without side markers.
I have them on all twelve of my basses.

 

[dbsfgyd1]

If you liked a bass enough, would you buy it if it didn't have side dots on the neck?

I have a German Hofner that doesn't have side dots. So far it's pushed me to lean more on my ears than eyes when playing.

No. Verification by sight is a whole lot more dependable than muscle memory. I could do without the dots in the middle of the fingerboard however.

 

[Relsom]

I have several without face dots, but side dots are a must. If it didn't have them, they would need to be added.

 

[tpaul]

The rock bass typically has side dots

But some others just have stripes

 

[Tim Skaggs]

Depends on the deal & how bad I want the bass. I can add side dots.

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I had to go look. Yes there are side dots but they're kinda hard to see. I don't look at them, anyway.

 

[GretschWretch]

A paper of 1/4 inch file folder dots and a stick of glue from WalMart are all you need. Easily visible, easily removable.

 

[Core Creek]

They can always be installed later. If that was the only issue I’d still buy it.

 

[Killing Floor]

Sure.
My violin doesn’t have dots. My old Fender fretless both have dots in the fretted position so you can’t look at them anyway.

 

[Neil Folkard]

As a fretless player, at least for me, not a chance. And I play too many notes, and move up and down the neck too much to want to have to rely on my ear all the time, lol.

 

[Phaidrus]

Don't all Fender basses have side dots?

 

[Jefenator]

I find it's easy enough to my bearings on a violin family instrument. But most bass guitar necks don't join the body at D or Eb, so I find side markers are more than just training wheels; they're actually pretty important.
I once had a Pedulla Rapture that had pearloid markers on a maple fretboard which were essentially invisible. That didn't work for me.
So yes, I would buy a bass without side dots but no, I wouldn't play it out without adding some.
I once had a luthier enlarge the side dots on a fretless so I could see them more easily. That was a relatively simple job for him.
The sticker method is viable, too. (I got some purpose-made dots for the top of my Dingwall that look like they were inlaid at the factory & have stayed on for years, but cold be removed easily if desired.)

 

[lunarpollen]

I had proper side dots installed in my Harmony H22... I tried using a silver paint pen but those kept wearing off...

 

[Neil Folkard]

I once had a luthier enlarge the side dots on a fretless so I could see them more easily. That was a relatively simple job for him.

Man, I am so happy to hear this. I have a relatively new fretless F Bass that I love, BUT: Since it was a custom design from the beginning I had, what I thought, was a great idea to put dots on the side at the usual spots (1,3,5,7,9,12, etc.) and then also add small side lines at all the 'frets' in between.

Well, that turned out to be a definite error, as the dots aren't significantly larger and more noticeable than the lines, so I have had some noticeable issues, jumping to the wrong fret.

I'm definitely going to try what you did. With a proper luthier, for sure, as the F is not a budget instrument...at all, lol.