|
|
Post by windmill on Aug 30, 2021 19:46:06 GMT -5
Recently brought a guitar that doesn't have any fret markers on the face of the fretboard
I find myself occasionally struggling to locate the right fret position while playing,especially high up on the neck.
The dots on the side of the neck are in plain sight while I am playing but it seems that my aging eyesight and years of habit of seeing the dots on the fretboard mean I dont "see" the side dots while playing.
Is this a problem anyone else has ?
|
|
|
|
Post by Leftee on Aug 30, 2021 19:48:50 GMT -5
I need the dots and color-coding.  |
|
|
|
Post by Auf Kiltre on Aug 30, 2021 21:31:57 GMT -5
I think I can get by with just the top dot markers but think it looks aesthetically wrong to not have them on the fretboard. The closest I get with my collection is the Gretsch with the thumbnail inlays on the bass side.
|
|
|
|
Post by ninworks on Aug 31, 2021 2:46:34 GMT -5
Dots on the side are enough for me but having them on the fingerboard face definitely helps. My Esteve classical has only side markers on it and I can make that work if I don't look at the fingerboard much. All I need is a quick reference and I can go by feel as long as there aren't any huge jumps in position.
|
|
pdf64
Wholenote
Posts: 556
|
Post by pdf64 on Aug 31, 2021 3:56:34 GMT -5
I certainly can’t manage without the side markers. On one of my guitars, and my bass, they were rather indistinct, and I was frequently misfretting. The colour of the pearl dots was just too similar to the wood / the dots were too small to be apparent in low lighting. When standing with them on, onstage etc, the only way I could be sure where I was on the neck was to crane my head around to see the front fretboard markers. My ‘bubba fix it’ solution to it was to use regular household gloss paint and a fine tipped artist brush to paint over the dots in black or white, as appropriate to the wood. They actually look ok, no one’s commented on them, and they did the trick for me. So, my experience was that for me, the side markers are crucial. I wonder how the people that play upside down guitars, eg Hendrix (!), that won’t have such markers, manage  |
|
|
|
Post by RockAndRoll on Aug 31, 2021 6:19:06 GMT -5
My 2002 SG Faded Special has crescent moon inlays up to the 12th fret. I didn't like the fact that there were no markers at all above the 12th fret. I used a hole punch on a sheet of adhesive labels to make circular markers. Stuck them on the fretboard where there should have been markers in the first place. It looks fine, and I feel more comfortable. |
|
|
|
Post by funkykikuchiyo on Aug 31, 2021 8:17:24 GMT -5
Side dots for me. Take away the face markers and I'm fine. Leave face markers and take away side dots, and I might get lost.
|
|
|
|
Post by Larry Madsen on Aug 31, 2021 8:20:37 GMT -5
I have never ordered a "spec neck" with fret board markers. To me they are pretty much useless, assuming I have the side markers. The two on the left are necks I spec ordered. The one on the right is a Warmoth pre-made showcase neck.  DSC_2418 by Larry Madsen, on Flickr |
|
|
|
Post by Leftee on Aug 31, 2021 8:24:25 GMT -5
Side dots for me. Take away the face markers and I'm fine. Leave face markers and take away side dots, and I might get lost. I’m quite the opposite. I never see side markers. I assume some of my guitars have them. 😂 I don’t use the face dots a lot. Mostly as a way to quickly orient myself into the key I desire to get started. |
|
|
|
Post by Think Floyd on Aug 31, 2021 14:12:55 GMT -5
I need and use both. On a related note, I hate those abalone (MOP?) dot fret markers. For me, they're hard to see on a rosewood board, and nearly impossible to see on a maple board. The black dot fret markers on my Strat's maple board are VERY easy to see. On a rosewood fretboard I'd prefer those large Gibson style square or trapezoid fret markers.
|
|
bassngtr
Wholenote
I am all about the bass...
Posts: 146
Member is Online
|
Post by bassngtr on Aug 31, 2021 14:18:07 GMT -5
I bought a Sire M2 5 string bass a couple years ago (OMG is it great)...the blue with maple FB. I was concerned that the white dot markers were barely visible on the fretboard. I quickly learned that I only pay attention to the side markers; I've never once struggled to see the fretboard dots. So for me the fretboard markers are cosmetic only. That was news to me. The maple neck is darkening slowly and nicely so someday the dots will be more visible. |
|
|
|
Post by Leftee on Aug 31, 2021 14:23:25 GMT -5
I think Jason Becker won this discussion many years ago.  |
|
|
|
Post by LeftyMeister on Aug 31, 2021 15:49:58 GMT -5
I’m quite the opposite. I never see side markers. I assume some of my guitars have them. 😂 Beat me to it. |
|
|
|
Post by jaxjaxon on Aug 31, 2021 22:38:38 GMT -5
I can go with just side dots, if I play for 5 min I dont need them because I have gotten familiar with the neck. I have been playing for more than 45 yrs.
|
|
|
|
Post by Blacksunshine on Sept 2, 2021 20:48:33 GMT -5
Side dots for me. Take away the face markers and I'm fine. Leave face markers and take away side dots, and I might get lost. Same! I never realized how much I relied on the side dots until I built a partscaster with a lefty neck. It took some getting used to. I can take or leave fretboard markers though. Weird. |
|
|
|
Post by Taildragger on Sept 3, 2021 20:14:35 GMT -5
Don't pay much attention to the side dots, but like having fret board markers. Prefer simple dots to blocks, parallelograms or birdies, but can live with about anything. Will pass on having my name, "No Fear!", fancy abalone dragons or elaborate MOTS vines inlaid on the fret board, though. Nix on the LEDS, as well.
|
|
|
|
Post by guildx700 on Sept 6, 2021 14:57:57 GMT -5
Sadly I need them, I get lost easy in my car driving as well as on the fretboard. Jes saying.  |
|
|
|
Post by Stinger22 on Sept 6, 2021 16:53:31 GMT -5
Recently brought a guitar that doesn't have any fret markers on the face of the fretboard
I find myself occasionally struggling to locate the right fret position while playing,especially high up on the neck.
The dots on the side of the neck are in plain sight while I am playing but it seems that my aging eyesight and years of habit of seeing the dots on the fretboard mean I dont "see" the side dots while playing.
Is this a problem anyone else has ?
I had a Alvarez-Yari Bob Weir model that had a diagonal stripe at the 12th fret and that's all.  It never really was a problem had the side dots. |
|
twangmeister
Wholenote
Posts: 349
Formerly Known As: Twangmeister
Age: 72 and fading fast.....
|
Post by twangmeister on Sept 6, 2021 17:01:15 GMT -5
I have a couple of Lag acoustics with markers on the side of the fretboard only. It took me a while to feel totally comfortable but I adapted fully.
|
|
|
|
Post by Rick Knight on Sept 7, 2021 7:18:38 GMT -5
I prefer to have fretboard dots but get along ok on my acoustics, which don't have them.
|
|
|
|
Post by Seldom Seen on Sept 8, 2021 16:16:44 GMT -5
I rely heavily on the fretboard markers. The dots on the top side of the neck do nothing for me.
|
|
|
|
Post by jazzguy on Sept 8, 2021 21:39:09 GMT -5
Side markers, though I usually play w my eyes closed most of the time.
That said, side markers help when making a long jump on the neck, which is about the only time my eyes are open.
|
|
|
|
Post by markfromhawaii on Sept 8, 2021 22:31:06 GMT -5
Hmmm... I've never really thought about it all that much these days. I suppose if I picked up a guitar without either, I'd notice and be a bit confused.
|
|
|
|
Post by rickyguitar on Sept 9, 2021 13:32:39 GMT -5
Telling the truth not sure. I used to practice in the dark to learn to not look. Ever play in front of a mirror? Kinda weird.
|
|
|
|
Post by cedarchoper58 on Sept 11, 2021 16:17:11 GMT -5
my 62 Strat both are hard to see and can be very difficult on dark stages (see profile picture) . I thought about putting white out on the sides but if it was perminate the value would plumit im afraid. I have often wondered how bands like Skynyrd could play when there in total dark except durring solos
|
|
