Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

[Kam]

If you haven't been following my thread then you probably don't know that I just bought a new guitar. It's a righty but I've restrung it and I'm playing it as a lefty.

This is interesting because it's the first time in a good few years that I've realised how insanely freakin' important those little dots on the side of the neck are. Unfortunately they're now facing the floor, which is making me fat-finger-wrong-fret way more than normal.

I'm feeling particularly uninventive today. Anyone have any cool ideas on how to add markers to the side of the neck? Without me having to use drills and stuff? I tend to wrap my thumb over the top of the neck a lot, so stickers or decals would probably rub off pretty quickly.

Gratuitous guitar pics!

 

[Sanford]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Permanent Ink?

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Permanent Ink?

I'm willing to bet that Sharpies weren't designed with this purpose in mind. It probably wouldn't stand up to corrosive human body oils.

Kam - until you figure out something more permanent, try some kind of tape.

PS - That guitar is awesome. Need a change of pants. And a hose, for my wall.

 

[pzaxtl]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Nail polish. Little drops of it. It's a lacquer so it should bond quite well with the existing finish, assuming that is lacquer as well.

 

[tc]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

A friend and I used liquid paper to draw side dots on two nylon strings we had when we were like 14. If it wore off we'd reapply. Not pretty or perfect but whatever works man...

Look around, you'll find something in your house. Necessity is the mother of invention.

 

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Frank Zappa.

 

[astrozombie]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Id just use tape. masking tape, in any color, tiny amounts. like.. a tiny rectangle where you want to mark.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

I drilled some small holes in the top of the neck and used a permanent marker to dot them. The drilling exposed some raw wood so the permanent marker now actually stays in place rather than just rubbing off.

 

[Kam]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Permanent Ink?

That's ****ing amazing.

I'm willing to bet that Sharpies weren't designed with this purpose in mind. It probably wouldn't stand up to corrosive human body oils.

Kam - until you figure out something more permanent, try some kind of tape.

PS - That guitar is awesome. Need a change of pants. And a hose, for my wall.

Yeah to the corrosive human oil. My bass is a righty that I've flipped and everything I've put on that to mark the frets has rubbed off, sometimes in a matter of hours. It sucks when you're playing live and all of a sudden your frets disappear.

Thanks for the compliments on the guitar. I really dig it. I got your hose right here...

Nail polish. Little drops of it. It's a lacquer so it should bond quite well with the existing finish, assuming that is lacquer as well.

I figure this is what I'll go with. I can imagine nail polish lasting longer than most things.


Thanks guys. :beerchug:

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Fret markers, schmet markers. By this definition, the entire Viol family is unplayable. Of course, you could always singe the polyester varnish with a lit cigarette end. :smokin:

Necessity is the mother of invention.

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Frank Zappa.

"Of necessity, we became The Mothers Of Invention." :cool2:

 

[tc]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

I'm pretty sure you're thinking of Frank Zappa.

Actually, I was thinking of a quote of unknown origin that's usually attributed to Plato, but yes, Zappa had that band...that just so happens to have a greatest hits album called "Necessity Is..." haha!

 

[Kam]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Fret markers, schmet markers. By this definition, the entire Viol family is unplayable. Of course, you could always singe the polyester varnish with a lit cigarette end. :smokin:

"Of necessity, we became The Mothers Of Invention." :cool2:

By me? Hell yeah the whole Viol family is unplayable. :lmao:

Well, I only quit smoking a little while ago. If I buy cigarettes, I'mma smoke those mother****ers.

You gave me an idea, though. I might just heat up ye olde soldering iron in a bit. :cool2:

 

[guitfiddle]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Maybe drill a very shallow divot in each position, then go and get a white paint pen from the art supply. Fill in the divot with the paint, and then seal it with a clear laquer like nail polish, or with a bead of super glue, which dries clear, and is very chip resistant.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

Maybe drill a very shallow divot in each position, then go and get a white paint pen from the art supply. Fill in the divot with the paint, and then seal it with a clear laquer like nail polish, or with a bead of super glue, which dries clear and is very chip resistant.

IMO, it would probably be less hassle just to have proper inlays put in.

Zappa had that band

Short version. Zappa joined then hijacked The Soul Giants. They mutated into The Mothers. The record company felt unable to issue a record with this obscene contraction on the cover. The record company insisted on adding the "of Invention" bit. The rest, as Henry Ford would have said, is Bunk (Gardner).

 

[arkansherpa]

Re: Improvised Side Dot Fret Marker Things?

http://www.stringsbymail.com/store/...6xnQodQ2kA5A&zenid=p3siv9nhm5o1l9khqu796l3sb6