Stokey Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 I play occasional gigs at a small bar with terrible stage lighting. I can’t actually see the fretboard well enough to locate the anchor 5th, 7th and octave frets. Basically I’m flying blind. Is there a lighting solution, like maybe a swan-neck light that clips on the end of the guitar? It’s a ‘63 Fender Precision so I don’t want anything permanent! Help! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 (edited) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paraboo-fluorescent-Stickers-beautiful-decoration/dp/B077FJGMDC Edited August 22, 2023 by Doctor J 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mykesbass Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Not clip on, but how about a very slimline free-standing light, such as a reading lamp that you could position to light the neck? Very small footprint (less than a mic stand). 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nilorius Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 27 minutes ago, Mykesbass said: Not clip on, but how about a very slimline free-standing light, such as a reading lamp that you could position to light the neck? Very small footprint (less than a mic stand). I would do the same. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 34 minutes ago, Doctor J said: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paraboo-fluorescent-Stickers-beautiful-decoration/dp/B077FJGMDC This would be my solution too. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassBunny Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 I've one bass with Luminlay side dots and two that have stick on glow in the dark ones. I carry a couple of UV torches to charge them. Works a treat. I made my own stick ons. Bought a piece of A4 luminous self adhesive and a hole punch. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161417187491?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fJoKXDG3QC-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=NXO8JSHoStK&var=460441492575&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodinblack Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Take your own stage light? 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Luminlay. I have used stick on dots in the past, but IME they always wear off at the most inconvenient moment. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rexel Matador Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 (edited) We take a couple of these to gigs in case the lighting's rubbish. Just stick it on the floor. Edited August 22, 2023 by Rexel Matador 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 27 minutes ago, BassBunny said: Luminlay side dots I use Luminlay on all my live basses too... They workwell enough for me to do widdly-woo all over the neck in all sorts of darkness. I tried the cheap'n'nasty ones from Amazon, but they fell off very easily. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stokey Posted August 22, 2023 Author Share Posted August 22, 2023 Thanks so much for all your suggestions! Much appreciated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Supernaut Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 (edited) Ask the landlord to pay their electricity bill. 😁 Edited August 22, 2023 by Supernaut 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 (edited) Aaaaah, now it's starting to make sense... Edited August 22, 2023 by ahpook 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baloney Balderdash Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 3 hours ago, ahpook said: Aaaaah, now it's starting to make sense... Bobo should have worn this: 3 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said: As a tribute to The Village People. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor J Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 There's always Orbital goggles 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Make use of this great opportunity to practice playing the bass without staring at the neck. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveXFR Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 I have used Luminlay markers and they work great. I'd pay someone else to fit them but that's just me. It only cost £60 for fitting them a few years ago Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marky L Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 I've applied some dots of a neon yellow nail varnish right next to the normal neck side dots and they seem to "glow" very well under fairly poor light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat Burrito Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 I think your best options are the aforementioned illuminous dots and Amazon do a cheap stage light for about £12. Nothing permanent or obvious. That said, I recently did a dingy basement gig just recently wearing sunglasses with black strings.... but then like Austen Powers, danger is my middle name! Seriously though, you won't relax and enjoy the show if you feel up against it. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_b Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 9 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said: . . . . I recently did a dingy basement gig just recently wearing sunglasses with black strings.... For some reason I decided, on the first gig after I de-fretted my Framus bass, to wear sunglasses. I was 17, and should have known better! I couldn't see a thing and was far too cool to take them off. That gig was just a succession of out of tune playing and bum notes. Never wore sunglasses on a gig again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolo Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 A stripe of masking tape on the back of the neck at 5th fret, and any others of use. Eyes are for chumps! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Smalls Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Take it all back! I didn't use Luminlay at all - I looked into it and decided I was a) too mean b) too scared to drill into my Wal. Somehow my memory convinced me these were the Luminlay, but they were Glowtec Fret Finders. They work very well, and for £9.99 you can do a number of basses. And the dots aren't annoyingly raised, and the glue has so far held for over a year. https://glowtec.co.uk/fret-finders/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bassman1974 Posted August 22, 2023 Share Posted August 22, 2023 Sticky luminous paper cut to size. A quick blast from a UV torch does the job. I'm not putting them on my Ric or Hof though. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.