Glad to see it's not just me that needs side dots (Guy Pratt content)

[Happy Jack]

Yes, Tippex on the knob has always been a thing around these parts.

 

[Bone Idol]

7 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Yes, Tippex on the knob has always been a thing around these parts.

 

It's great.... Just so long as your secretary has small hands! 😉 

[SICbass]

27 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Yes, Tippex on the knob has always been a thing around these parts.

 

What? To make it easier to find?

[Clarky]

32 minutes ago, Happy Jack said:

Yes, Tippex on the knob has always been a thing around these parts.

 

And there was me thinking Frankie Howerd had passed away years ago

[Happy Jack]

Well he asked me for a double entendre ...

[JapanAxe]

Strangely, for sight reading I have taught myself to find higher fret positions without looking; but on a rock or pop gig I really want to see where I’m putting my fingers. One of my Precisions has hard-to-see side dots that I make more visible with white paint from a Posca pen. The dots last maybe two gigs!

[LeftyP]

It's funny, when I started reading this subject I couldn't remember whether my bass had side dots or not!  I had to check.  It does have them but they are very small and black.  I suppose I must use them for reference without really noticing them!

[ossyrocks]

These are the Rosette white dots on my '70 Precision.

 

Rob

[Adey]

On 15/01/2025 at 01:06, jazzyvee said:

 

I bought some FretFx side Leds for my vintage bass. Works fine and much easier to see than the original dots on a dark stage.

I looked at those a while ago, but they are in US. I'm surprised that someone doesn't sell similar in UK.

Edited Thursday at 17:49 by Adey

[spongebob]

On 14/01/2025 at 09:37, Steve Browning said:

Thanks for the link. Do you add the blob of clear nail varnish too? I didn't use these when I was looking, fearing that they'd just come off over time.

These are great. I was alerted to them after asking here on BC. 
 

I wiped the neck down with glass cleaner to de-grease, and stuck them on. Mine haven’t shifted in 4 or so months, played at home and gigged. 
 

Comes with a little torch to ‘charge’ them if needed. I usually find the stage lights illuminate them enough. 
 

Tonight’s gig is on a darker stage, so that’s the bass I’ll be packing! 👍

[spongebob]

On 14/01/2025 at 09:37, Steve Browning said:

Edited Friday at 16:36 by spongebob
Double post - sorry.

[ossyrocks]

I used my '73 P bass last night, which has black side dots. I've never had problems with that bass before, but last night under the lights at the venue, whenever I stepped up to my mic I couldn't see ANYTHING down the side of the board. My note choice was rather fruity as a result !

 

I may have to stick some white dots on that one now.

 

Edit: Just ordered some of these, thanks for the heads up. I'll let you know how they compare with the more expensive imported Rosette dots. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285966903916

 

Rob

Edited Friday at 17:34 by ossyrocks

[Musicman666]

makes me laugh ..dots on fretted but when it comes to fretless oh no ..not required. 

[Lozz196]

This was the reason I swapped to maple boards, on brightly lit stages I have trouble seeing where I am with rosewood. Sadly I can’t get a bass to the specs I need that has a maple board so I’m having to now get used to rosewood again, but as my gigs aren’t quite as big now neither are the lighting rigs so I’m coping - for now……

[Stub Mandrel]

2 hours ago, Musicman666 said:

makes me laugh ..dots on fretted but when it comes to fretless oh no ..not required. 

 

I like my side dots (at fret positions) on fretless, I need them to be sure I'm in the right ballpark.

[Steve Browning]

12 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

This was the reason I swapped to maple boards, on brightly lit stages I have trouble seeing where I am with rosewood. Sadly I can’t get a bass to the specs I need that has a maple board so I’m having to now get used to rosewood again, but as my gigs aren’t quite as big now neither are the lighting rigs so I’m coping - for now……

That was the driver for me. I wanted to feel comfortable on stage. You can't beat nature and so it's a matter of finding the right way to 'go with the flow'. Bigger/luminous side markers work fine for me.

[JapanAxe]

12 hours ago, Lozz196 said:

This was the reason I swapped to maple boards, on brightly lit stages I have trouble seeing where I am with rosewood. Sadly I can’t get a bass to the specs I need that has a maple board so I’m having to now get used to rosewood again, but as my gigs aren’t quite as big now neither are the lighting rigs so I’m coping - for now……

And that’s exactly why my maple-board Precision was my choice for last Saturday’s theatre gig. The lighting changes drastically throughout the set and I need to be playing the notes that I mean to play, especially up the dusty end.