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 January 16 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 January 17 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 January 17 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.

[ossyrocks]

On 14/01/2025 at 16:58, Paul S said:

 

The place I got mine from is out of stock, obvs, but it seems eBay has come up trumps!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285966903916?chn=ps&_ul=GB&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=285966903916&targetid=2361039923645&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9194237&poi=&campaignid=21697381820&mkgroupid=170109506289&rlsatarget=pla-2361039923645&abcId=10027101&merchantid=6995734&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAs5i8BhDmARIsAGE4xHxl3nhyi7PcPfFBUTxxKakp2RC-ApwwqpPj_tnMKsVWURunQbs0bVUaArHzEALw_wcB

So, I bought some of these. I’ve put them on my 73 P bass tonight. They are very very close to the Rosette dots I bought from the US. Just ever so slightly larger. Anyway, they’re on and they look ok. Time will tell if they last, but at least I’ve now got loads of them to replace any that rub off. 
Rob