what is the function of fretboard dots on the front as opposed to side of neck

Malkav

MikeM wrote: Especially ceramics, which are suited to hi-gain styles

I'm just gonna take a moment to be biased towards the pickups I like ? I use Dimarzios and the bridge pickup I tend to favour is a ceramic one, however Dimarzio have a special way of constructing these things (that somehow involves leaving an air gap somewhere in it's construction) that they claim lessens their string pull. This may all be false marketing blurb but I've never really had string pull issues with Dimarzios that have ceramics, there are other brands however who's ceramic pickups I can't say the same for...

Also I'm loving how a thread on fretboard dots is now about pickups ?

My personal opinion is that a nude fretboard can look amazing on the right guitars but there are just certain colour schemes etc that work really well aesthetically with dots on the face. I know that on fanned fret instruments with a substantial fan (>1") that it tends to be prefered to have markers, as your low side doesn't necessarily line up with your treble side and in the higher registers this can wind up with you fretting a fret further accidently as things aren't in a straight line.

kp247

Sorry to have to return to the original topic but does anyone know about side dot inlays that can be retrofitted to be visible in the dark, like perhaps a phosphorous material or something.

evolucian

perhaps some glow in the dark rhinestones? You did say retro... ?

Malkav

They're called Luminlays http://www.luminlay.com/ ?

MikeM

Chad, you're 100% correct, and they're not BSing. The air gap has a very similar effect to degaussing a magnet. One can even simulate this on pickups with a bit of insulation tape, 2 or 3 layers on one side of the magnet in a JB makes an AMAZING pickup.

I actually hinted at this a little earlier

MikeM wrote:ceramic magnets fit, and then steel poles are fitted against or near the magnet

But the gist of Gearhead and I were getting at is that there's double the amount of string pull in that guitar which WILL detract from sustain (I have noticed this even with an A5 in a neck position). I just carried on "informing" about magnet specifics.

I also like ceramic humbuckers actually, my go-to brutals guitar has the JP set in, a Crunch Lab and Liquifire. It is aimed at doing one thing really well (And it REALLY does that).

kp247

Chad Adam Browne wrote: They're called Luminlays http://www.luminlay.com/ ?

Exactly what I'm looking for! Don't suppose you get it around this part of the planet hey? Probably eBay.
The blue ones are great!

Norman86

Chad Adam Browne wrote: They're called Luminlays http://www.luminlay.com/ ?

THAT is cool!!! Whats the price of that though?? In rands, not Yen?! im lazy ?

Airguitar

Danny Gatton had his side dots retrofitted with Cubic Zirconia (Fake diamonds) because they were easier to spot in low light. Not sure what they cost now..

On the original topic, +1 on those who said that fretboard markers....
A:- Help other musos keep track
B:- Look cool

Me likeeeee...

PeachyDragon

Those luminlays seem soooo much better than LED's! I was considering LED's on my custom guitar
but the luthier said it's a risk since a wire vibration could muck things up royally.

Pierre-Cronje

PeachyDragon wrote: I've been playing 13 years and I'm having a guitar built. It made me think, why on earth do we have dots and inlays on the front? A professional should be able to only look at the dots on the side, not tilting the neck back to see the front. Is it just enforcing bad habits? Personally I teach a trick of practicing while looking at your hand in the mirror to avoid bad habits like looking down constantly and for that is would help, but that's an exception.
What do u guys think? I would love some input on this.

A guitar neck looks so much better without the dots on the front and only on the side. It tends to have a sleeker look. No reason to have them on the front.

singemonkey

Pierre Cronje wrote: No reason to have them on the front.

Except for the reasons already mentioned.

If I have a custom built guitar made, I'll go sans inlays. But you've gotta acknowledge the benefits of being able to tell at a glance what your fellow guitar or bass player is playing - especially when there's bad sound on stage and you can barely hear yourself, let alone anyone else.

slyd

singemonkey wrote: But you've gotta acknowledge the benefits of being able to tell at a glance what your fellow guitar or bass player is playing - especially when there's bad sound on stage and you can barely hear yourself, let alone anyone else.

+1, indeed! Also for those very familiar with jamming, and can interpret at a glance (assisted by the fret markers) what's happening. :-[