Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Capo Kid on March 29, 2014 at 12:36am

 My next build is going to be fretless so I was wondering the same thing , I'm sure were got lots of suggestions .

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Permalink Reply by Cause the Blue rat on March 29, 2014 at 4:56am

My first build is fretless. I put markers and dots along the top edge of the neck and at the very bottom edge of the fretboard. The marks and dots at the top help. Can't see the small marks at the bottom of the fretboard when playing. Going to sand the marks on the fretboard off before I put a finish on.

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Permalink Reply by Wichita Sam on March 29, 2014 at 4:59am

Lots of ways to do it.  Your ideas are good.  Don't forget marking the side of the neck too.  A difference between fretted and fretlless is that side markers ( usually on 3,5,7,9,12,etc) are between the fret and the prior fret ( between 2/3) on fretted instrements and are on the mark on fretless instruments.

This is about where you place finger or slide on respective instruments.

Build and play...Have fun!!

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 29, 2014 at 5:27am

Brilliant. Thanks Sam! That's the way I'll go. Fret markers on the side of the neck on the mark.

Thanks again

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Permalink Reply by Will King on March 29, 2014 at 5:11am

I use a small round tip on my electric wood burner to make the fret board and side markers.  Light sanding and then a few coats of clear spray on acrylic.

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Permalink Reply by Reeds Taylor on March 29, 2014 at 5:39am

On my fretless I use plastic knitting needles as markers/wood dowels for the side of the neck...

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Permalink Reply by jawbone on March 29, 2014 at 5:57am

On fretless I only mark the side of the neck - I use 1/4" or a bit larger for 3, 5 , 7, 10 and 12 and smaller for the others - I drill a swallow hole and fill it with contrasting wood filler - I sometimes use a wood sealer first so it doesn't sit in the pores around the holes.

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 29, 2014 at 8:20am

Thanks Jawbone, do you ever use these http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Bindings,_trim/Trim:_Side_dots/Plastic_...

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Permalink Reply by jawbone on March 29, 2014 at 2:54pm

No - I've tried dowels, but couldn't get the contrast I wanted. Someone earlier mentioned using that clay type stuff you can bake in the oven to harden - you can get lots of colours - one day when I'm in Micheals or where ever I might pick some up to give it a try. I was even going to try the bigger plastic coat hanger material. Just haven't got past the wood filler yet.

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Permalink Reply by Richey Kay on March 29, 2014 at 6:25pm

I've used those Sasquatch. Plenty of UK eBay sellers of those too. They're pretty simple to use.

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Permalink Reply by sasquatch on March 29, 2014 at 9:55pm

Cool, thanks man. Think I'll give those a go.

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Permalink Reply by Andy K on March 31, 2014 at 7:00am

I've just used them on my first build. Easy to put on and really pleased with how they look. This is a fretless build so used one dot for each fret but think I might have been better off using different colour / size for frets 3,5,7,9,12 etc. 

 

Bought 5x20cm rods from Touchstone Tonewoods for £2.20 and just worked out that will be enough for about 25 necks!! 

Attachments:

• side dot markers.jpg, 153 KB

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