Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Crazy_Joe on June 18, 2006, 04:23:37 PM

Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Crazy_Joe on June 18, 2006, 04:23:37 PM
I'm looking at a guitar and it only has an X at the 12th fret, it will have the dots in the side of the neck but i don't usually look there because i have fret markings now.
So my question is, do you find it hard to play without fret markings?
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on June 18, 2006, 04:54:28 PM
Not hard at all, tho it does require a bit of work to get used to sighting it down the side of the neck instead of the fingerbaord. After a bit, you get used to not having the dots and after you know the neck you hardly look down, anyway. (I have 3 guitar necks that don't have fret markers on the fingerboard)
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Antag on June 18, 2006, 05:03:34 PM
Can't say it really bothered me either - I'd never played a guitar with no fingerboard markers when I got my acoustic that only had a 12th fret marker.  You just get a feel for where you are on the neck & it's not really much of an adjustment to follow the side markers when you have to look :)
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Searcher on June 18, 2006, 06:30:36 PM
It's best to be able to play without looking down at all.  Takes some practice, but worth it in the end. And so long as you have the top markers you shouldn't get completely lost.  It's actually bad technique to twist the guitar around so you can see the face of the neck, anyways.  ;)
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Crazy_Joe on June 18, 2006, 06:45:23 PM
Yeah i figured i should learn to not look at it, just had a go on an one of my brothers acoustic's and i was fine and that had no fret markings and nothing on the side either.
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: willo on June 18, 2006, 07:18:33 PM
I have a Les Paul with no fret markings, don't find it hard at all. After enough time, you just get used to playing without looking (although sometimes it's worth a quick check for big slides or string skipping etc).
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: indysmith on June 18, 2006, 07:21:38 PM
never bothered me on my'banez either.
On a slightly differing note -
You know how some high-end guitars, (such as PRS dragons, JETs etc.) have really intricate fretboard inlays with lots of different materials...? Does that not destroy the tone of the poor instrument?
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: willo on June 18, 2006, 07:46:47 PM
Quote from: indysmith
never bothered me on my'banez either.
On a slightly differing note -
You know how some high-end guitars, (such as PRS dragons, JETs etc.) have really intricate fretboard inlays with lots of different materials...? Does that not destroy the tone of the poor instrument?


I saw this somewhere; apparently it doesn't, because the inlays are so thin that very little wood is lost. I think others might have better answers here, though!
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Davey on June 18, 2006, 08:25:02 PM
i've been trying to teach myelf to only look at the side dots, since any neck i will order will be blank. apart of one i think of doing.. but not anytime soon i guess.



like everything else, it takes time to get used to
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Ratrod on June 19, 2006, 12:12:49 PM
You can awalys stick on one of these.  :wink:

(http://www.dontfret.com/images/fretboard1.gif)
Title: Fret Markings
Post by: Crazy_Joe on June 19, 2006, 01:50:09 PM
lol laaaammee, i don't think i will be that bad!