No face dots!

[bradfordws]

Does anyone else like the "idear" of no face dots on the fingerboard - or is it just me? I've inquired about this a couple times and the answer is still "no we can't do that." Of course I still ordered up a new Sterling 5 - I just would have liked to get it without the face dots. From a production standpoint, it's actually less work, and it seems like an easy "custom shop" option to offer. Maybe they're concerned about one more option that might lead to a mistake? I'm thinking about having the white dots pulled on my tobacco burst Sterling 4H RW (rosewood) and then have the holes filled with opoxy, which dries clear, so the dots would just barely be visible. If that looks cool, I'm doing the same with my new honeyburst Sterling 5HS RW when it arrives.

 

[Colin]

I know what you're saying, but actually from a production point of view this would be more work. The time it takes to single your instrument out from the production line would disrupt things and make it more expensive, compared to public demand.

 

[ekb16b]

lined fretless?

 

[oli@bass]

Why would you want that?

BTW, AFAIK you could order a Status replacement neck without the dots. Or with LEDs.

 

[MingusBASS]

Why would you want that?

I'd guess he prefers the look of a blank neck. That's an easy question to answer.

Why do want a string through body option on your Ray? It's what you prefer.

 

[tombboy]

Presuming you have a RW board, just get a black or dark brown permanent marker and go over the inlays! (if maple, use a blond marker)
When you change your mind again, use a Q-Tip and alcohol to clean up.

 

[Psycho Ward]

Just order a blank plank fretless and have it fretted locally.

I myself need the dots, heck I need note names inlayed in the board and the Roy Clark Big Note stickers. But I could do with far less frets though.

 

[TNT]

Nope!!!

The frets and inlays (in my opinion) add an excellent contrast with the fretboard wood!!

 

[fsmith]

I'm thinking about having the white dots pulled on my tobacco burst Sterling 4H RW (rosewood) and then have the holes filled with opoxy, which dries clear, so the dots would just barely be visible. If that looks cool, I'm doing the same with my new honeyburst Sterling 5HS RW when it arrives.

I think I read something from Dan Erlewine where he was trying to repair a nick in a rosewood fretboard and he took another piece of rosewood that was close in color and sanded it. Using the resulting dust he mixed it with either super glue or epoxy to fill in the nick and then sanded it smooth. Blended right in.

 

[bovinehost]

Not I.

I need all the help I can get.

 

[Smakbass]

I dont look at the dots but I dont see why anyone would bother trying to get rid of them....I mean its a tool whats a few dots..

 

[oli@bass]

I need all the help I can get.

Me too, thus the silly question why one wanted to remove the help!!

 

[vcs700s]

Personally, I love the idea of not having the dots. I like the look of a blank fingerboard as I only use the side dots anyway.

I especially like the look if it is a real nice black ebony with no streaks.

 

[carpedebass]

I don't use 'em so I really don't care whether they are present or not. To me it's more about how the bass sounds rather than how it looks. To each his (or her) own though.

 

[Kirby]

This seems to be the newest fad with manufacturers offering this. I myself think it is kind of silly, but to each his own. I actually own a custom bass with this feature, though I did not ask for it to be built like that, just how this particular luthier does most of his work. I am not sure what the root of this is, maybe the standup basses which always had a plain ebony board?

 

[bradfordws]

Well, I like the look of no dots - since I bought my first Tobias back in 1986. It seems that it was an option only seen on higher-end basses. G&L has been offering this option for quite some time and Carvin as well, since they've had their "custom shop" options available. The fact is that the upright bass never had dots - and classical guitars never had dots. So, why is it that when you order a fretless EB/MM with lines, you get no dots? Take a look at a pic of a fretless MM with lines - looks very clean. And you don't look at the face dots anyway - as mentioned in another post - we only look at the side dots while playing. OK, I'm done ranting, but I am going to either do black dots or epoxy the holes on my Sterling4H rosewood neck. I think it will look cool. There is the option of buying a lined fretless and having a local shop fret it, but that's more bread - probably around $300 vs. a no charge option from a builder who will do it. Oh well, the way I see it is that this was never an option since day one and it's not an option with Fender either, so as far as production line manufacturers go, you can pick your color and fingerboard, but that's about it.

 

[oli@bass]

And you don't look at the face dots anyway -

Well... I do....

 

[Brim]

It would nice to make it an option. I photochopped my SR5...enjoy.

 

[fly]

my acoustic bass doesn't have any dots either......i like it.....it looks good......but i wouldn't modify to no dots in any way.

it is too bad that no dots is not an option.....i'd get one.........

 

[word]

I would like a no-dot option