Alembic Guitars Club
Alembic products => Owning an Alembic => Troubleshooting => Topic started by: Clarky on November 30, 2018, 12:05:43 PM
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My '79 Series 1 shorty has rather faded side dots which are virtually impossible to see on a dark stage. The cost of retrofitting LEDs is pretty hefty (£450; around $550-600) in the UK so I wondered if anyone has tried installing Luminlay fluorescent side dots on their bass and how they have worked out?
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There is a thread around here somewhere Clarky, on specifically that issue. I'll look for it more thoroughly, but meantime...
...your bass being an older Series I, probably has the smallish silver dots, correct? Try a little polish on the tip of a cotton swab. I seem to remember that advice being given. If it has finish on the sides of the ebony fingerboard, this may not help at all. A rubber pencil eraser will also shine up tarnished silver.
Hang on, I'll look for that thread...
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I tried the "glow-in-the-dark" dots and was less than thrilled. The glow didn't last very long.
However, you can easily polish your side dots so they are significantly more visible. Here's a post on how to polish the dots from Mica from several years ago:
"You can lightly sand the edge of the fingerboard - take care to only hit the Ebony with the sandpaper since there's no finish on the fingerboard but there is finish on the neck. Use a fine sandpaper like 400 or higher and then use a drop of lemon oil to restore the blackness of the wood.
This side dots are probably bronze on your bass, and while not as bright as the aluminum we use now, you should be able to see them.
Good luck!"
I have done this numerous times. It really works quite well. Another option is FretFX, an LED strip that sticks on the side which a small coin battery box on the back of the head-stock. I have a guitar with FretFX installed and many people on this site have used them. About $99. They work quite well and are thin enough that they don't get in the way of playing.
Bill, tgo
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Ahhh interesting gents! Tarnished silver or bronze would explain why they are so dull. Thank you ... although I am still interested in Luminlay as I have fading vision lol!
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Here's one thread Clarky: http://club.alembic.com/index.php?topic=4598.msg55103#msg55103
I could swear we had a 'sticky' on this in the FAQ somewhere.
*Bill found the Jackpot anyway! ;D
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Many thanks!
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My series has aftermarket LEDs with a 9 volt behind the head and they work great.
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I have Luminlays in my Starfire and they are very hit or miss. The real factor is whether the stage lights are sufficient to recharge the dots. Of course, charging with the little flashlight is ineffective to give you a charge for a whole set, but whatever the bigger stages use for lights work pretty well, as the dots recharge when the lights hit it and then glow when it gets darker. Cheaper LED light rigs don't seem to do it. However, even when they aren't glowing, they are reasonably visible.
My experience is that sometimes I forget they are there and then find myself on a stage with a good lighting rig and am pleasantly surprised. Real LEDs would be great, but I'm not quite ready to drop the coin for the fingerboard replacement, etc., although I need to do it because my frets are not quite in the wrong place, so I might as well do the whole thing.
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Hi Clarky, i have fretFX led strips on my S1 shorty and they are really good. The slight extra neck width is not an issue for me. . However you may have a problem getting them in short scale now. When i contacted Fretfx to get mine the guy told me he was just finalising a manufacturing deal with a company and once that was up and running, short scale strips would no longer be made. But he agreed to make mine as long as i agreed in writing to waive any warrantee claims. As i already had a set previously i did not forsee a problem. It might be worth contacting them if you are interested inn that type. Things may have changed in the 2 to 3 years since i had mine.
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Thanks Jazzyvee and others responding. Will contact FretFx
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I got the FretFX strips for my Modulus and the strip was a mess. It didn't install correctly and got destroyed in the process. They were unresponsive about getting another or dealing with it. But, that was quite a while ago, so they may have gotten better about that kind of thing in the interim.
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When I looked into getting the FretFX for my medium scale Series bass they were only selling long scale versions. I also read mixed reviews as to how bright they actually were so I never pursued it further.
Will be interested to hear if it works out for you.
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Well, based on the last few comments I don't think they will either (a) make them for my shorty or (b) even if they do make them, work that well. Maybe I will just try the short cut of fluorescent paper dot stickers for now and save up for Sims LEDs ...
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My FretFX are plenty bright. I got them in green. In fact, I use a partially depleted battery because I find them too bright with a fully charged battery. One does have to be careful and GO SLOWLY when applying the strip. I took my time and had no problems. I know Wolf (Sonicus) recently put some on one of his basses, so he has the most recent experience of dealing with the company that I'm aware of. Perhaps he'll chime in on this thread.
Bill, tgo
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Just took a quick look at the website. For bass they currently offer 34" and 35" scale. You can order custom made ones in other scale lengths but as jazzyvee already mentioned there is no 2-year warranty like on the stock lengths. They also want you to call them before ordering a custom scale length.
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Clarky, I put some of those paper dots on my guitar when i was on tour as many of our gigs the songs started in heavily subdued light and they were fine although the sticky backs are not very strong so you will probably need a lot. I got mine off ebay in a pack designed for putting on children’s bedroom ceilings as constellations.
Actually i just had a look at these which look neat.
https://www.glowtec.co.uk/fret-finders.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2OyI1PyH3wIVy7ftCh3zNQ5WEAQYBSABEgLxxvD_BwE
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Thanks Delano. In fact those Glowtec stickers are exactly what I have on my Fender Mustang shorty (as that has small faded side dots). They work well but you can feel them as you slide around the neck.
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I've thought about the Luminlays for my Guild fretless, but haven't taken the plunge yet. I spoke to Mica about it a while ago, and she suggested a dab of glow-in-the-dark nail polish, but I haven't tried that yet either.
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Never thought of glow-in-the-dark nail polish. Just ordered a bottle on amazon for $2. It's worth a try. You're welcome to come over and try some when it gets here, Harry.
Bill, tgo
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Never thought of glow-in-the-dark nail polish. Just ordered a bottle on amazon for $2. It's worth a try. You're welcome to come over and try some when it gets here, Harry.
That would be great!
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Bringing this thread back to life, the glow-in-the-dark nail polish I ordered back on December 5, (when I made my last post, above), finally arrived yesterday (probably literally from the slow boat from China)! Dabbed some on a spare neck to test it out. Unfortunately, it doesn't glow nearly bright enough. You can see it in total darkness, but add any amount or ambient light and it just isn't bright enough. At least when I only painted the dots. As I write this I'm thinking maybe if I paint 1/2" bars over the dots it might be more visible. I'll try it tonight and report back.
Bill, tgo
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I've read some complains about FretFX's battery clip system. It seems they changed from using those coin battery to a bulkier model... and they're not showing how the new one looks like in the site.
ps.: I clean my Rogue's side dot simply scratching oxidation with a needle. Sorry, I know it is a little crude...
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I installed the NEWER FretFX system on an Essence .It works well however I was at first a little disappointed with the new battery holder , It does work though ! I will post a photo later . :)
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I have a 73. The dots ar very, very dim. I tried the Fitz polish with a q-tip, but it made no difference that I could tell. I have small pieces of glow in the dark tape on the side of the fretboard of three of my basses, including my Essence, and it helps me a lot. I sort of don’t want to chance messing up the finish on the 73, but I expect I will do the same for her. I think it would be less harsh on the finish than if I messed up while trying to sand the little dots, and ate into the polyurethane finish.
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The instruments made before 1980 will have finish on the edge of the fingerboard - so metal polish will not reach the oxides on the silver or bronze dots, you'll just be polishing the finish.
If one carefully sanded down the edge of the fingerboard, you can reach the metal and polish it up or replace the inlays with any size or sort of material you desire. But this kind of operation should be done by a skilled repair person.
Instruments from the mid-eighties on tend to have no finish on the edge of the fingerboard, so you are free to Scotch-brite or sand those dots to brilliance!
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Ahhh, that makes sense, thanks, Mica.
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Since we discussed this last year, I bought a roll of glow-in-the-dark tape and three different size hole punchers. MUCH less expensive than buying the dots. I also found a cool tiny flashlight that emits blue light, made especially for charging the tape/dots.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luminlay-LL-1-LED-light-charger-for-glow-in-the-dark-side-dot-position-marker/193287183064?hash=item2d00d05ad8:g:LH0AAOxy2HFSY-88 (https://www.ebay.com/itm/Luminlay-LL-1-LED-light-charger-for-glow-in-the-dark-side-dot-position-marker/193287183064?hash=item2d00d05ad8:g:LH0AAOxy2HFSY-88)
This works fairly well except the dots tend to eventually move and I need to replace a dot or two every once in a while. The little flashlight does a great job of charging and is small enough to keep in your pocket and use as necessary. Only takes a few seconds over each dot.
I have just ordered a Luminlay rod to try out a more permanent solution. Since I recently got a small table top drill press, I feel more competent to try the installation myself. Of course I’ll try it in a cheapo scrap neck first!
Bill, tgo
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Status Report:
I installed the Luminlay side markers on a neck. It turned out to be easier than I expected. Just drilled out the plastic side markers with a small hand drill (tiny turn it with your fingers - no power). Put a little superglue on the end of the Luminlay rod (it comes in a rod about 3" long), push it in, snip it off and do the same for each hole. Then file and sand, oil the edge of the board, and apply a little rub on poly to replace the finish. These work quite well. After charging with a blue or ultraviolet light for 10-15 seconds, they are still visible an hour later in a dark room. After completing the Luminlay install, I did a little more research and decided to make my own glow in the dark side inserts instead of using the Luminlay rod. I finished my first batch of 80 bright green side markers last night. They came out quite well. I hope to find the time to install them on another neck this weekend. I'll also be whipping up a batch of bright white side dots. I may just add sets of these to my reverb store. Who knows, ten years from now I could be the famous glowing dot magnate!
Bill, tgo
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I saw the finished product and Bill's work . All excellent !
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The ultra violet light units to charge the dots are also interesting !