Jazzmaster - making the neck dots luminous?

Hattigol

Ok, so at our rehearsal last week, the room was darker than usual & I really struggled with my Jazzmaster. 

The dots on the top of the neck are mid-brown and aren't easy to see at all. I'm a very average guitarist and still pretty dependent on being able to see these when playing.

So what's the solution? I don't want to do anything which will make it look naff or detract from its loveliness. Nor do I want to ruin it. Is using a luminous pen to highlight the dots a ridiculous idea?

May have our first gigs coming up and I know I'm not going to be able to use this guitar if it's a dark stage.

Thoughts welcomed.

punchesjudy

Maybe find some glow in the dark stickers of some sort and cut into little circles to cover the dots along the side of the neck ? Just shine a torch on them for a while before taking to the stage.. 

Or just find some bright white circle stickers, I'm sure they'd be easier to see than the mid brown ones. And of course the stickers are not permanent so can be removed anytime. 

Hattigol

I thought about that but I think they'd just get knocked off by my hand sliding up the neck? Which I suppose might also happen to any luminous pen markings too...

alexh

Tritium vials which are used in some watchesand  military instruments would be ideal. 

grappagreen

Luminlay markers - work great but obviously have to be installed by someone who knows what they are doing..

Charge them by subjecting to light and they work great..

grungebob

Back when I was gigging I used either a dab of glow in dark nail varnish over the side dots or I stuck strips of electrical tape across the back of the neck. Both worked well for me. 

Nitefly

LOL - "Correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't you the man who invented Tipp-Ex?"

Dab it over the existing side-dots.

BoopDeWoop

Or practice more so you don’t rely on your eyes being glued to your neck. 

Hattigol

BoopDeWoop said:

Or practice more so you don’t rely on your eyes being glued to your neck. 

Thanks. I'm a long way short of that standard but I'm happy for you that you're there.

Although you might want to update your profile pic as it's clearly taken from a time when you were still doing this too...?

meltedbuzzbox

As it's at rehearsal could you not leave the light on?

Hattigol

Yes. But it's not rehearsals I'm worried about.

scrumhalf

Take it to Salisbury?

jonnyburgo

Hattigol said:

BoopDeWoop said:

Or practice more so you don’t rely on your eyes being glued to your neck. 

Thanks. I'm a long way short of that standard but I'm happy for you that you're there.

Although you might want to update your profile pic as it's clearly taken from a time when you were still doing this too...?

Oof! That's pose #5 in the big book of edgy shapes you know.

But back to the topic - tippex all the way. 

BoopDeWoop

Hattigol said:

BoopDeWoop said:

Or practice more so you don’t rely on your eyes being glued to your neck. 

Thanks. I'm a long way short of that standard but I'm happy for you that you're there.

Although you might want to update your profile pic as it's clearly taken from a time when you were still doing this too...?

I like that you went away and thought of the second paragraph afterwards. Shows dedication.

Dunno I guess gigging regularly in a number of bands means I care a bit more than standing still and staring at my fretboard. Guess i should tuck in my tshirt, buy an expensive Gibson and spend more time on forums than playing my guitar in order to fit in. 

But it in all seriousness play your guitar. Stand up and get used to how far away each fret is. Rehearse in a darker room more often. All the gimmicks in the world won’t beat actually practicing and getting your muscle memory working. 

Hattigol

That's a lovely mix of tips, insults and condescension. Thanks ever so much.

axisus

Hattigol said:

 I don't want to do anything which will make it look naff or detract from its loveliness. 

 Is using a luminous pen to highlight the dots a ridiculous idea?

I refer the honourable gentleman to his first sentence.

thegummy

I have Luminlay dots installed in my bass and it's very cool, I'll post a photo in a minute.

thegummy