Fixing another Fender MISTAKE! Replacing invisible side and Fretboard Dots. No Refinish or Fretwork!

[@iFlenz]

Loved the addition of the Wilhelm scream at 8.25 minutes ha ha

[@peachmelba1000]

An additional problem with Fender's side dots is the low fretboard edge thickness. Aesthetically it makes sense to center the dots on the margin line between the neck and fretboard, but on species color constrasted necks they still fail to really be very visible. I would use red, or bright green. The dots are so small anyway. Vintage spec be damned haha

[@antonrandle4146]

there is a KZbin vid of a Danish pilot who makes Strats as a hobby. You see him make and bake his own clay dots so that he gets the feel and colour he wants. There is so much talent in the world.

[@garym5701]

ROFL at the Wilhelm scream at 8:24. Cheers to the editor! ❤

[@borgonianevolution]

PERFECT timing for this video. I am planning on replacing the dots on my GGBO. The ones they put on the side are super small and I think I want something more defining then just dots on the fret board.

[@DrFrige]

I have a 75th anniversary Fender jazz bass and it has the clay dots. I have this problem. Although I don't mind the main dots being "clay", it complements the bourbon burst finish, the side ones drive me nuts. I need to find a local luthier to fix this issue. I also just learned by auto correct that there is a difference between "Compliments" and "Complements" LOL

[@peachmelba1000]

Since I've recently used wenge in a couple of builds, and it captures every grain of dust that falls on it (particularly when slab sawn), I use my hoover with the circular brush attachment to vacuum the pores clean. No scraping needed. Small assist from a tooth brush as well.

[@johngrant5749]

Always surprises me they don’t use a vacuum.

[@scottgrafton68]

I bet a damp sponge would even suffice

[@peachmelba1000]

@@scottgrafton68 Tried that too, and it does work. Not a bad trick with oilier species.

[@bowfrog]

Wow, a great 15 min. piece. Your technique is amazing. Thanks for posting this. Have a Great Day!!

[@alihaggis78]

I installed luminlay side dots on all my basses. They faintly glow in the dark which is perfect for dark stages. You can always see them lights on or off. Can't recommend them enough

[@jswazz9264]

Where do you get the Luminlay materiel?? Interested for my own guitars.

[@3PBC]

Great job and nice to see a bass getting the Crimson treatment

[@MrNeedlekiller]

I liked that. Nice to see something other than Fretwork.

[@LeviBulger]

Replacing fret markers is one of my favorite jobs. It seems a bit daunting initially, but it's easy peasey and oh so satisfying. I get a few requests a year to do abalone inlays which is even more fun picking and choosing the perfect spots on a sheet to cut circles from for the fretboard.

[@Porl1024]

The Jazz Bass is such a beautiful instrument. I totally agree - new dots!

[@kingstumble]

For many years I played a 1962 Precision bass. I have just checked a photo I have of it and indeed the dots appear to be much brighter than on this American Original.

[@3rdtonefromthesun]

Glad I came across this, my AVII '61 Strat has these awful inlays!

[@ianthomson9363]

Nice job, Ben! I replaced the side dots on my bass with cubic zirconium crystals from cheap jewellery (I got the idea from reading an interview with Danny Gatton) and as they're slightly proud of the surface, I can feel when my hand's in the right position- I use the old school broomstick grip instead of a thumb on the back of the neck. They work very well on most stages, but if I was to replace them I would definitely use glow in the dark material.

[@BLBlackDragon]

Replacing inlays... I have yet to experience this particular hell. Nice job, and an excellent tutorial.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Thank you. Was actually great fun to do.. somewhat terrifying at times, but very satisfying in the end.

[@NhyraVirakah2]

If I had the cash to, I would definitely get you to Re-finish and restore my Warlock. I've decided to take the tast up myself. It's currently playable, but I wanted to customize it a bit further. Wish me luck!

[@RiotBadger]

Nobody mention the copper strip from the bridge to the bridge pickup cavity? A bridge ground bodge?

[@pierrederesistance]

When I worked in music retail we once had a strat turn up with the 12th fret side dot at the 11th fret. The actual fretboard marker was in the right place, but the side dot was in a different fret. That might be the worst one I saw.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Ouch! That is really really bad!

[@Paul-D]

Believe it or not, Its actually comically common on sterling musicman (as in more than you'd ever expect) guitars.

[@davidwellings2783]

Excellent stuff, as ever!! I’m certain you have made a video of the replacement of ‘dots’ with ‘trapezoid’ inlays (…or similar!) - if not that would be fun…..! Hope you guys all have a great festive season! 🥰🥰🍷🍷🎸🎸

[@claudevieaul1465]

Nice job!! I had the joy of installing sidedots on my lefty JB neck (I'm right-handed), which is all-maple with black binding and block inlays (gorgeous), so I got the brightest white dots 🤣 Looks perhaps a bit naff , but I'm the only one seeing them anyway 😀👍

[@svendiagraham]

Similarly, like a dummy, I did copper wire side dots for my side markers on a rosewood board. Needless to say, those are completely invisible unless light hits just right and they need to be replaced. Would it be a similar series of steps or, due to their metal construction, would I need to do something different?

[@YTPartyTonight]

I've replaced the markers on mine with much more accurate-looking so-called aged clay dots from Musikraft in the U.S. I haven't gotten around to replacing the side dots yet.

[@aidantalbot9495]

fancy becoming the Luminlay distributor for the UK Ben ?

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Absolutely! Email me through stream @ crimsonguitars dotcom, I would love to have a chat

[@duncan-rmi]

years & years & years ago, I had a custom-made wooden steinberger clone with no dot markers at all. as I wasn't used to the angle-of-the-dangle of the headless thing, I badly needed the dots for stage use. I found some avery sticky labels & a hole-punch, & made my own. last time I saw the bass (sold it to a mate who toured with Tricky using the thing as a backup) they were still on it, still intact, & he hadn't noticed that they were just paper. 😂

[@herculesrockafeller]

The Wilhelm scream, lol

[@codyjay5634]

Me: Searching for hours around my house for anything I can use that will vaguely resemble dot inlays, instead of just buying some online.

[@thisisnotforalltosee1875]

I was gifted a Sire T7-FM as a leaving gift by my former boss. Same problem here, the dots on the side and fretboard do not stand out, making it almost unplayable for me. The fretboard is laquered which I guess makes replacing them a huge PITA. Any thoughts or comments would be much appreciated!

[@fokmisterutd]

When you drill the dots they do come out white, it's possible the fretboard oil has discoloured the surface of the dots.

[@THRobinson]

Was just debating this earlier this week for a re-finish of my nephew's guitar. Any news on doing a refret vid for Gibson's with the binding nibs? I posted a few years ago and you replied saying you were planning on it but never happened. ☹️

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

Video on Heritage re-fret may help you. Released today (29/12/22) DC

[@guyincognito1423]

Why not white glue? Seems easier to clean up.

[@robertthomas2117]

me here with glow in the dark dot stickers over the tiny side dots on most my guitars and basses

[@johngrant5749]

Darn sight cheaper too.

[@RiotBadger]

WILHELM SCREAM 08:23

[@rakentrail]

I've found that an extremely sharp ice pick works best for me to locate center on dots. Also, I'm an egg beater drill guy instead of a power drill. Old school for old codgers I guess! LOL!

[@mikebrowne4289]

And that’s why I like black dots on a maple fretboard on my jazz basses.

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

can't get clearer than that short of LED's!

[@greggoett]

If I am having Ben replace my inlays, last thing they would be is the boring original "clay" color. I'd say, bright, visible, any color you want. Same size , fine... doesn't need to be a whole custom inlay video.. but not boring clay.....

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks for sharing Much appreciated

[@CrimsonCustomGuitars]

You are so welcome

[@aharkness5657]

As a marker hater, this makes me consider changing some loud dots into something less visually obnoxious. I'm sure sanity will prevail.

[@Bloosee]

I hate how my Fender P-bass has the white side dots split between the rosewood and maple. I would prefer black side dots in the maple only, would be so much easier to see. My other P-bass has the maple fretboard and black dots, they stand out so much better.

[@Badhands55]

Great video

[@patbassman8251]

I found so much wrong with my Jazz bass when I got mine home , half the body routed away under the scratch plate , dead spots on the neck ,just a couple examples I cant stand Fenders , now im a Luthiers and make better quality basses.

[@DTGuitarTech]

Love this!!

[@robraaiii]

Still seems like it would be difficult to see those. I’d just green glow all of my side markers if I could. My collection is that of a dad on a budget, so no real harm done 😏🤘

[@micmacnz]

Funny how, no matter what 'improvements' are made in hardware, pickups etc. people still love the old 50s and 60s designs... suppose there isn't a Bassist in the world that can outplay a P bass, let alone a Jazz

[@thomasyates7039]

I have this exact bass, but 2014. The inlays and side dots are a joke and even darker than those here. Fantastic bass, but come on, Fender!

[@marinedalek]

To be fair to Fender, an original 60s Jazz Bass would have dots like that by now anyway (see Rutger Gunnarsson's in watch?v=B139-IqKcqg ). Whether they left the factory like that or not at the time is another question.

[@7enderbender87]

No, they didn't and that makes it a silly idea. They only turn that dark by the oils in the wood after a long time and by the oils from the fingers after many miles of playwear. Same idiotic thing as Gibson did with the early Gibson LP Classic and some early Historics with shiny finishes and yellowed inlays by the factory.

[@micah_noel]

Plain dot inlays bore the hell out of me. I guess it works for a Fender but any time I’m looking at a newer guitar that’s supposed to be in any way it’s own thing and it has standard inlays I immediately lose interest.

[@gregoryh4601]

Merry Christmas Ben and Family. Also Peace Be With All the Workers at Crimson Guitars Ben you not Done you have not Play It.yet

[@rmee5165]

side dots aren't as bright as fingerboard dots , and dull compared to them... still hard to see. I don't think they should of been drilled on the seam.

[@Ashlizzard]

...shouldn't the side dots be in the fingerboard? That way you could see them even if they were off-white...

[@xannon8155]

beautiful work you do. personally, for any working bass i own i choose a different method. there is a video with paul gilbert playing the song scarified from 2009. linus from hollywood is playing bass. i use his method for fret marking on the back of the neck. conspicuity tape. nearly the width of each fret. when the lights go down, even the slightest bit of light catches something. and when the last note matters, it always works. kzbin.info/www/bejne/r5e7loKVe8uSjcU cheers!!!

[@thegoodguy44]

Let the paint dry fender.

[@johnnyexponential7229]

To be honest this is the smallest problem of the half-arsed crap Fender still get away with sending out. Every single Jag and Bass VI goes out the door with a bridge so badly designed you basically can't play the guitar. And they use the never-good-enough excuse that it's traditional and the way it went out in the '50s, conveniently forgetting that they were a complete failure when they came out because players hated them. It's not even hard to fix, just change the neck angle by one and a half degrees. Madness.

[@alexcorona]

My neighbor's kid got superglue into his eyeball and he cried for days. He didn't have proper grip tape so she tried super gluing sandpaper onto his skateboard.

[@davelewis4215]

Children should learn to play fretless bass guitars before they go anywhere near one with frets imo.👍