General Timeline on Side Dot Placement

[FretlessOnly]

I suppose that this info is scattered around here in places, but perhaps having it all in one place would be useful. I know it would be for me! THe side dots on the 4001/4003FLs have had at least three incarnations:

1. dot each "fret" on the fret. I'm guessing this was from inception until the later 70s at least, if not until the end of the 4001 run.
2. dots only at G A B C# octave G A B on the fret;
3. dots as for fretted basses (not sure which frets or what type of mind-altering substances were ingested prior to the implementation of this idea ). If I recall, this was a short-lived experiment around 2004???

Any others?

The main point is to get down the general range of years (and details, if applicable, during the 4001/4003 overlap) for which these and any additional permutations were produced.

I am entertaining the thought of obtaining another FL, but I have to avoid #3 and would like to avoid #1.

Thanks!

[cassius987]

John, your list recapitulates the extent of my knowledge on this...

I feel bad for the folks who got a 4003FL from that run where the binding dots were misplaced in the early 2000s. What a shame; it would basically ruin an otherwise good bass. Yes, I play fretless by ear, but having an accurate reference point you can check every so often is a huge load off your back if you have bad monitors or if something else goes awry.

[legato]

I count 4 different placements. (so far)
If I remember correctly the first one is Paul Yan's the second is mine the third pic is courtesy Mike Parks and I forget who the last one belongs to but it is a forum member (perhaps they'll chime in).

[rickenbrother]

I forget who the last one belongs to but it is a forum member (perhaps they'll chime in).

This one belongs to Gary (doctorwho). The extra set of dots (the bigger ones) was placed on the side of the neck by Gary. The extra set of dots was driving me absolutely nuts when I was playing it.

[legato]

...The extra set of dots (the bigger ones) was placed on the side of the neck by Gary.

I stand corrected.

[FretlessOnly]

Thanks for your research, Dave. Now, if we could put a year range to each of these (except for Gary's; no offense, Gary - yours is unique! (well, maybe not; your dots would make it easier for me, although I used the white-out approach to hiding dots instead; easily removable with no deleterious effects)), it would be great.

Paul's '72 is likely representative of the first FL ('68? I think there's only one we know of) through the end of the 4001 production at least (with the caveat that early '74s probably had red dots, if there are any). Anyone know about early-mid 4003FL's?

Dave's is likely from ~2004.

Mike's is likely representative of ~2005 to present (the sane years ).

Any way we can narrow this down further?

[doctorwho]

I forget who the last one belongs to but it is a forum member (perhaps they'll chime in).

This one belongs to Gary (doctorwho). The extra set of dots (the bigger ones) was placed on the side of the neck by Gary. The extra set of dots was driving me absolutely nuts when I was playing it.

Just a clarification: I did not put the extra dots on it, it was like that when I bought it.

[rickenbrother]

This one belongs to Gary (doctorwho). The extra set of dots (the bigger ones) was placed on the side of the neck by Gary.

Just a clarification: I did not put the extra dots on it, it was like that when I bought it.

Oh, I thought you were the original owner. I stand corrected about the dot placer.

[ajish4]

Here is my thin necked 92 4003 FL for reference.

[rickenbrother]

Here is my thin necked 92 4003 FL for reference.

The dot placement on your and Gary's is the same as on a 4001FL.

[Brother Firefingers]

I had no idea Ric did this with the dots... I have a Music Man Sting Ray fretless, and a Fender Precision fretless... both have side dots just as if it was fretted.

Having the dots where the frets would be would make playing a fretless immensely easier for anyone who hadn't already established a habit of playing forward of the markers... where the fret would be.

Strange, but helpful.

[songdog]

I had no idea Ric did this with the dots... I have a Music Man Sting Ray fretless, and a Fender Precision fretless... both have side dots just as if it was fretted.

So Fender has moved the dots too... I have a 70s fretless Precision neck on my '72 Jazz, and the side dots are right at the fret positions (3rd, 5th, 7th, etc.). Anything else would drive me nuts... I stare at my left hand too much when I'm playing (but I saw a video of Jaco, and he did too, so I don't feel quite so bad about it now).

My guess has always been that having the dots the same place on a fretless and fretted neck was because they made all the necks the same, but only put frets in some of them.