Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

jeff, i totally misread your original statement about using the larger dots.

Bob, i was talking about someone piecing one together with a v63 body ,you can come across parts fairly easily,the serial # on the jack plate can be stamped.

I have terrible eyesight and struggle to see the side dots on a couple of my bass's but strangely I can see the dots on my 4003's ok. On my Reverend the 1st time I played it on a low light stage I was very uncomfortable as I couldnt see the side dots. Before that I never realised just how much I relied on them. I arent going to try getting used to not being able to see them or wear glasses on stage. I do what Jeff does and have stickers which are gold stars from one of my sons early numeracy/maths books. It has worked a treat, the gold is very visible on even the darkest of stages.

Side dots 1974. We ran out of white and black material, red was the only thing available so we used that for a short while in 1974, plus Mr. Ward Deaton thought it looked good, he also got the B.G's. mixed up with the BJ's, we all had a good laugh over that. The reason some times the dots are slightly off: these are drill free hand and sometimes the drill would wander off center a bit. As for my thoughts on side dots, close your eyes and practice, it really helps.

Dale, why were some basses made with set necks in the early 70's?

Red dots were used periodically in the early 60's too. I know of a couple from 1963 that have them...

Practice in the dark! I started out doing this and I highly recommend it. If you are a neck-looker you will be surprised how fast your muscle memory takes over if you let it.

Springsteen, used to dance in the dark. OK bad joke ha ha. actually Ted's original question Dale why did they make set necks during the early 70s?

Playing bass in a Beatles band means you're usually too busy singing to look at your fingers/bass, you just gotta have the bass part in your hands and worry about getting the lyrics right 'cause everyone listening knows 'em by heart. That being said, I too add larger side dots to my stage basses.

Dale, thanks for the post on the free hand drilling of the side dots. That explains the minor variations I've seen. It's pretty cool, actually.

As for practicing not looking at your bass neck, I like to play in low light and frequently watch TV (with the TV sound muted) while I rehearse. I like to keep tabs on a ballgame while I practice, and this season is a great one for that - my Chicago White Sox are having a special year. When I used to live in Oklahoma City, if there weren't any games on, I'd put it on Univision. Didn't matter that I don't know Spanish.... Anyways, I found that those practices broke me of the habit of always looking at the neck. I still look down for long slides and occasional checks, though.

Also... since we moved band practice to my basement, I have been keeping the lighting low for band practices, too. Keeps the other guys adjusted to low stage light. It also discourages the reading of lyrics... haha.

when the lights go off between songs and I have to find the right fret to start the next song then I am really glad I have the big dots ...

I have to be honest here. I play like I play and I guess I am stuck in a rut with it. I am not inclined to sit practicing to learn to play without looking at the fretboard. My eyes arent glued to the fretboard, but I take regular glances at what I am up to, especially if a song has a busy line. It does amount to laziness! Its maybe something I will address when I have more free time. For the time being I will stick to having gold stickers stuck on my side dots and taking the occasional look at what my hand is doing.

My main basses for ages had no dot markers on the fingerboard(Warwicks, Trace Elliot T-bass) and you couldn't see the side markers in the dark, but, I got used to it and didn't have any problems, then I played a musicman Sterling with nice big markers on the maple fingerboard and side for a few months, switched back on the night of a gig and hey presto...total shambles.

I, too, swear by Jeff's dot stickers. I've had numerous occasions where the lights change and I'm stuck in a "dark area" for a few seconds and the dots come in very handy. I've actally thought about the LED's at one point (not on a Ric, of course...)

do the stickers wear off often?