Electric Guitars

[knotty]

Slightly OT because the guitar in question is a Faith acoustic. Everything about it is 'perfect' but it has no fret marker inlays. I have never played without them. Should I let it put me off?

[Patuney]

Dot fret markers are very easy to put on a guitar's neck. Power drill, sharp proper sized bit and superglue are all you need.

[Opus Antics]

You get used to it.  I have a Schecter with no fret markers and in very short order you get used to relying on the dots on top rather than on the actual fretboard inlays.

[catalinagoose]

I hate to admit it, but I'm pretty sure I would be lost without them

[2manband]

I've picked up guitars with no fret inlays before and expected it to be a problem, only to realize pretty quickly that I never look at them - I always use the dots on the edge of the fretboard. 

[Jkater]

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Patuney wrote:

Dot fret markers are very easy to put on a guitar's neck. Power drill, sharp proper sized bit and superglue are all you need.

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That's what I did with my bass. But I'm not sure I'd do this on an expensive guitar. It doesn't damage anything but still.

[knotty]

I am sure its not hard but am not comfortable spending £800+ and then drilling into the Ebony.

[Into Nation]

Ebony seems like a good wood to try and just use the sticker type inlays.

[knotty]

Sticker?

[mschafft]

Not a problem. Looks nice IMO

[Into Nation]

http://www.inlaystickers.com/servlet/the-Fret-Markers/Categories

[larryguitar]

I always thought I only looked at the side dots until I built a neck without fretboard dots; turns out I completely rely on them, and can't really bond with a guitar without them. YMMV, of course.

[Ratae Coritano…]

I've had a few customers come to me with this problem. They are usually happy with the Tippex Solution, you can make the dot as small as you like

[Malfunction]

I do not consider the lack of fretinlays a problem.

And i´m a kinda bad guitarist to be honest...

[unworthy]

I've never missed the lack of board markers on my Parker.

D

[nuke_diver]

I think you get used to them. I have a Tele without and I don't even notice they are missing any more. Your brain will orient itself in other...mysterious ways

[Pine Apple Slim]

side dots are all you need.

[axegrinder]

I'm with the crowd that relies on side markers.  I also think a blank slab of ebony looks badass.  The only down side is if you are jamming with others or in a lesson setting.  Those around you will be completely lost when they watch you play.

My advice in this case is seek out a shop that has a guitar (including acoustic) with no fret board inlays and try it out.  Then you'll know.

[Flintc]

I like the look of a clean fretboard, so when I got a Carvin I specified no inlays. Turns out I never missed them at all - and when I eventually picked up a guitar with dots, they just confused me.

[Marko]

I’ve always just used the side markers, but maybe it’s because my belly pushes the guitar/bass out just far enough to keep the fretboard from plain view, haha.

A always did like the look of a clean dot-free fretboard, though.