? for all you "no fret marker" guys

[Phantom Hawk]

I've never played one, but I'd think I'd lose my mind looking for the little side markers to see where I am. Was it tough getting used to it ?

[Aaronharmon]

I dont even notice it most of the time. But I don't often look at my left hand.

[Brian]

It's only odd at first if you have a habit of looking at the face of your fretboard. I noticed that when I sit and play I have a tendency to lean over the front of the guitar more, but it didn't take long to rectify that habit.

I saw an ESP custom M1 a couple years ago that had no fret markers and no side position markers. That would be a mindfuck for me.

[Phantom Hawk]

No side markers either ? I'd be screwed.

[KBRR]

It was alittle confusing at times when i had my COW DK6, but after a while you get used to your guitar and finding the frets just becomes easier.

[straycat]

My 86 SD soloist has no markers just side dots and I really don't notice much difference while playing it as opposed to one with markers.To be honest all I use are the side dots come to think of it.Great question PH.

[toejam]

I had a 7-string Schecter with only a 12th fret inlay. I realized I mostly only use the side dots anyway, so it was fine.

[nsubulysses]

My 86 SD soloist has no markers just side dots and I really don't notice much difference while playing it as opposed to one with markers.To be honest all I use are the side dots come to think of it.Great question PH.

Can we see it?

[Phantom Hawk]

Hmmm .... you know, now I'm going to have to pay attention and see just how much I use the side markers. Maybe it wouldn't be as hard a thing as I think it would. The question just popped into my head while I was checking out a KV for sale at TMZ that has no inlays.

[rjohnstone]

I just use the side markers if I get lost.

[shadowcat]

If there are no inlays I use the side markers, not a big problem for me. Love the look of a blank fretboard.

What actually DID fuck me up was the "wine of life" inlay on my old Dean Vendetta 3.0, which had the middle of the inlay (the "Z") on the 11th fret. Boy did I get lost because of that. I sold the guitar last year...

[drixll]

as you improve, and you really start to get in touch with your guitar, try to not look at the neck when you're playing. feel the chords, shape the chords.

i remember an article from gftpm from back in like 1989 where paul gilbert writes that it becomes imperative to play by feel alone. looking down at your fretboard to see what you're going to play next causes your brain to process the vision and reaction, as opposed to planning for your next chord or run and excecuting it.

it's hard in the beginning, but will do wonders for your stage presence, and it's really quite impressive...

[jgcable]

as long as you have side markers you really don't need top ones.

[nhspike]

I just use the side markers if I get lost.

I use my GPS



My Schon had only the 12th fret marker, and side dots.

Never bugged me, in fact, I like the clean look of the fretboard a lot!

[varador]

I need big inlays I.e. sharkfins!! That's why I have a Model 4. I've always had guitars with sharkies / the ibanez sharktooth inlays, I don't navigate very well around necks with dot inlays! Fret markers don't help me that much.. but deffo better than nothing! Real classical acoustic guitars are not supposed to have fret markers or inlays, they're mindfucks...