Light?

Larry Behm · Post by **Larry Behm** » 22 Jul 2018 10:27 am

What kind of light do you use to see the fret board in darker venues?

Mike Wheeler · Post by **Mike Wheeler** » 22 Jul 2018 11:19 am

Practice playing in the dark, or blindfolded.

It really works! Lack of good lighting won't be such a problem any more.

Ricky Davis · Post by **Ricky Davis** » 22 Jul 2018 1:12 pm

What kind of light do you use to see the fret board in darker venues?

A "WHITE" Fretboard>

Jim Sliff · Post by **Jim Sliff** » 22 Jul 2018 2:33 pm

I don't recall ever being on a stage that was pitch black like that. What type of situation are you talking about?

GaryL · Post by **GaryL** » 22 Jul 2018 5:30 pm

My band leader prefers a dark stage, and usually I'm off to one side.I use a 25 watt clip-on light attached to a mic stand or a mic clip capable of holding a Mag-Lite keychain light. If/when I need to change a string, it's great.

Paul Sutherland · Post by **Paul Sutherland** » 22 Jul 2018 5:35 pm

I strongly prefer white line fret boards. Chrome fretboards look good, but the glare of stage lights, or low light situations, make it very hard to see with them. I've never tried white fretboards like Ricky Davis suggests. I can't play without seeing the lines.

Kevin Fix · Post by **Kevin Fix** » 22 Jul 2018 8:42 pm

The big "E" taught himself to play in the dark just in case he lost his sight.

Stu Schulman · Post by **Stu Schulman** » 23 Jul 2018 2:29 am

I'm a fan of white fretboards,Some steel companies don't offer that option these days,I don't understand that?

Lane Gray · Post by **Lane Gray** » 28 Jul 2018 7:01 am

I think I'd consider either a lighted fretboard or one of these. It's dimmable, and you can clamp it to the front apron!
TROND Halo 9W-C Dimmable Daylight LED Clamp Light Desk Lamp w/ Extra Long Aluminum Gooseneck & Premium Diffusion Film, for Headboard, Workbench, Studio, Drafting Table, Bedside Reading & Task Lighting https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FDD79AW/re ... xBb75C4524

John Borchard · Post by **John Borchard** » 29 Jul 2018 8:54 pm

My '65 ZB has white fretboards and has served me well for nearly fifty years. Although I've primarily played a Mullen for the last 20 years (it's a lot lighter!), I do miss the white boards for their unequaled visibility in low light.

I agree with Stu; I'm surprised white boards are not a common option. Something I used to use for really dark venues was a battery powered reading light for reading books in bed without waking your bedmate. It hung around your neck so the light lit up the playing area perfectly.

John Borchard

Bob Hoffnar · Post by **Bob Hoffnar** » 29 Jul 2018 9:48 pm

I keep a little goose neck LED clip on light handy. Either a music stand light, reading light or a very small work lamp. Some productions with lighting guys use blackouts and some stages are pretty dark.

I've used my phone before also. Just balance it in the tuning keys.

Jeremy Threlfall · Post by **Jeremy Threlfall** » 29 Jul 2018 11:36 pm

Jim Palenscar · Post by **Jim Palenscar** » 30 Jul 2018 6:51 am

I've got some overlays at the shop that were made in England that come in 24 and 24 1/4 and 10 and 12 string varieties that are lighted and use a rheostat to control the light.

Al Evans · Post by **Al Evans** » 30 Jul 2018 9:41 am

Jeremy Threlfall wrote:

I never thought of that! We've got one of those! AND, you can make it flash red! Has anybody got tab for some good siren noises?

--Al Evans

Dave Meis · Post by **Dave Meis** » 30 Jul 2018 10:39 am

Jeremy Threlfall wrote:

I've been in festival jams when people were using these, and every time they turn their head, it's like train derailed and was rolling down a hill. If you mention it, they look right at you..

Bobby Nelson · Post by **Bobby Nelson** » 30 Jul 2018 12:55 pm

Couldn't resist.

Dick Wood · Post by **Dick Wood** » 30 Jul 2018 1:31 pm

FYI,MSA sells L-frets for all guitars,not just theirs.Battery last about 40 hours and charges in around two hours.

Roger Rettig · Post by **Roger Rettig** » 30 Jul 2018 3:08 pm

I was recently on a show during which I had to play intros in pitch darkness. That's a complete black-out as one scene ended. I was sitting at my guitar just out of the audience's sight-line and it really was a problem.

The sound-guys found a couple of those LED-light's on pliable stalks and I taped them to my Zum Encore. It worked like a charm. I needed to be spot-on pitch and no hunting around with the vocalist waiting to hear me so he could pitch.

I love the illuminated fretboards but this was just a five-week run. Not worth the outlay.

Larry Allen · Post by **Larry Allen** » 1 Aug 2018 1:09 pm

Small light with a rheostat, goose neck, Velcroâ€™s on..