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Alembic Club » Alembic Basses & Guitars » Archive 2005 » Archive through December 23, 2005 » Fret FX (formerly known as Hot Dots) DIY LEDs « Previous Next »

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jack
Junior
Username: jack

Post Number: 17
Registered: 11-2005
Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 9:31 am:   Edit Post

A good thread here:

http://alembic.com/club/messages/449/13096.html

Only question unanswered is how obvious are they from the front (audience)?

Thanks,
Jack
palembic
Senior Member
Username: palembic

Post Number: 2123
Registered: 9-2002
Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 2:48 pm:   Edit Post

Hi Jack,

I have them on Bonnie since a year now and it's just fine!
The original keds placed by Alembic are placed IN the side of the neck so ....not visisble by the audience. These leds are ON the neck so ...visible. Mine have a two position switch "bright" and "less bright".
When I put on the "bright" there was this bass-player-friend coming to me in the break saying:
"Gee ...that neck is a runway".
HA!

Paul TBO
dadabass2001
Senior Member
Username: dadabass2001

Post Number: 486
Registered: 6-2002
Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 4:36 pm:   Edit Post

Paul hits it right on the nose! I've got both kinds: inlaid by Alembic on my fretless Epic and Hot Dotz (aka FretFX) on my fretted Epic. The FretFX leds are visible from the audience to a greater degreee than the inlaid set, although if you turn the instrument (or yourself) around the audience can see the inlaid ones as well.
Mike
beelee
Intermediate Member
Username: beelee

Post Number: 127
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Friday, November 11, 2005 - 7:00 pm:   Edit Post

About a year or so ago I read all the postings regarding LED's before ordering my custom Alembic bass ( it has front and side blue laser LEDs) it hasn't been finished yet.

Quite a few people had good things to say about Fret FX aka Hot Dots, I think its a great alternative to having to send an instrument to Simms or back to Alembic to have them installed which would require major surgery to your axe plus the cost and the shipping.

I've been thinking of getting some for my Series I fiver and Exploiter or some of my other basses, but I'd still like to send them back to Santa Rosa and have front and side LEDs put in....some of those dark stages and light operators that leave you in the dark can be rough.... I can't see S#$% sometimes, unlined fretless 6 string bass with a dark wood fretboard.....LOL

LEDs look really cool on a instrument......... besides being functional so you can see.

I forget who it was but another club member posted this link to another company that make similar products to Fret FX: http://www.fretlord.com/

they have some neat stuff as well.

Bruce
richbass939
Senior Member
Username: richbass939

Post Number: 462
Registered: 11-2004
Posted on Saturday, November 12, 2005 - 6:20 am:   Edit Post

I got some of the glow-in-the-dark dots from these guys. I like them alright. I put one of the bigger dots (1/4" diam) on the 5,9,12th frets. They do what I need them to do. If you can get some glow-in-the-dark paper or plastic and cut out your own you would be better off. What you get for $10 (+ $5 s/h) is a 1" x 2" piece of material with the dots stamped out, a small roll of 1/2" scotch tape, and a little flashlight like the kind you get on keychains (with a little piece of velcro to attach it to the back of the headstock). It's okay for what it is but nothing you couldn't make on your own.
Rich

(Message edited by richbass939 on November 12, 2005)

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