5strbanjo - Posted - 03/26/2009:  10:14:49

...the only thing I find lacking on my Goodtime Special, which is my travel/alternate banjo, is the absence of position dots along the neck...I've gotten used to using them on my regular banjo...they help me to not have to bend over or tilt the banjo so as to see the fretboard...does anyone know if it would be possible for a luthier to install position dots on a Goodtime neck.and how expensive it would likely be to do so?

Mitch

guitdawg - Posted - 03/26/2009:  10:29:48

I used the side position rod material from Stewmac.com to achieve just that.
Pretty cheap as I recall. Get a drill bit the same size, and I would wager you could do it yourself. Go slow and be careful, you may want to use a very small drop of yellow glue. I cut the excess off with a razor knife, and gently tapped the dot to seat it even with the neck.
I accidentally put a dot on the ninth fret (ooops! that what working on guitars gets you) and had to remove the black dot, and replace it with a white one which is less noticeable on a blond neck.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"You make my words, I''m gonna get my grade ten!" - Ricky

~ guitdawg ~ Apple Latch Un = mountains ; Apple Layshun = drinks

Edited by - guitdawg on 03/26/2009 10:31:40

Jim Yates - Posted - 03/26/2009:  10:38:25

I've made a paste from charcoal and yellow glue to fill the holes that I drilled in the side of the fingerboard. It looks fine. I too depend on the side dots since I hold the banjo (guitar and mandolin) in such a way that I can't see the fingerboard.

Jim
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1four5 - Posted - 03/26/2009:  10:46:29

I used a small drill bit, and made very shallow indentations. Then I put a drop of model paint in each one. When it dried, I polished them flush. Cost was $0.00 and I play a lot and they have held up just fine!


Dean

xnavyguy - Posted - 03/26/2009:  11:24:33

On my cheap Korean aluminum banjos, without markers, I've been using a small burring bit in my Dremel to make a round depression and then using a black Sharpie to make the dots. Takes about 5 minutes to do the whole neck.

Jerry

"The only security you will ever have is in your ability to perform."

Edited by - xnavyguy on 03/26/2009 11:25:04

windbreaker - Posted - 03/26/2009:  12:30:35

A Sharpie works just fine. We're not talking about a collector's item here.

Pull my finger.

OkieNTexas - Posted - 03/26/2009:  14:12:49

I hate to admit it but I used a sharpie on mine also.......the only issue I had was that the marks started to rub off right aroung the heel where I grabbed it to hang it back up on the wall.......Other than that, worked great.
Shawn