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HotDotz ROCK...


Wonderdog

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I had been having a tough time locating my fingers on the fretboard when playing live recently, especially when I had to look up to sing backups or make an adjustment. The markings on my Ibanez SR405 are not easy to see in colored, or low light situations. It was to the point where, at times, I would turn the bass up toward me a little so I could see the markings (that's bad). I read on this forum about HotDotz ( www.hotdotz.com )- the LED lights which mount on the top edge of the neck and illuminate the marked frets. I got my set last week and used them at a gig on Friday night for the first time.

 

All I can say is WOW! These things work great. They took about 15 minutes to mount, and worked and looked exactly like claimed on the website. I bought a set in red LED's with a HI/LOW switch, and ran them on the lower setting all night. I have never had an easier time locating my hands, and made noticeably fewer errors when making a long jump up the board or while playing or moving around the frets while singing backups. I can see how with a little time I'll be able to easily locate using just peripheral vision.

 

If you're a visual player and have any trouble with locating, I would suggest taking a look at this product. It was neat having a bunch of people come and ask to take a look at the lights also - I had the coolest new toy on the block. Our guitarist ( a way more capable musician than myself )was impressed enought to order a set for one of his guitars to check them out for himself.

 

Roz at HotDotz is a pleasure to do business with, and was very helpful and knowledgeable too.

 

I just wanted to put the word out about a really good product.

 

Wonderdog

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I'd like em if you didnt have to mount the battery compartment on the headstock.

 

I can probably change that though.

 

I was thinking about taking the clear finish off my SR405 and staining it black and then putting UV and Blue LEDs around the pickups.

 

There is this neat little Conductive Paint pen that would work great for this.

 

You can actually DRAW the wires. :D

http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG
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These definitely seem like a cheaper/easier alternative to LEDs or FiberOptic arrays, and they look like a pretty smart idea, if you want lights.

 

I am slightly bothered by the fact that once applied to an instrument, they can't be moved to another instrument (or removed at all, apparently) without damaging the HotDotz,

and by the seeming fact that they don't have a 24 fret model.

 

Still, they seem a fine solution. Glad you like 'em ,'dog.

Thanks for the review...

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hey Mr. Phil - the set I ordered has the battery pack on the body end because the headstock on the 405 is too small to mount the pack. I ended up mounting the battery pack right to the face of the bass (the red LED has a smaller batter pack) right where I can flick it on or off with my left hand by sliding all the way up in the cutout. I love my 405. I might buy another and have it painted white to contrast my black one. Have you seen or played the Ibanez SR885 Soundgear 5-string? They have a nice price for them on Musiciansfriend, but I don't know much about them. It looks pretty similar to the 405.

 

And wraub - the dotz are all custom made, so they can be put together for any scale length/frets. But yep - it is a bummer that they're only good for one mounting. Built in job security for the manufacturer!

 

TT

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On the front? Thats even uglier! :D

 

OOOO I just though about how awesome these will look on my EUB I have yet to make. I wonder if they make a 40" scale set?

http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG
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"That's even uglier!"

 

- Unfortunately I agree! But, it's almost unnoticeable in any but full room lighting with the black against black. The battery pack is pretty small for the red LED's. I guess my bass is like my dog - they may be ugly to the rest of the world, but as long as "master" loves them...

 

TT

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better Idea which I'm gonna try to do.

 

I just scored 50 bright blue Surface mount LEDS on Ebay for $12 shipped.

 

I'm gonna try to inlay those on both sides of the fingerboard and I think If I make 2 channels (one for + the other for -) I can either run tiny strands of wire, or "draw" the wires with that circuit pen. Its $10 though even with my employee discount. :eek:

http://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/blue.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/black.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/fuscia.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/grey.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/orange.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/purple.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/red.JPGhttp://www.briantimpe.com/images/LDL/dots/yellow.JPG
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Originally posted by Wonderdog:

...wraub - the dotz are all custom made, so they can be put together for any scale length/frets. But yep - it is a bummer that they're only good for one mounting. Built in job security for the manufacturer!

 

TT

Cool, thanks for the update. I was not aware that they had different scale/fret length options.

 

I, also, am unsure just where the battery pack might mount on my main basses. Pity this can't be done with coin cells, hearing aid cells, or the like. Would certainly open up more mounting options.

 

Peace,

 

wraub

 

I'm a lot more like I am now than I was when I got here.

 

 

 

 

 

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That's awesome. Inlaid would be better. I did find that I have to get used to the slightly raised (about the height of a dime) profile of the HotDotz strip along the top edge. I had never even noticed how often I roll my thumb over to muffle strings, and it felt a little weird at first. The other thing I have to get used to is to be slightly more careful when picking up the bass by the neck, or to pick it up by the cutout/horn. Although the strip is pretty durable once mounted, it could break or come loose if the bass is manipulated by the neck too much or too roughly.

 

I agree - most bitchin'

 

TT

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