It's all the cool home made tools and jigs that I love, think of all the great things Dan has created for builders and repair people, he's forgotten more than most will ever know.
Love Dan's attention to detail. I watched a few videos on installing neck side dots and I kept coming away from them thinking to myself "what sloppy work!" Then I watch this video and note that Dan uses depth-stop drill bits, a manual drill to start the holes and a chisel to make sure the edge won't protrude. Not to mention the custom string jig so he can clamp the neck in a vise without removing the strings. Bravo, sir, bravo! Absolutely love Dan's techniques and knowledge. Stewmac: give that guy a raise!!
I’ve watched a few videos on the installations of the luminlays,and this guy makes it very easy.was going to pay for it,but now I think I’ll do it myself.thx for this great video!
You can also use a sharpened coloured pencil if you don't have side dot marker material. I've seen a video somewhere where Dan does this with a red colouring pencil on an old Gretcsh. Pretty cool 'hack' (if that's the right word)...I'm old man.
Hi Dan! Great video. I'm surprised you didn't use the Stew Mac #4905 centering rule @1:13. Like you I have used a 6" rule for 30 years as a luthier .....but recently I bought the SM #4905....I love it for exactly this kind of job!
Where can I find dot material? My first ukulele turned out to be a real keeper, but it came with no side dots. I think I can do the work in my shop but I need the right material. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
I'm fixing to do side dot inlays and I noticed that you use a chisel to smooth the ends, but use a saw to cut to length. Why not use the chisel for both? I was contemplating using glow in the dark side dot markers, but because the neck has white binding, they may not be visible? I was thinking of using 'both sides flat, precious gem stones'...any ideas? I'm subscribed to this channel because I love the content and also because I'm a jack of all trades, master of none !!! Thanks👍
I took of the fingerboard and have to glue it back on Do I have to wait for it to set before I put the side dot markers or can I put them at the same time?
I have a Yamaha Silent guitar that I also want to add a few side dots to. Is Dan cutting the side dot material to the exact depth of the hole he drilled?
First time I'm getting a bit concerned at SM. It had been an easy fix with Bloomsfield's guitar as well, but the strategy had been different. The markers don't reach bottom, are they flush? I am sure the lady could have paid for a MB fix as well...
Hey this is cool. How would you swap out black side markers for white ones? I have a musicman cutlass guitar. It has a dark roasted maple neck with small black side dot markers. In dim light settings, I lose the black side dot markers. It it possible to swap them out for white ones?
Haha! The only thing worse than a roasted maple neck with small black side dots is a HIGHLY FIGURED roasted FLAME maple neck with small black side dots. It was gorgeous on the bench or in bright daylight. But in most real world gigging situations, those little black dots become nearly invisible or indistinguishable from the figure in the wood. So I drilled ‘em out and put LUMINOUS dots in. What a waste! Those were also very hard to see unless I was playing in a really dark situation and the dots had just recently been exposed to bright light to “charge” them up. Otherwise, they were fairly invisible and fairly worthless for me. So I drilled those out too and replaced them with white pearly looking dots. Slight improvement. But still not great. My next move may be bigger plain white dots. The downside of the white dots is that they don’t match the black dots on the face of the fretboard. But with the highly figured roasted maple, bigger black dots would still be kinda hard to see onstage. The contrast between the two different color dots is a little bit distracting but at least the guitar will be more fully functional. Note to self: No more necks with a roasted flame maple fretboards! 🤣
And here I was thinking that I came up with a notched block to go over the strings for clamping purposes and for other guitar repair purposes on my own and wondered why I never saw anyone else do that... that is until now. haha
My experience was that they were not very visible in many situations. They were kind of a cute novelty…and visible only if the stage was really dark…and the dots had been exposed to bright light within a very recent period of time. Might work for some. Didn’t work for me.
Yeah, man! I got nervous watching him drill that deep. But he’s definitely the go-to guru! And anything he might break, he also knows how to fix! He’s a true master. Like a freaking wizard or something!
Because they can be a confusing nuisance, I mean who the hell needs to know where the 3rd fret is or the 5th? If you can't sort that out while playing then perhaps you should consider another instrument. Some guitarists even feel they need markers for the first fret. Go figure. Furthermore, put a capo on the fingerboard and the markers all go to hell depending on where the capo is. If you get lost all the time then one discrete dot at the 7th is all that is reasonably necessary.
Unless you’re a disciplined classical player, you are truly the grand exception to the rule. Most of us normal working guitarists who pay the bills by playing music benefit greatly from at least having side dots from the third fret on down. Maybe Leo got it wrong back in the early 1950’s…and Gibson…and Gretsch…and Tokai…and Washburn…and Ovation…and Martin…and Ibanez…and PRS…and Suhr…and
@@FreddysFrets That's not traditionally the right way for classical instruments, aside from reducing its resale value, markers can be a confusing nuisance to many players. For example, put a capo on the fingerboard and the markers all go to hell depending on where the capo is. And really, who the hell needs to know where the 3rd fret is? or the 5th? If you can't sort that out while playing then perhaps you should consider another instrument. Some guitarists even feel they need markers for the first fret. Go figure. If you genuinely get lost all the time then one discrete dot at the 7th is all that is reasonably necessary to remedy the situation. Stickers or other renewable/removable paints are an ideal compromise and won't spoil the gig for the instrument's next owner.
Butchering her father's luthery work and reducing the monetary value of the instrument. But hey, if that's the way she wants to roll, it's her instrument..... Nevertheless, if you genuinely get lost on such huge black fingerboards there are quick and easy, non-permanent solutions to attach position markers that are also non-destructive.
@@patmurch6184 No, not to most classical style players, who are overwhelmingly comfortable playing without them. Not only can markers be a distraction but they appear to the player to be in a different relative positions if a player occasionally uses a capo on different frets. The 12th fret neck/body join appears to present a manageable navigable length of fingerboard for most people. However 14 fret joins found in modern steel strings and long electric guitar fingerboards may well demand positional markers for assistance. Even if you are installing markers in a classical instrument a single 5th or 7th fret marker is often more than adequate. I mean, who really requires a dot to show them where the 3rd fret is etc?
@@rjlchristie yeah that's what I've heard I've been playing bass electric guitar and classical for several years as well as drums I was thinking of adding a couple dots to my classical. For me it can help as a reference point while playing particular leads or melodies... I pretty much always play by ear anyway
@@patmurch6184 Ideally, if it's our guitar and for our own use, we'd modify it as we please and only think twice about that if we expected to ever sell it or pass it on. I'm not sure where modifying a potential family heirloom like this guitar fits into the picture. Do you respect the maker's creation or alter it to suit your own idiosyncrasies?
These videos are like therapy. I can watch this workmanship for hours on end.
Me too. I love learning from a Pro like Mr. Dan - guy is phenomenal.
Building and fixing guitars must be such a rewarding experience!
I can tell you it really is im fortunate enough to be able to sell my work.
Dean G right on dude!
It's all the cool home made tools and jigs that I love, think of all the great things Dan has created for builders and repair people, he's forgotten more than most will ever know.
Building a guitar of my own right now and the Dan Erlewine videos are a godsend. He makes it look so easy . . . .
Love Dan's attention to detail. I watched a few videos on installing neck side dots and I kept coming away from them thinking to myself "what sloppy work!" Then I watch this video and note that Dan uses depth-stop drill bits, a manual drill to start the holes and a chisel to make sure the edge won't protrude. Not to mention the custom string jig so he can clamp the neck in a vise without removing the strings. Bravo, sir, bravo! Absolutely love Dan's techniques and knowledge. Stewmac: give that guy a raise!!
Dan Erlewine is such a Star. Love his videos
I’ve watched a few videos on the installations of the luminlays,and this guy makes it very easy.was going to pay for it,but now I think I’ll do it myself.thx for this great video!
I love watching this guy work! Such a creative problem solver too
I did the old Saw Dust and Glue combo to fill in the holes, and sanded it. Works great for making a new neck.
Excellent video, well laid out, and concise
You can also use a sharpened coloured pencil if you don't have side dot marker material. I've seen a video somewhere where Dan does this with a red colouring pencil on an old Gretcsh. Pretty cool 'hack' (if that's the right word)...I'm old man.
Hi Dan! Great video. I'm surprised you didn't use the Stew Mac #4905 centering rule @1:13. Like you I have used a 6" rule for 30 years as a luthier .....but recently I bought the SM #4905....I love it for exactly this kind of job!
Luthier: *Drills holes, instals carefully
Me: *puts dots with corrector pen
Exactly!
I thought I was the only one lol
*Billy Preston's "That's the way God planned it" starts playing*
th-cam.com/video/Zvt5qkPoxYg/w-d-xo.html
Great video. So much skill goes into making guitars.
Where can I find dot material? My first ukulele turned out to be a real keeper, but it came with no side dots. I think I can do the work in my shop but I need the right material. Thanks for sharing your wisdom.
Does he have a video on replacing fret dot markers?
Any reason to switch between saw and chisel? The Chisel gives such a clean cut, I'd want to just stick with that.
Yeah, that interests me aswell. Only reason is maybe the glue sticks to the rough surface better.
I had the same question, my guess would be so the glue has something to stick too
@@fernandoizelli7598 lol
@@fernandoizelli7598 Naughty!
I'm fixing to do side dot inlays and I noticed that you use a chisel to smooth the ends, but use a saw to cut to length. Why not use the chisel for both? I was contemplating using glow in the dark side dot markers, but because the neck has white binding, they may not be visible? I was thinking of using 'both sides flat, precious gem stones'...any ideas? I'm subscribed to this channel because I love the content and also because I'm a jack of all trades, master of none !!! Thanks👍
Super useful. Thanks!
I took of the fingerboard and have to glue it back on Do I have to wait for it to set before I put the side dot markers or can I put them at the same time?
Can you also teach how to do that on fret plane? Thank you! You are everyone go to guy for DIY guitar
Can you tell me what the white material is that you use to insert into the holes? I’ve been to a few places and nobody knows what it is. Thanks.
I heard a dip of white latex paint works as well.
I have a Yamaha Silent guitar that I also want to add a few side dots to. Is Dan cutting the side dot material to the exact depth of the hole he drilled?
the hole is about 1/8th inch deeper to hold glue
Thanks for this video. I have an old Kay archtop that's gonna get this treatment shortly :)
Nicely done!
First time I'm getting a bit concerned at SM. It had been an easy fix with Bloomsfield's guitar as well, but the strategy had been different. The markers don't reach bottom, are they flush? I am sure the lady could have paid for a MB fix as well...
Hey this is cool. How would you swap out black side markers for white ones? I have a musicman cutlass guitar. It has a dark roasted maple neck with small black side dot markers. In dim light settings, I lose the black side dot markers. It it possible to swap them out for white ones?
You would just drill right into the old side dots -- obliterating them in the process, while at the same time making a hole for the new ones.
@@samuelbarham8483 oh really, that easy? Awesome thanks!
@@j-man9457 I'm a relatively new luthier, but that's the way I would do it -- and I can't think of any other way one *would* do it!
@@samuelbarham8483 sounds good thanks...
Haha! The only thing worse than a roasted maple neck with small black side dots is a HIGHLY FIGURED roasted FLAME maple neck with small black side dots. It was gorgeous on the bench or in bright daylight. But in most real world gigging situations, those little black dots become nearly invisible or indistinguishable from the figure in the wood. So I drilled ‘em out and put LUMINOUS dots in. What a waste! Those were also very hard to see unless I was playing in a really dark situation and the dots had just recently been exposed to bright light to “charge” them up. Otherwise, they were fairly invisible and fairly worthless for me. So I drilled those out too and replaced them with white pearly looking dots. Slight improvement. But still not great. My next move may be bigger plain white dots. The downside of the white dots is that they don’t match the black dots on the face of the fretboard. But with the highly figured roasted maple, bigger black dots would still be kinda hard to see onstage. The contrast between the two different color dots is a little bit distracting but at least the guitar will be more fully functional.
Note to self: No more necks with a roasted flame maple fretboards! 🤣
I have black dots on the side of the neck which I want to replace with white, have you done these before?
Thanks for the video. I enjoyed it!
Great job! What is the dot material? That's a gorgeous guitar.
Joy Benko acrylic stuff
I love these videos.
love this! I think I will practice on a cheap guitar first lol
Dan is a national treasure.
Wow. Just what I need
Thanks for the video
Very good!!
My new Yamaha APXT2 has NO 3rd fret marker.... how frustrating.....
Thank you
Genius
What is the best glue to use to glue felt to wood?
Thick CA.
And here I was thinking that I came up with a notched block to go over the strings for clamping purposes and for other guitar repair purposes on my own and wondered why I never saw anyone else do that... that is until now. haha
cool vid
and they come out flush for you?
Couldn't actually see you put the dots in the holes, because the "comming attractions" pop-ups came up over the top of whatever you were doing.
👍
What about installing luminlays through side dots?
I like Luminlays too, CJEUK...gunna use them in my next build
My experience was that they were not very visible in many situations. They were kind of a cute novelty…and visible only if the stage was really dark…and the dots had been exposed to bright light within a very recent period of time.
Might work for some. Didn’t work for me.
I would drill much less, a few mm. Speck of glue, won't come out.
Yeah, man! I got nervous watching him drill that deep. But he’s definitely the go-to guru! And anything he might break, he also knows how to fix! He’s a true master. Like a freaking wizard or something!
why would my guitar not have dots
Because they can be a confusing nuisance, I mean who the hell needs to know where the 3rd fret is or the 5th? If you can't sort that out while playing then perhaps you should consider another instrument. Some guitarists even feel they need markers for the first fret. Go figure.
Furthermore, put a capo on the fingerboard and the markers all go to hell depending on where the capo is.
If you get lost all the time then one discrete dot at the 7th is all that is reasonably necessary.
Unless you’re a disciplined classical player, you are truly the grand exception to the rule. Most of us normal working guitarists who pay the bills by playing music benefit greatly from at least having side dots from the third fret on down.
Maybe Leo got it wrong back in the early 1950’s…and Gibson…and Gretsch…and Tokai…and Washburn…and Ovation…and Martin…and Ibanez…and PRS…and Suhr…and
les trous fragilise le manche et affecte la résonance globale ,des trous pas profonds sont préférable sinon un "tatouage"!!!!!!!
Why not just put a sticker?
Stickers come off. Dan is a luthier, he does things once, the right way.
@@FreddysFrets That's not traditionally the right way for classical instruments, aside from reducing its resale value, markers can be a confusing nuisance to many players. For example, put a capo on the fingerboard and the markers all go to hell depending on where the capo is.
And really, who the hell needs to know where the 3rd fret is? or the 5th? If you can't sort that out while playing then perhaps you should consider another instrument. Some guitarists even feel they need markers for the first fret. Go figure.
If you genuinely get lost all the time then one discrete dot at the 7th is all that is reasonably necessary to remedy the situation.
Stickers or other renewable/removable paints are an ideal compromise and won't spoil the gig for the instrument's next owner.
Butchering her father's luthery work and reducing the monetary value of the instrument.
But hey, if that's the way she wants to roll, it's her instrument.....
Nevertheless, if you genuinely get lost on such huge black fingerboards there are quick and easy, non-permanent solutions to attach position markers that are also non-destructive.
Probably adds value no?
@@patmurch6184 No, not to most classical style players, who are overwhelmingly comfortable playing without them. Not only can markers be a distraction but they appear to the player to be in a different relative positions if a player occasionally uses a capo on different frets.
The 12th fret neck/body join appears to present a manageable navigable length of fingerboard for most people. However 14 fret joins found in modern steel strings and long electric guitar fingerboards may well demand positional markers for assistance.
Even if you are installing markers in a classical instrument a single 5th or 7th fret marker is often more than adequate. I mean, who really requires a dot to show them where the 3rd fret is etc?
@@rjlchristie yeah that's what I've heard I've been playing bass electric guitar and classical for several years as well as drums I was thinking of adding a couple dots to my classical. For me it can help as a reference point while playing particular leads or melodies... I pretty much always play by ear anyway
@@patmurch6184 Ideally, if it's our guitar and for our own use, we'd modify it as we please and only think twice about that if we expected to ever sell it or pass it on.
I'm not sure where modifying a potential family heirloom like this guitar fits into the picture. Do you respect the maker's creation or alter it to suit your own idiosyncrasies?