Side dots

DiscoStu

I have a nylon classical with no fret markers or side dots, and although I get by I make more mistakes on this guitar than any other.

What's the best way to add side dots? If I can make it look like part of the instrument rather than stickers or marker pen then all the better.

FelineGuitars

Side markers can be added - maybe 2mm mother of pearl , which can still look like it 's not out of place

Involves drilling, installing and smoothing the finish, which may put it into the hands of a repairman if you don't fancy doing it .

Likely to be between half an hour to an hour's worth of work plus materials

Roland

For side dots the quickest way is a silver Sharpie. Metallic ink seems more wear resilient than plain white. If they are round then they will look as though they are meant to be there. Of course you could drill shallow holes, in which case there's a range of different fillers you could use.

DiscoStu

I'd rather something more permanent and uniform than a Sharpie. I'm happy to do it myself, if I drilled 2mm holes and didn't want to use mop then what filler could I use?

GuitarMonkey

The usual thing is 2mm white plastic rod. You drill the hole, put some super glue in and push in a bit of the rod. When dry, cut the rod flush then sand level and polish.

octatonic

GuitarMonkey said:

The usual thing is 2mm white plastic rod. You drill the hole, put some super glue in and push in a bit of the rod. When dry, cut the rod flush then sand level and polish.

This is how I do it except I use a scraper, rather than sand flat.

If you are very careful then you don't damage the finish around the point where you've drilled.

Some masking tape can help prevent finish cracking around the drill site.

streethawk

This is pretty cool if you can be bothered:

DiscoStu

I was wondering how to drill the holes upward of the 12th fret... His extension tube solution is neat, however I guess the high ones are not essential given how little I play up there so I could get away with 3,5,7,9 and maybe 12.

FelineGuitars

DiscoStu said:

I was wondering how to drill the holes upward of the 12th fret... His extension tube solution is neat, however I guess the high ones are not essential given how little I play up there so I could get away with 3,5,7,9 and maybe 12.

Up to 12 is usually enough for most classicals on the side

DiscoStu

Cheers guys. I'm going to go with the plastic rod option. Now, ivory or white...

olafgarten

If you don't want to use a plastic rod, I know someone who used polyfilla.

paulnb57

streethawk said:

This is pretty cool if you can be bothered:

Good tips here! Thanks for sharing!

DiscoStu

I'm going in!

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/fr/cp0/e15/q65/13051541_10153839197709597_9094807685135399975_n.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9&oh=7c9f385b9c13b8085451779e9084803c&oe=57A4CA75

paulnb57

Good luck chap!

Andyjr1515

How did it go?