Non existent stage lighting making it impossible to see guitar neck

[Stokey]

I play occasional gigs at a small bar with terrible stage lighting. I can’t actually see the fretboard well enough to locate the anchor 5th, 7th and octave frets. Basically I’m flying blind. Is there a lighting solution, like maybe a swan-neck light that clips on the end of the guitar? It’s a ‘63 Fender Precision so I don’t want anything permanent! Help!

[Doctor J]

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paraboo-fluorescent-Stickers-beautiful-decoration/dp/B077FJGMDC

Edited August 22, 2023 by Doctor J

[Mykesbass]

Not clip on, but how about a very slimline free-standing light, such as a reading lamp that you could position to light the neck? Very small footprint (less than a mic stand).

[nilorius]

27 minutes ago, Mykesbass said:

Not clip on, but how about a very slimline free-standing light, such as a reading lamp that you could position to light the neck? Very small footprint (less than a mic stand).

I would do the same.

[ahpook]

34 minutes ago, Doctor J said:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Paraboo-fluorescent-Stickers-beautiful-decoration/dp/B077FJGMDC

 

This would be my solution too.

[BassBunny]

I've one bass with Luminlay side dots and two that have stick on glow in the dark ones. I carry a couple of UV torches to charge them. Works a treat.

I made my own stick ons. Bought a piece of A4 luminous self adhesive and a hole punch.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/161417187491?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=fJoKXDG3QC-&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=NXO8JSHoStK&var=460441492575&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Woodinblack]

Take your own stage light?

[BigRedX]

Luminlay.

 

I have used stick on dots in the past, but IME they always wear off at the most inconvenient moment.

[Rexel Matador]

We take a couple of these to gigs in case the lighting's rubbish. Just stick it on the floor.

Edited August 22, 2023 by Rexel Matador

[Leonard Smalls]

27 minutes ago, BassBunny said:

Luminlay side dots

I use Luminlay on all my live basses too... They workwell enough for me to do widdly-woo all over the neck in all sorts of darkness.

I tried the cheap'n'nasty ones from Amazon, but they fell off very easily.

[Stokey]

Thanks so much for all your suggestions! Much appreciated.

[Supernaut]

Ask the landlord to pay their electricity bill. 😁

Edited August 22, 2023 by Supernaut

[Newfoundfreedom]

[ahpook]

 

Aaaaah, now it's starting to make sense...

Edited August 22, 2023 by ahpook

[Baloney Balderdash]

3 hours ago, ahpook said:

 

Aaaaah, now it's starting to make sense...

 

Bobo should have worn this:

3 hours ago, Newfoundfreedom said:

 

As a tribute to The Village People.

 

[Doctor J]

There's always Orbital goggles

 

[chris_b]

Make use of this great opportunity to practice playing the bass without staring at the neck.

[SteveXFR]

I have used Luminlay markers and they work great. I'd pay someone else to fit them but that's just me. It only cost £60 for fitting them a few years ago

[tauzero]

[Marky L]

I've applied some dots of a neon yellow nail varnish right next to the normal neck side dots and they seem to "glow" very well under fairly poor light.

[Cat Burrito]

I think your best options are the aforementioned illuminous dots and Amazon do a cheap stage light for about £12.  Nothing permanent or obvious. 

 

That said, I recently did a dingy basement gig just recently wearing sunglasses with black strings.... but then like Austen Powers, danger is my middle name! 

 

Seriously though, you won't relax and enjoy the show if you feel up against it. 

[chris_b]

9 minutes ago, Cat Burrito said:

. . . . I recently did a dingy basement gig just recently wearing sunglasses with black strings....

 

For some reason I decided, on the first gig after I de-fretted my Framus bass, to wear sunglasses. I was 17, and should have known better! I couldn't see a thing and was far too cool to take them off. That gig was just a succession of out of tune playing and bum notes. Never wore sunglasses on a gig again.

[Bolo]

A stripe of masking tape on the back of the neck at 5th fret, and any others of use. Eyes are for chumps!

[Leonard Smalls]

Take it all back! I didn't use Luminlay at all - I looked into it and decided I was a) too mean b) too scared to drill into my Wal.

Somehow my memory convinced me these were the Luminlay, but they were Glowtec Fret Finders.

They work very well, and for £9.99 you can do a number of basses. And the dots aren't annoyingly raised, and the glue has so far held for over a year.

https://glowtec.co.uk/fret-finders/

[Bassman1974]

Sticky luminous paper cut to size. A quick blast from a UV torch does the job. I'm not putting them on my Ric or Hof though.