Luminlay side markers, worth it?

[BassTool]

Esteemed bass builders, what are your thoughts on the Luminlay glow in the dark fretboard side marker dot inserts?

 

Worth the money?

 

Do you need the torch to 'charge' them up? Bit of a faff on for me if that's the case 🤔

 

Convert me 😆

[SpondonBassed]

2 hours ago, BassTool said:

Convert me

 

I would never try to impose my moral values on another adult.  Heeheehee.

 

I am interested to hear how longer term owners of this feature feel about it too.  For me, an LED based set of side markers would be perfect... if not for having to remember to carry spare batteries.  On an active bass it wouldn't be much extra to remember, yet I would rather keep some consistency between my lot.

 

Like you, I would prefer not to have to carry a special torch.  It more than cancels out the advantage of having no battery for the side dots if you still need to remember to carry both the torch and its batteries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[BlueMoon]

I’ve been a user of Luminlay for a number of years. Very content and, in my opinion, a worthwhile upgrade. The luminosity is enough on dark stages without that “look at me” element that some LED setups have. I don’t use a UV lamp regularly and they still work in a subtle, useable way.

 

The original Luminlay product from Japan is expensive. Other products are out there (e.g. Glowtech stickers) that I haven’t tried. These may be good as well, and they may be cheaper. “You pays your money”, as they say.

[Hellzero]

Firstly, should you do so, don't buy cheap aftermarket Luminlays, but the originals.

 

Secondly I have these on my two main (sixer fretless) basses and it's working great.

 

I have two original Luminlay torches too, but black light (UV) will charge them as well as cell phone torch and daylight, so I don't think there's any hassle there as it's all quite common including onstage black light.

 

So, to me, the real Luminlays are totally worth it, and avoid the others.

[BassTool]

Thanks for your input chaps 🙏🏼

[itu]

Practically any light source will charge the dots. UV is the most efficient, but not necessary. If you really want, a UV torch from Amazon cannot be overly expensive, but not a must. 

 

I believe Luminlay contains Super-Luminova from Japan. It's a Strontium based inactive luminous material. Lifetime is decades. (Radio) Active materials (the most common is Tritium) are functional but their lifetime is limited. Half life of Tritium is 12.5 years. 

[RonC]

I’m building a fretless 5 string at the moment and yesterday I placed the luminlay dots on the side. They light up directly in the dark! I bought the original ones from Japan.

never a problem anymore playing fretless on a dark stage!

Much easier and cheaper to install as LEDs!

 

Edited Friday at 13:30 by RonC

[Silky999]

I have installed Luminlay in several basses and always used the Japanese original product. It comes remarkably quickly when ordered and a quick blast with a light source is enough to charge them. I have got a uv torch off Amazon and that does the job for not a lot of money. 

[BassTool]

Really helpful from some top Basschat experts, thanks 😇

 

So, if I was to go ahead buying from here in the UK, where is the best source ? I'm thinking they have to come from abroad even if buying from Amazon. Presumably their isn't a UK distributor? 🤔

[BassTool]

On 10/10/2025 at 13:40, RonC said:

I’m building a fretless 5 string at the moment and yesterday I placed the luminlay dots on the side. They light up directly in the dark! I bought the original ones from Japan.

never a problem anymore playing fretless on a dark stage!

Much easier and cheaper to install as LEDs!

 

More lovely work Ron 😉👍🏼

[Silky999]

1 hour ago, BassTool said:

Really helpful from some top Basschat experts, thanks 😇

 

So, if I was to go ahead buying from here in the UK, where is the best source ? I'm thinking they have to come from abroad even if buying from Amazon. Presumably their isn't a UK distributor? 🤔

I ordered mine from here;

 

https://meisterworks.myshopify.com/en-gb/collections/luminlay-products

 

you can change the currency at top right of page to GBP

Edited 13 hours ago by Silky999

[BassTool]

51 minutes ago, Silky999 said:

I ordered mine from here;

 

https://meisterworks.myshopify.com/en-gb/collections/luminlay-products

 

you can change the currency at top right of page to GBP

Ordered, thanks everyone! 🙏🏼

[RonC]

Are you gonna build a bass or convert the side dots of an existing one?