besley
Well-known member
I just received a new Duke 10 Tenor banjo uke the other day, and initially was not very impressed. The setup was poor, with sharp fret ends and rough edges everywhere. There were also no side dots on the fretboard, which might not be so bad except that the fret markers on the front of the fretboard were all but invisible from the side. So I put it up for sale, but when no one showed any interest I went ahead and did a full setup. With the result that it's now a keeper. But it still lacked good fret markers.
I've tried using those rub on fret dots before, but they always wear off after a few weeks for me. So I figured I would do it up right and install regular side dot fret markers. There are lots of videos showing how it's done available.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRabVq4LjCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNOfXGBKAs
All you really need is some one of the white side dot rods that Stew Mac sells. That, and the nerve to drill into the side of your ukulele. For this uke I used the 1/16" size rod.
http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_an...Trim/Side_Dots/Plastic_Side_Dot_Material.html
Then just get a 1/16" drill bit, and preferably a hand drill so things don't get away from you. You mark off the proper positions, drill the holes about 1/4" deep, add glue with a toothpick, and stick in the rod material. You cut it off proud of the neck, let the glue dry, then cut it close as possible with a razor blade, and finally sand flush. The rod only cost me $1.27, while a local repair shop gave me a quote of between $30 to $50 for the job.
Anyway, if you have a uke lacking side dots, installing proper side dots really isn't that hard to do.
The result was pretty satisfying, and definitely beats adding the side dots with a paint pen like I used to do.
I've tried using those rub on fret dots before, but they always wear off after a few weeks for me. So I figured I would do it up right and install regular side dot fret markers. There are lots of videos showing how it's done available.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRabVq4LjCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNOfXGBKAs
All you really need is some one of the white side dot rods that Stew Mac sells. That, and the nerve to drill into the side of your ukulele. For this uke I used the 1/16" size rod.
http://www.stewmac.com/Materials_an...Trim/Side_Dots/Plastic_Side_Dot_Material.html
Then just get a 1/16" drill bit, and preferably a hand drill so things don't get away from you. You mark off the proper positions, drill the holes about 1/4" deep, add glue with a toothpick, and stick in the rod material. You cut it off proud of the neck, let the glue dry, then cut it close as possible with a razor blade, and finally sand flush. The rod only cost me $1.27, while a local repair shop gave me a quote of between $30 to $50 for the job.
Anyway, if you have a uke lacking side dots, installing proper side dots really isn't that hard to do.
The result was pretty satisfying, and definitely beats adding the side dots with a paint pen like I used to do.
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