LED Fretboards by MSA

Alan Brookes · Post by **Alan Brookes** » 25 Feb 2014 2:25 pm

I've been planning on making a lit-up fretboard for years, but my idea was not to use LEDs, instead make the fretboard out of perspex, stick strips of masking tape where the frets are, then spray the whole thing black, removing the masking tape and lighting it from underneath with about three small bulbs working from a battery. You would need to fix colored and/or opaque plastic underneath the fretboard so that you don't directly see the bulbs. To even out the light, if you had a hollow guitar, you could line the inside of the back with aluminum foil.

You could also use this method to have an illuminated name on the front of the instrument.

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 26 Feb 2014 8:53 pm

As soon as you have one for a 25 inch scale, I want it!

Ken Byng · Post by **Ken Byng** » 27 Feb 2014 1:47 am

I once painted a Sho~Bud dustcatcher fretboard fret lines with luminous paint with good results but this idea goes much further.

This cool innovation from MSA would be a godsend on a stage where the lights go down very low. However, the bar would also need some illumination too.

Any ideas guys?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 12 Mar 2014 2:05 pm

Lfrets information is now available on our website.
www.msapedalsteels.com

Quentin Hickey · Post by **Quentin Hickey** » 12 Mar 2014 4:53 pm

Kyle, can I get the univeral fretboards with the chess pieces for my MSA classic?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 12 Mar 2014 4:57 pm

Yes, you can..

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 12 Mar 2014 8:12 pm

Kyle, being visually impaired, I don't see shapes very well, but I see colors OK, so I've altered the fretboards of my guitars thusly

Can that be done with the LED fretboards?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 14 Mar 2014 1:09 pm

Mike,
The Lfrets markers can be any color you desire.

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 14 Mar 2014 1:55 pm

do you have Lfrets for 12 string, 25 inch scale?

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 15 Mar 2014 3:58 pm

Gil,
Lfrets will be available in 25" scale.

Kyle Bennett · Post by **Kyle Bennett** » 15 Mar 2014 4:05 pm

Universal Lfrets typical field installation

Same photo in dim light

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 17 Mar 2014 3:14 pm

Kyle, some of the pictures are of the regular MSA chess pieces, and some are the colored L markings. Are you offering both?

Gil Berry · Post by **Gil Berry** » 17 Mar 2014 5:11 pm

Kyle, what is the thickness of the lfret fretboard? I'm wondering if it's thin enough to just install right over the existing fretboard without any doing any remodeling to the guitar? Also, when do you expect lfrets for 12 string guitars in 25 inch scale to be available? Thanks, Gil

Niels Andrews · Post by **Niels Andrews** » 18 Mar 2014 9:56 am

In Dallas they said that they were planning on custom fret markers as an option. The one's there were Chess, Dots and L's. All very cool and they are really thin so no one would even know they have them installed, not even the player.