Fret Levelling
- Thread starter texred
- Start date
Re: Fret Levelling
Its not unusual for some guitars to have a fret that has popped up from time to time - especially with more varied climates. In that way spot levelling or filing can be required if the fret cannot be pressed down or there are other considerations like humps.
But this tool is like auto park assist.......a solution for a skill which really should be learned rather than compensated for.
Philly Luthier tools is the best place for any specific tools if t you feel like diving into fretwork btw. The crowning file is about 1/3 the price as an example.
Its not unusual for some guitars to have a fret that has popped up from time to time - especially with more varied climates. In that way spot levelling or filing can be required if the fret cannot be pressed down or there are other considerations like humps.
But this tool is like auto park assist.......a solution for a skill which really should be learned rather than compensated for.
Philly Luthier tools is the best place for any specific tools if t you feel like diving into fretwork btw. The crowning file is about 1/3 the price as an example.
NegativeEase
New member
Re: Fret Levelling
I've done it a lot -maybe 6 complete fret jobs on various guitars and dozens of hotel fret leveling sessions -usually changing to Jumbos or medium Jumbos. Changing out fret wire or fret leveling is not hard -just takes patience. I think I did my first full fret job in the Best Western on Music Row in Nashville ( A really ****ty hotel -but Neil Young used to own the bar there so it's got that going for it) 15 years ago just as something to do productive when I was in Nashville for 4 months - I changed out my Tele to jumbos and the results were good after several days of tweaking and a few self taught lessons on not scarring the maple sides. I order fret levelers tools from Stew Mac and a few Home Depot micro tools.
By a cheap guitar and try it for yourself -I think it's fun to do and really interesting to dial in a guitar in a way most players never know how to.
I've done it a lot -maybe 6 complete fret jobs on various guitars and dozens of hotel fret leveling sessions -usually changing to Jumbos or medium Jumbos. Changing out fret wire or fret leveling is not hard -just takes patience. I think I did my first full fret job in the Best Western on Music Row in Nashville ( A really ****ty hotel -but Neil Young used to own the bar there so it's got that going for it) 15 years ago just as something to do productive when I was in Nashville for 4 months - I changed out my Tele to jumbos and the results were good after several days of tweaking and a few self taught lessons on not scarring the maple sides. I order fret levelers tools from Stew Mac and a few Home Depot micro tools.
By a cheap guitar and try it for yourself -I think it's fun to do and really interesting to dial in a guitar in a way most players never know how to.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Re: Fret Levelling
Seems like a good idea. I've done some levelling ..usually starts off with me trying to fix one or two frets .ands ends with failure/having to do them all with my fret levelling kit/files etc :lmao:
I don't see why this should'nt work :bigthumb:
Seems like a good idea. I've done some levelling ..usually starts off with me trying to fix one or two frets .ands ends with failure/having to do them all with my fret levelling kit/files etc :lmao:
I don't see why this should'nt work :bigthumb:
gilt.suspect
New member
Re: Fret Levelling
I saw an ad for this gadget last week and immediately went to the StewMac website to put it on my wish list. After seeing the price, I didn't put it on my wish list. What a rip off! But having put some thought into it, and what great tool it would be, I'm going to take a 1/4" piece of oak, 2" x 3" and tape 2 different grits of sandpaper to the middle of each edge:
220 grit on one long & short edge
320 grit on one long & short edge
I'll let y'all know how it works to spot level a fret.
I saw an ad for this gadget last week and immediately went to the StewMac website to put it on my wish list. After seeing the price, I didn't put it on my wish list. What a rip off! But having put some thought into it, and what great tool it would be, I'm going to take a 1/4" piece of oak, 2" x 3" and tape 2 different grits of sandpaper to the middle of each edge:
220 grit on one long & short edge
320 grit on one long & short edge
I'll let y'all know how it works to spot level a fret.
Re: Fret Levelling
Gotta make sure the cutting surface of the paper is precisely level with the outer bits of oak to within about .0001".....otherwise you will create more issue than what you started with.
Gotta make sure the cutting surface of the paper is precisely level with the outer bits of oak to within about .0001".....otherwise you will create more issue than what you started with.
gilt.suspect
New member
Re: Fret Levelling
Thanks for the heads up AlexR. I would have just stuck the sandpaper on the edge of the wood instead of countersinking it. It basically cost nothing to make but it is so time consuming and so inaccurate that it' s probably not worth it. Although it worked great to level the 12th fret of a vintage guitar, I don't know how often I would have to change the sandpaper. I used 400 grit. If I was running a guitar repair shop I would definitely buy the #fretkisser and not monkey around with making my own.
I filed the edge with a diamond file to about the thickness of the sandpaper and tape and then scraped it with a razor blade to get it somewhat flat checking my work with the calipers to get in the ballpark of .53mm
Thanks for the heads up AlexR. I would have just stuck the sandpaper on the edge of the wood instead of countersinking it. It basically cost nothing to make but it is so time consuming and so inaccurate that it' s probably not worth it. Although it worked great to level the 12th fret of a vintage guitar, I don't know how often I would have to change the sandpaper. I used 400 grit. If I was running a guitar repair shop I would definitely buy the #fretkisser and not monkey around with making my own.
I filed the edge with a diamond file to about the thickness of the sandpaper and tape and then scraped it with a razor blade to get it somewhat flat checking my work with the calipers to get in the ballpark of .53mm
texred
New member
Re: Fret Levelling
Well, ya'll had a party without me. Good idea, nice try gilt.suspect.
I have an '06 strat I couldn't get in tune, so while I was sick in bed sleeping, my sweetie did a setup and raised the bridge and fixed the fret sprouts. You will see why I call it "The Red-Headed Stepchild" (cherry burst-put me off bursts forever). Never play it. He discovered high frets around 2,3,4 area. (He won't pay $120 either). So he yells "Get in here!" I'm sound asleep, then thinking I couldn't have fkd up anything THAT badly. . . there he was with straight edge tapping and running up and down, and giving me a lesson. So he said 3rd fret, I said second, and they were both high. And the rest a little loose. Town only produced Loctite, so that's what they got, no baking soda. I went to sleep and he went back to work. I can see he got a little tired on the 16th!
Now I know that feel takes a lot of practice. That's why he gets the work. At least I knew it had fret sprouts and the tuners were chit.
So, sounds good now; maybe it can join the family. He's gone, and I'm going to check new amp.
And someday I'm buying a Fret Kisser. Just so you know I can handle the job without one.
:sleeping:
Well, ya'll had a party without me. Good idea, nice try gilt.suspect.
I have an '06 strat I couldn't get in tune, so while I was sick in bed sleeping, my sweetie did a setup and raised the bridge and fixed the fret sprouts. You will see why I call it "The Red-Headed Stepchild" (cherry burst-put me off bursts forever). Never play it. He discovered high frets around 2,3,4 area. (He won't pay $120 either). So he yells "Get in here!" I'm sound asleep, then thinking I couldn't have fkd up anything THAT badly. . . there he was with straight edge tapping and running up and down, and giving me a lesson. So he said 3rd fret, I said second, and they were both high. And the rest a little loose. Town only produced Loctite, so that's what they got, no baking soda. I went to sleep and he went back to work. I can see he got a little tired on the 16th!
Now I know that feel takes a lot of practice. That's why he gets the work. At least I knew it had fret sprouts and the tuners were chit.
So, sounds good now; maybe it can join the family. He's gone, and I'm going to check new amp.
And someday I'm buying a Fret Kisser. Just so you know I can handle the job without one.
:sleeping:
Re: Fret Levelling
Gilt - a flat scraper or even a creditcard works to check how the frets are (plus a file) is all you need. You find where the scraper physically rocks over a highspot (or whole fret) and simply file down until you have no more rocking.
Of course you still need to crown and then polish after that.
Gilt - a flat scraper or even a creditcard works to check how the frets are (plus a file) is all you need. You find where the scraper physically rocks over a highspot (or whole fret) and simply file down until you have no more rocking.
Of course you still need to crown and then polish after that.
texred
New member
Re: Fret Levelling
Welll, it's like this. I live alone in the middle of the Chihuhuan Desert, where there are no shops, only Mike Stevens. He doesn't do setups, he makes custom Fenders $10k-$20k, like for Junior Brown. Then, I am technologically impaired (no patience, no micro work). So I have to learn it myself. {whine}
That doesn't mean I can't have a Fret Kisser and anything or anybody else I can get my hands on. Could walk across the river. Mexico.
Welll, it's like this. I live alone in the middle of the Chihuhuan Desert, where there are no shops, only Mike Stevens. He doesn't do setups, he makes custom Fenders $10k-$20k, like for Junior Brown. Then, I am technologically impaired (no patience, no micro work). So I have to learn it myself. {whine}
That doesn't mean I can't have a Fret Kisser and anything or anybody else I can get my hands on. Could walk across the river. Mexico.