In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

[Ayrton]

You want it, you got it.

As I have always said, I am not a pro. This is just how I do things and I am always learning and refining. Hopefully I can teach you something and inspire you to try.

Most of this you have seen before but I did try to get some things that may be different.

Let's get started shall we


This guitar gets gigged regularly by its owner and the frets had been leveled down to around .039" and were in need of replacement.

First, and most importantly a nice cup of joe (or tea for my UK friends)

The nut has already been replaced once, so a quick tap to break the glue, then tap out from the side. DO NOT try this with Gibson factory Corian nuts. They are epoxied in and you have to saw them out.

Clean the glue residue out of the slot with a razor and nut slot file.

Heat up the frets with the soldering iron and carefully pull them out.

When you see the oils and gunk start to boil, it is ready.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Rinse and repeat until done.

Hopefully, there is little to no chip out. That is what the heat is for.



Drop the neck pickup below the body and tape up the guitar for protection.

A sharp chisel removed most of the factory nibs.

A 12" radius sanding beam takes care of the rest.

Now you have to meticulously clean the slots and check the width/depth. This can take a while, so be patient and don't damage the binding.

Ready to accept new frets

The frets have to have the tangs cut back to fit over the binding. I have two style nippers for stainless, but I prefer the Summit (red handle)

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Nip and tuck, nip and tuck

Once all the frets are in, nip off the ends and file flush.

At this point, you can dress the ends how you prefer. The owner wants rounded frets with minimal bevel.

I start by breaking the corners with the quarter round file.

Then continue to refine the shape from the opposite side.

I switch between various small files to get the shape I want. Once I am close enough with the files, I go back and clean up the binding and any scuffs on the board.

You can see before and after here. The left side is cleaned up and the right to go. You might be asking yourself why not tape up the board first. You can if you are doing a simple bevel, but hemispherical ends require getting into the corners.

The board impressions are very light and scrape right out.

Now we tape up the fretboard and mark the tops of the frets with a Sharpie.

Use the sanding beam to check for any high spots. You will get the best results using a sanding block that is long enough to cover the entire board.

You just want to remove enough to touch all frets.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Sharpie again and then start crowning.

There are various files and methods to crowning frets. I usually use a combo of the tri file and my offset file.

The best file for beginners is the offset diamond file. You really can't screw it up.

The idea is to reshape the crown. The Sharpie line keeps you on center.

After the files come to the sanding papers. I use 320/400 and then Micro Mesh 1500-3600

After I am satisfied that all the sanding marks have been removed, I move to metal polish.

You can buff by hand or use a Dremel. Make use you use a soft cotton wheel. The firm wheels will build up too much heat.

Shazam!

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Now we need a new nut.

Bone or Tusq are my usual choices.

Sand both sides on 400 grit paper until you get a snug fit. Go slow and check your work often as you can easily take off too much.

Now I mark a line to remove excess material. I will not be using the pre slots, but if you are, remove the material from the bottom of the nut.

Into the vice for most of the shaping. I use files and papers until I get a smooth blank.

Good fit and ready for slots.

I set my E strings 1/8" from the edge.

Then my string spacing rule to mark the rest.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Start putting it back together and correcting a few things.

Alligator clips are great for holding pickup springs.

The tail stop has some wear that needs to be dealt with. This will cause some strings breakage.

You can never have enough tools

Various bits to smooth and contour the string holes.

Ready to put back on

If you are top wrapping your TOM, be sure to add an old string end ball.

This keeps the wrap from poking out too far and gouging your hand.

Final shaping of the slots and let it rest until tomorrow.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

 

[Adieu]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Inlay work so sloppy you KNOW it's a real Gibson USA lol

 

[VinceT]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

I’ve always wondered about an easy way to do pickup and ring fitting (without the spring flying off to the darkest corner of the studio), so that Alligator clip trick was worth the entry price alone. Great work on the refret!


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[formula73]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

I LOVE your end dressing. I’ve had many refrets and not a single guy rounded them off as smoothly.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

I love your skill, patience, and attention to detail. Looks like the work of someone who enjoys what they do!

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[ErikH]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Thank you for sharing all of this. Fretwork is one area I have yet to get in to, and I could honestly use practice on making nuts shaped better. This is great info. This thread should be stickied.

 

[SAguitar]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Topnotch work by a great craftsman, thanks!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Lovely work.

Do you have any advice for refretting a maple fretboard?

 

[Mincer]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

I am loving the giant pics...great work!

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Beautiful work, as always.

 

[Wattage]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Dy No Mite!!!!!

I am curious why the extra ball end? Never seen that trick

 

[d1dsj]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Bah... just normal Chris work... but cool Elvis mug!!


I kid.... excellent as always.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Thank you for the kind words. I do these for you all, so hit me with any questions or criticisms.

I am loving the giant pics...great work!

I think I am out of attachment space. Please tell me they are resizing automatically.

Lovely work.

Do you have any advice for refretting a maple fretboard?

Such as? I refretted my EJ strat

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?325451-NGD-(or-how-I-finally-found-another-one)

I LOVE your end dressing. I’ve had many refrets, and not a single guy rounded them off as smoothly.

I know why, it takes forever. Seriously, I could have shaved off three hours if I had just done a traditional bevel.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: In the Workshop: Les Paul refret

Dy No Mite!!!!!

I am curious why the extra ball end? Never seen that trick