Hi There,
I've seen a number of jigs, Some seem like they might work with specific size frets but we all know that even same sized frets have some variances depending batch and where on the line it came off the spool.
No matter how i do it I seem to scrape the bottom of the fret trying to make it perfectly flush.
I've considered using small rotary round burr or cylinder and only touching the tang so if it does go to deep its…
Here we go! The UnTangler was created exactly to deal with this issue. If you look in the loothprints library there is a LITE version you can download and print yourself, or have somebody print for yo…
Is it a common problem for the fretboard on an acoustic to develop a hump around Fret #12 and higher, where the neck meets the body? If so, what is the cause, and is there something that can be done, or avoided, during the initial build process? I have two quality Zager brand guitars that both have the problem, with the problem being worse on the cheaper model. I am a newbie to fret dressing and lowering, so I first tried adjusting the…
Thanks for a great answer. I am a retired sonar engineer, so your explanation makes perfect sense to me. I figured it had to be almost an endemic problem with acoustic guitars.Next question: Can you r…
Hi Everyone,
What do you feel is the best way to remove the file marks from the frets after leveling and crowning with a fret crowning file?
I'm happy with the shape and overall feel of the frets after crowning so this is an aesthetic issue more than anything.
These are the files I'm using. The centered versions of 150 & 300-grit:
https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/stewmac-compact-z-file-…
I have found that if I don't hit the frets with 320 paper, I am likely to see some scratches when all is said and done. 320, 400, 600, steel wool, and then whatever further polishing you want to do (h…
Doug Proper - Guitar Specialist, Inc.VideoRepair and RestorationPro
61 year old Stella Harmony with brass frets. Fret board is poplar. It needs refretting and I want to try doing it myself given the cost of the guitar was $70 bucks, hiring a pro will cost way more. Any recommendations on Fret wire? I can't find Fret wire that is an exact match. Current frets are 1 mm wide, a hair over 1 mm high and the tang looks to be 2.5 mm deep. Has anyone regretted one of these guitars?
Not this particular model, but I have had a crack at some older pearwood boards before. Here is a list of things to look out for. Fingerboard is brittle. Extra care for removal of frets. Fingerboard i…
John Wallace. John Wallace Guitars.LoothprintTools, Spaces, Robots, and WidgetsLite
Hey everyone,
I could use some advice as far as the fretting process is concerned. I’ve been doing guitar repair since around 2008, I opened my business doing guitar repair in September of 2021, and I’ve always felt that fretwork has been the most challenging part of this job. I’m getting to the point now where I finally feel like I’m getting the hang of it, but I’m not where I want to be yet. I should mention that I use the Erlewine…
Hi David, I'll throw my two cents in here. Rather than go through my thoughts on the entire fret level and crowning process, I'll toss some of my observations in. Firstly, if you haven't watched it, I…
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