Fret level and recrown

[i386]

I did my Strat a few weeks ago. For this guitar I had to order a smaller crowning file since it has medium frets. It took about 4.5 hours start to finish.



Before. Pretty jacked up. It was causing some significant intonation problems.



After. Round and smooth. Intonation problems fixed.





Guys, take a look at your frets. If they're flat like in my first picture, your guitar could be sounding a whole lot better with a little work.

[Dickarms]

what guitar is that? inlays look cool

[nightflameauto]

Awww yeah. Level and crown can make a guitar feel like a totally different instrument. I probably should get an actual crowing file at some point. I've always made due with rattails and sandpaper. I have a couple set neck guitars due for a level and crown now. That I'm not looking forward to. I usually pull the neck on bolt ons for this job.

[i386]

what guitar is that? inlays look cool

It's the Ibanez SZ4020 in my sig. I actually prefer to have fret markers in the standard places. This one only has them on the 12th. I've gotten used to it though.

[Schweezly]

My strat needs some love, but I'll probably take it in to get Plek'd. It's been my main guitar for 7 years now so it's gotten it's share of wear.

[Tortuga]

This thread needs moar pics!

Don't tease us, man - show us how!

[i386]

This thread needs moar pics!

Don't tease us, man - show us how!

I can show you a few more pics. There are plenty of YouTube videos that describe the process in detail. The way I do this is by no means the only way and probably not even the most popular way.

First I make sure the fretboard is flat by adjusting the trussrod.


Then I color the tops of the frets with a sharpie.


Next I tune the guitar and doublecheck the neck straightness. Then I use the sanding beam to sand the frets flat until the sharpie marks are all gone. I do this with the strings on and tuned.
Sorry, no pics of that part.

Tape up the guitar to protect it.


Mark the tops of the frets again. Then use the fret crowning file to put the rounded shape back. You stop filing when only a thin sharpie line remains. That way you're not decreasing the height of the fret any further.


Then I sand with 400 grit, 800 grit, 1000 grit, 000 steel wool, and finally metal polish with a dremel.


Finished


This is what I use to level my frets with, but there are many different ways to do it. I use regular concave fret crowning files (as opposed to triangle or "little bone"). For jumbo frets, I have a diamond concave file. For medium frets, I use a normal concave crowning file. Having used both, I would say that I prefer the non diamond file. I also have a file that will fix rough fret ends. A few minutes spent with that tool can make a $500 guitar feel like a $1200 guitar.

Before doing this I could tune the open strings, but chords would sound out of tune. Or I could tune it so a G chord for example would sound in tune. The switch to a C chord which would sound out of tune. After recrowning this is no longer a problem.

[Tortuga]

When sanding with the beam, do you sand nut to bridge, side to side, or in ovals? Do you remove the nut?

[i386]

When sanding with the beam, do you sand nut to bridge, side to side, or in ovals? Do you remove the nut?

I don't think the technique matters that much as long as whatever you do, you do it evenly. I also do a "fall away" which you will see if you watch a few videos. Basically from the 9th fret on up they are taken down a little lower.

I don't remove the nut, but some people do. Since I don't have any nut related tools yet, I tend to leave them alone. If I had nut slotting files and the proper measuring tools, I would deepen the nut slots to match how much fret I sanded down. I'll get there eventually.

[RyanDistortion]

Nice work, man. My LP is 9 years old. As my pride and joy, it could use this kind of TLC.

[Ostinato Rubato]

Nice!!

And nice S model man. 22 frets, right? I haven't seen a 22 fret S in a long time.

[TurboPablo]

My white strat needs a level and crown.

But I am going to put SS frets on it instead.

[ajaxlepinski]

Nice!!!
My '72 SG was refretted in 1980 and it desperately needs a fret job.
I've been playing it with pits and dips in the frets for so long, I can't imagine what it will feel like after a tune up.

[i386]

Thanks guys.

I can't say it feels any better, but the intonation gets really jacked up when the frets are worn down.

[i386]

Nice!!

And nice S model man. 22 frets, right? I haven't seen a 22 fret S in a long time.

Yep, 22 frets. It's a good guitar. Bridge pickup is a little muddy. I really want a Les Paul. Been thinking about selling it and buying a Faded LP Studio. It should bring a fair price as it's in great shape. the case looks brand new and all case candy is there. Just a little worried I'd regret it later because it's a rare guitar and I have a good specimen.

[Ostinato Rubato]

It looks like a really good S. But LP Studios can be had around $500-$600 used so I'd almost think it'd be not too difficult to just save outright for it.

[cudbucket]

Nice. I did the same thing when I first got my RG927 from Sweetwater. Couldn't believe how many high frets it had.









Plays great now.

Dave