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Hey Bob! Luthier Question.

Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
edited January 2005 in Musicians and Gearheads
Fret dressing, crown and polish.

I needs it. Big time. I've worn out the acoustic and the old peavy, the Les Paul is due for a polish.

I've got access to a dremel tool so I know polishing will be no problem, my worry is recrowning. I've never done it, I need to recrown and level the other guitars but I've never done it before, plus I need a new set of graph tech saddles on the Les Paul, think I should just let my local tech do it since I haven't tried it before?
My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    levelling is hell and you need special tools. that i know.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    exhausted wrote:
    levelling is hell and you need special tools. that i know.


    yeah I looked for an hour last night. it looks kinda scary.

    My acoustic is cashed though. I just bought new strings then realized the ones I had on there weren't dead, it's all the frets that are washed out.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    my LP and tele are getting pretty rough too. but they just need to be polished up.
  • mojorison_75mojorison_75 Posts: 157
    You do need special tools. If the frets aren't too far gone a luthier or good tech can dress them up with out too much hassle, but they know what they're doing. If they're wore really bad...it just all depends on how much fret you've got left.

    I just had my acoustic dressed up by the guy who built it. They weren't worn bad, took him all of about 20 or 30 mins. He told me I could probably get about 3 more dressings like that out of those frets. He didn't charge me anything because he does such work like that on his guitars free, so I can't say what a tech would charge.

    I watched him do it and with the right tools it didn't seem really complicated, but I probably wouldn't try it myself without some practice on an old scrapper first. It's probably something good for all of us to learn.
  • exhaustedexhausted Posts: 6,638
    $120US for proper a proper sanding block buys a lot of tech labour.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    mojorison_75 wrote:
    You do need special tools. If the frets aren't too far gone a luthier or good tech can dress them up with out too much hassle, but they know what they're doing. If they're wore really bad...it just all depends on how much fret you've got left.

    I just had my acoustic dressed up by the guy who built it. They weren't worn bad, took him all of about 20 or 30 mins. He told me I could probably get about 3 more dressings like that out of those frets. He didn't charge me anything because he does such work like that on his guitars free, so I can't say what a tech would charge.

    I watched him do it and with the right tools it didn't seem really complicated, but I probably wouldn't try it myself without some practice on an old scrapper first. It's probably something good for all of us to learn.


    I think it depends on the tech, thanks. My LP was aroun 60 bucks the first time I had it crowned and polished, I haven't done anything to my acoustic and it needs it. I don't think the frets are too far gone but I definately need a recrown.

    $120 for the right block is probably good enough for both guitars. I've got to replace those damn LP saddles too.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    Read on and make your decision! :D

    Fret leveling is the hardest part. But it isn’t that hard,, but it is,,,, kind of.

    You need a long file that’s straight. A straightedge and OOOO steel wool and a small triangular file or dressing file.
    You can get all kinds of specialized tools for this,,, but really that’s for the pros that do it all the time.
    Fire up your http://stewmac.com!

    If the first five frets are really worn with divots from playing d , g and c, you may need to replace them first. if not , then you can level the frets.
    The first challenge is taking the strings off and adjusting the truss rod to make the neck straight, which is the MOST critical thing. There are jigs for this,, and if you can't adjust the neck straight with adjusting the truss rod,,,, don't do this! but if you can, then you just file the frets until they’re even on the tops , without nicking up the wood and the nut. Cover the pickups first, so the metal filings don’t get all over and stick to the magnets and use a straight file.
    You can get a radius block sander if you want, but it has to match your fretboard radius, otherwise, go get a 10’ fine metal cutting file and make sure it’s straight. You can use a known straightedge like a good level and glue sandpaper to it too. You also want a straight edge to lay on the fretboard to check the progress:

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/2/Fretboard_Radius-sanding_Blocks.html

    Don't go crazy and grind that friggin neck!! You need a certain amount of finesse and savoir faire! :) and a beer.



    Then you can take a triangular file or a fret crowning file, and run it lengthwise with the fret forming the crown. This is where you risk scratching the hell out of the fretboard, so you either mask the wood with tape, or better, use a flat piece of metal with a slot to fit over the fret and protect the wood.

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/3-Corner_Fret_Dressing_Files.html

    or for a bit more money:

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/Three-in-one_Fret_Crowning_File.html

    And definitely get these:
    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/Fingerboard_Guards.html

    when it’s where you want it, then you can sand the frets smooth then rub lengthwise with the neck with the OOOO steel wool.
    use a sanding stick parallel to the frets:

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/Fret_Dressing_Stick.html

    and the steel wool parallel to the fret board

    Bingo!

    then you put the strings on and readjust the neck to straight, or with a little relief outward. Sometimes you have to file the nut slots deeper and drop the bridge saddles a little lower.
    That’s the time to either smooth out the saddles or put on your graph techs


    For just a fret polishing, I wouldn’t use a dremel for the first time. Get a little sander ( That sanding stick) and smooth them out,,, then rub lengthwise with the steel wool to shine them up.




    These are nice crowning files if you want a little more ease and to spend a little more. These are great tools:

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/Three-in-one_Fret_Crowning_File.html

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Fretting_tools:_Fret_dressing,_polishing/Fret_Leveling_Files.html


    And all guitar players should be issued this book upon birth!
    Along with a Shure 57:

    http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Books,_plans/Building_and_repair:_Guitar,_electric/Guitar_Player_Repair_Guide.html

    You should at least learn to do a light dressing, polishing, but if you have to yank a few frets out, you might want to take it to a tech.
    You might be surprised to see how easy it is to replace frets, though. Definitely something you would want to learn on somebody elses guitar! :D
    Be kind, man
    Don't be mankind. ~Captain Beefheart
    __________________________________
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    who's_pearljam? wrote:
    And all guitar players should be issued this book upon birth!
    Along with a Shure 57


    I agree on the Shure 57...

    The rest, I'd rather pay someone who has a clue.

    My babies are too precious.
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    I think taking this all into account, I shall buy the book, a fretrest work station, some fingerboard savers and take the guitars individually to the tech. I'd rather them be done right. I'll try my hand on the peavy when I get ambitious.

    Thanks a lot bob Bob.


    In addition to the first book and an SM 57 the Big Book of tube amp maintence should be included and this one...


    http://www.formusiciansonly.com/guide.htm
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • mccreadyisgodmccreadyisgod Posts: 6,395
    Pacomc79 wrote:
    In addition to the first book and an SM 57 the Big Book of tube amp maintence should be included and this one...


    How about a well-worn copy of "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"?
    ...and if you don't like it, you can suck on an egg.
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