@azfryguy There is one video on my account that has me playing bass. If you just search "bass tapping from hell" on my channel it should come up. It's like 90seconds of talking and only about 15 seconds of playing though, LOL.
Great series Jason. Question - About how many hours did the whole process take you? And because of some of the special things you did, how much longer did it take than a normal fret job?
@rattletraprock I'm not sure about the amount of time, this job was quite a while ago. The only real "special" thing I did was the heavy roll on the fingerboard edge. This normally adds maybe 1.5 hours to the job. Everything else you saw was par for the course on my fret jobs...
will a guitar play the same after a re-frett ? some say they would never re frett, is it a mith ? to me re fretting would be the best, if your frets are toast, were are U based ?
mate, i just picked up dan erlewine's book today and got hooked on your this series. i just sat through from part 3 to the end in the last 3 or 4 hours. excellent job of explaining why and how. couldn't leave the page without making sure you know how much i appreciated this series, even if i don't do this work myself, i'll know what needs doing on my own guitars.
I just watched 1 through 22 front to back. I'm hooked and I've subscribed. I thank you for the professional level and detail. I've learned a lot! Thanks!
Bro...seriously...thankyou for the best and also entertaining video of a refret .your style is so watchable and you seem extremely knowledgeable about all things guitar..i suggest you make a retail dvd as you have the best repore with the audience that ive seen ,and ive seen quite a few setup vids..honestly you are the man !!!!!
and thats no BS
CHEERS
TIM
BTW..how much would a refret like you performed actually cost?
Bro...seriously...thankyou for the best and also entertaining video of a refret .your style is so watchable and you seem extremely knowledgeable about all things guitar..i suggest you make a retail dvd as you have the best repore with the audience that ive seen ,and ive seen quite a few setup vids..honestly you are the man !!!!!
Hi Jason, Thanks for a brilliant series of videos.And, brilliantly video'd/ produced.
My question is : Do I need to remove a strat nut before a fret leveling?- or just be careful? ;) I started building my own guitars 28 yrs ago, but obviously I started completely from scratch ( not from a kit or anything like that) so I've not needed to work on strat or strat style guitars (cos I preferred Les Paul type nuts ).
I did see your video where you cut through the nut to remove it .thanks.
Hi Jason. I´ve seen almost all the videos on your channel.
I have one one problem about truss rod adjustment. While I was trying to adjust it I'd noticed that it is impossible to turn it anyway. Why does it happens?
I saw a les paul refret video of yours where you actualy use the Neck jeg for what it's for, levelling frets under simulated string pressure.
I noted that you did not do this type of levellng with this stratocaster. I would like to ask you why?
I'm sure the strat neck is insane good as it is now, but wouldn't it play EVEN better if you'ld level the frets under "simulated strung up straight neck"?
@larsboyens Good question. This neck was very static and looked the same under simulated tension with a great deal of truss rod pressure as it did with the strings off and a lot less pressure. When i encounter a neck such as this i'll typically choose not to jig it up for the leveling process.
Awesome job, Jason. It's much appreciated to see someone go so far out of there way to show something that with the right tools, time, and patience, I can do to my own guitars.
Great job Jason. I had never heard someone with so good explanations for the whole process. Besides I am from Spain, so you may guess my English is far from being perfect. However I got every word you said. Thank you.
I am already looking forward for further videos...
Hello Jason, That was very interesting and your attention to detail was inspiring. There are no short cuts to quality workmanship. Looking forward to your next video. Very best regards, Pete (Plymouth, U.K.)
Hey Jason, im planning to clean my freboard this week, i got a untreated(i guess?) rosewood and jumbo frets, could i use a steel wool 0000 to get rid of the oxidation on the frets and use it a little on the fretboard too?
Ive got no polish for the frets but for the fingerboard i have lemon oil (cleaner&conditioner) by D'Andrea, would that be fine?
@Emceetem There are too many variables to get a place to send you a string nut and have it fit perfect and also have the slots cut correctly. The luthier or repair tech has to have your guitar on hand for the string nut to be just right. You can get a pre-slotted nut from many places but it will still need final fitting and adjustments made to the slot depth in order for things to be as they should.
99% work for 1% play.. and when blue strings break with extravagance, we ask ourselves wherein the moderation lies. Simple men with great talent may not know this or much less care under bright lights. To them, it is but only the luck of the draw.
Thanks for putting this together. I've got an '82 strat I'm going to have someone else refret and this has given me a lot of insight that will help me talk intelligently with my new guitar tech so we can get the feel I'm looking for.
You may have answered this before, but I'm really concerned about preserving the hard finish on the maple neck. Do you think it's likely that this can be done?
@rbs2492 If your neck has even an ever so slight twist, the wise guitar tech will choose to level the disparity out of the fingerboard as it's easier to correct the problem in the wood, rather than in the metal frets. However this will remove the finish in the process. It can always be reapplied though. You might get lucky though and have a neck that's true and nearly perfect (rare, but it does occasionally happen). In that case your original finish can stay.
whew, what a marathon! I've just finished watching all 22 parts to this, and loved every minute of it. I was thinking about getting a re-fret on my '72 RI Strat (not because there's anything wrong with them, I just like bigger frets), and was thinking the quote I got was a little expensive. after watching you and all the work that goes into it I now understand why!
thanks for a great vid series, I really enjoyed the whole thing.
Nice avatar :-) If you plan on refinishing, you could just do it Fender style and shoot after you fret. If you do this, it's wise to add fingerboard roll (if you so desire) and dress the fret ends first.
Some also prefer to prefinish. Often I apply the first coat prior to fretting, then top coat after the frets are installed. It seems to make for a slicker look and goes a little faster too.
Sorry Jason, Scratch that, I sat here and thought about it, and figured it out. It hit me when I was trying to figure out how to build the temporary body block, that you mentioned SM, may have instuctions available on then jig, Duhhhhh. Sorry mate. Cheers, IC.
Hey jason. I had one more question for you before i do the cheap guitar. I built a replica of the erlewine neck jig, Do you measure the backbow on the neck in playable condition, then set that same back bow or relief, whie it's on the neck jig, then level the frets, or do you get the neck dead straight on the jig, then level? I am confused as you talked about simulating string tention on the neck before leveling. I'd really appreciate your help on this one, you can PM me if you have the time. IC
Ok so, I just finished watching this entire series. I love the detail you went into and feel like I just had a course in refretting. Thanks much for taking the time to make these videos.
Thanks for the advice on the file and careful fret end dressing.
I agree, Gibson do overdress their fret ends.
One other question Jason - When heat extracting glued frets on an edge bound fret board, do you gently heat from the center of the fret and move out to within 5-6mm of the fret end to be safe.
If so, how do you gauge when you've applied enough heat, so as not to dis-color or unglue the white binding.
Typically we don't compensate intonation at the nut based on the condition of the frets. I've heard a customer wanting low frets before, but never one that specified flat ones. In this instance where the frets were too low to crown back to center and you knew the string would be leading off the back edge of the fret instead of the middle (ideal situation) you could machine the front edge of the nut back half the width of the fret to compensate. What a pain in the ass though! LOL
Simply awesome, Jason - finished the entire series in on go!
Would dressing fret ends be something doable / adviable for a beginner on a brand new Am Dlx Strat? The ends are a bit sharp - like Fender did the bevel and stopped. I'm no stranger to using hand tools and I'm about as picky (anal :)) as you are but never worked on a guitar before. I was thinking the small 3 corner file would do the trick. I could pay someone $50 to do it but then I'm all over DIY! Any tips for a rookie? Thx again!!
Dressing fret ends isn't too much trouble, I still recommend practicing on a cheap guitar first. A small 3 corner file will work great but you'll want to grind a "safe edge" on it first so that you don't gouge the fingerboard. And be sure not to bevel the frets back any more, Fender string spacing is always too wide for their necks it seems. I've made lots of money for refrets over the years on Fender guitars where they just over-beveled at the factory and it causes the player to "fall off".
Hey, Jason, my cousin has just gotten a used Fender American p-bass, and i was playing it the other night and i noticed some dis-corloration around the frets and he said that it was like that when he got it and that he didnt know what it was it doesn't look like it has had a refret. Do you know what that could be from?
Thanks for all the info I bought a Peavey V type off of ebay just so I could have a guitar to work on and I have leveled the frets so now I just got to take out the scratches and thanks to you I know how to go about it. Thanks again
If you leveled the frets on a guitar that didn't JUST have a refret, the way I "recrowned" the new frets on this strat may not be adequate. You may wish to recrown with files , gently working the flats back to center before polishing the tops. Otherwise your intonation could suffer as the string won't be taking off dead center of the fret. Proceed with caution.
Thanks for the great information man :) I got a old japanese strat off ebay a while back and the frets are killing me. Ive been wanting to refrett it but didnt really know how to go about it. Now ill know how to take it on. after i try this on my mexican strats neck of course lol
You Are the best Teacher for doing Refrets and other setup info on youtube hands down, at least that i've found so far anyways. I really appreciate you taking the time to do such a video serries. I had a question for you regarding the radius block. I am doing my frets, but don't and will not have a radius block. Do you have any tips on what a guy could do in this case, or even making one? I thought about doing one on a table saw angled to the blade to create the radius, but my blade is to large
You could make one.Trace out the radius you want on one end of the block.Then measure from the surface of the block to your arced line every 1/4" or so and drill a series of holes in a strait line to the exact depth of each measurement.Scarf out the majority of the wood down to the bottom of your hole with rasps or a gouge.Then once you're close, put stick 'em sandpaper down on the surface of a guitar with the corresponding correct radius fingerboard and sand to finish it out, or just buy one:-)
Hey mate, thanks for the reply Appreciate it! That is a very good idea, and I guess That meathod would pretty much give me an exact match to that particular board. Though I wasn't planning on pulling the frets, however after looking at them they are dented too deep to level them out :( It is a bound neck, with large block inlays, it is going to challenge me to my limits to do this project being bound like that but i'll get it. Dents happend from falling guitar, strings smashed into frets:( IC.
...this can be quite an intimidating job to tackle. The investment in time, tools, and materials required really makes me appreciate the value of having a pro do these jobs! Nonetheless, you have also inspired me to give this a shot on one of my beater necks, and see if I can pull it off.
Thanks so much for your efforts and time invested in sharing these!
Jason, Watched every video in the series. What an incredibly valuable resource this is! I must say, I've purchased all the Dan Erlewine DVD's and felt this was actually easier to follow as you went through an entire project step by step. Greatly appreciate your insights and attention to detail.
Now, I must admit, after having watched all of this, I can't help but feel that this is a pretty complex job, and for the average Joe (like myself)...continued...
Oh yeah, I've got a question about string height. I got an Eric Johnson signature strat and for some reason the high E will buzz like crazy when I bend her. I have the action set nicely so I'm thinking it could be a high fret maybe? When I press the high and low E at the 8th fret, the string height at the last is 0.5mm . With no strings depressed at all the height at the 17th fret is about 1/20. .....
Man, I watched every single video on the delux strat refret and I must say, I'm blown away. I always wondered how this job was done. You're a top-knotch pro and not a bad player if I may add. You are a true tech.
Give me a little more information and I might be able to help. What exactly did you do, did you just adjust your action or have you actually done work on the frets?
thanks for the reply!...just checked the guitar and maybe not quite 45* but around 30*.....basically the ass end of the bridge is about 1/2 inch above the wood.........just inquiring because the action on the fretboard is nice and low and easily playable, but the bridge looks strange 'popping' out of the body....thanks for assuring me that this normal!!
watched all vids...awesome!!...question: looking at a side view of my highway one strat, the bridge looks like its about a 45* angle......is this to allow for whammy action? (don't play with whammy)....i realize the bridges on highway one's are low end, but I'm very happy with the guitar......is this normal?....thanks and I really enjoyed your vids!!
If you're talking about the gap between the back of the bridge and the top of the guitar. Yeah, it's the so the pitch of the notes can be raised as well as lowered via the trem. When it's setup this way, it's called a floating tremolo. I don't think it's possible that yours is sitting at a 45 degree angle. The ass end of the bridge would have to be several inches off the top of the body to accomplish that LOL.
hey umm... how do u know when your bass needs new frets? like i bought mine used but it was sold to the store first first but like i was just wondering
It should be fine for much longer than that even, as long as you adjust things so that the neck is straight. We don't like to store them with forward or backbow as a general rule.
hey i got a guitar where the frets have worn over the g b e strings mainly from heavy vibrato and alot of bends and im getting some nots that bend out and and im getting alot of buzz on certain notes what would you recomend im was thinking about just getting my frets leveled
This is a phenomenal set of videos presented by a terrific luthier/repairman. You'd need to pay a fair amount of money for a set of DVD's produced by Stewart-MacDonald to benefit from such an experienced expert in this field, and it's all here on YouTube for free. I can't really say enough about the quality of the material here - great expertise thoroughly and articulately presented with wonderful home-shot amateur photography, too. Instructional lutherie doesn't get much better than this.
This series is excellent. I have just done a full refret on an ibanez jem project that im working on. with the help of these videos i now know where to get the tools i need(stew mac) and i have been able to go back and watch certain videos in the series when i have been stuck and need to know how to deal with the job. Thanks jason, keep up the good work.
This is the third time I have watched this whole series. Incredibly informative. I will be attending Roberto-venn soon and I will have a pretty good advantage at fret work because of this. Thank you!!!!
Great series, very informative. My last (22) fret in my strat seems not well clamped to the fretboard, and is fretting out some bends, how could I clamp it down?
How do you set up the guitar? I mean action and neck relief. How high is the strings set so avoid fret buzz and fretting out when bending. The lowest i can go on my guitars without problems is approx. 3/64ths above 21st fret on the high E-string and 4-5/64ths on the low E (gradually increasing). Would you say that this is an OK achievement on a 10 inch radius guitar?
No I don't think you missed anything, I didn't go into great detail about this. The idea is to slow down on the file usage when you start to get close, switching to a fine diamond stone, whetstone or something similar. Then finally finishing up with sandpaper wrapped around a wood block. If you're careful, you probably won't go through the finish. If you do you'll probably want to touch it up, and that's another topic perhaps for another video. Just be careful and go slow.
Could you give me a rough idea of how much harder a frett job is when the neck has a binding on it ? I've done alot of bridge ,saddle and nut work on guitars that really turned out well .I'm tempted to do a frett job soon cause the need is there and the want is also there and I just enjoy that kinda stuff . Do you think it would be wise to do a first time frett job with a bound neck?
I don't recommend it for the first refret that you do. But, if you're careful you could definitely make it happen. It's not that much harder. You do have to undercut the tangs on each fret pretty accurately. There is a tool that makes this really easy or you can just use nippers and then follow up with a needle file to remove the rest.
I don't recommend you assume anything, that tends to get people in trouble. But it's a bass, and yeah it's mine. Now is there anything relevant to guitar repair you wish to add or any questions pertaining to the subject that I can answer for you?
You certainly are tenacious sir. I'll tell you what, the store's telephone number is clearly shown at the beginning of the video... why don't you give me a call? I'd be more than happy to address any concerns you have. I'd even go as far to say that I'd probably enjoy having a word or two with you.
Thanx Jason! Propably the best instructional video on the net! I would happily trust you to refret my '72 strat if it wasnt for us being a couple of oceans and continents apart.
Great job Jason! Your videos are very interesting and helpfull.I own a standard American strat that needs refretting and i would be lucky if could find a pro like you.
Fantastic series - you're a real pro and a great teacher. I learned today from Charlie Chandler that my vintage 330 needs a refret - if he does half as good a job as you I'll be happy! I never realised there was so much to it - how much do you charge for a job like that - must be 3 days work huh?
Hey thanks! Yeah, a refret is a major undertaking for sure. I've been accused more than a few times of being too picky, and there are certainly plenty of good repair guys that do good work that move faster than me... but I tend to treat each instrument as though it we my own when I do fretwork and it takes time. Thanks for watching.
I'm planning on doing a video next time I I receive a guitar to refret with binding. Lacquered maple w/binding would be a pretty rare bird I think, but of course if something like that shows up for work I'll definitely consider a video.
How about a video of refretting a gibson with bound fretboard and how you handle the little nibs at each fret, do you cut them of and do a conventional refret or do you preserve them and fit the fret in between?
I could do that, except nobody usually wants the nibs saved though after I tell them what it's going to cost. Most of the people I've encountered who gig out with their Gibson guitars don't really care so much about the nibs.
Thank very much for this series of videos. I am about to have my (loved) vintage Strat worked on and thanks to you I know what to look for.
An old cabinet makers tip: If you don't have worn sandpaper then just spend a minute rubbing two same grit sheets together then give them a shake or vacuum to loose the spikey loos grit.
I am very glad you have provided these tutorials to the community. I came here to find something just like this as I have a little project. You posted the same guitar as I will be working on, way cool! There is another cat on here and I watched his vids, oh my God, the dude is filing with no tape, dropping shit, using plummer clamps etc.. Awesome work dude, anal but I love that. Extrodinary detail in your work..So how much in case I F this thing up and have to send it to you :-)
So next year I'll be at a college with 37,000 people, hopefully where there will be many guitarists. How lucrative would starting my own shop, doing refrets and repairs? Any tips or advice helps!
Hmm, well my experience with college students... most are always broke LOL. I went to Berklee College of Music where it was guitar player central! Half those dudes up there had axes with worn frets and NOBODY seemed to be able to afford fret work. However if you do good work and work fairly cheap I don't see why it couldn't make some money, beats waiting tables!
good deal just got thru watching all of them. do have a master copy of all videos combined to make copies? i would pay good money for a dvd copy of all the vids. thanks.
compliments you are a GREAT PRO!
italianobaiano 2 months ago
@smbstressfest that's is impressive can i all you a few questions? How long have you been playing bass and guitar for? Have you studied music theory?
azfryguy 2 months ago
Are you mainly a guitar or bass player?
azfryguy 2 months ago
@azfryguy I'm a bass player. Guitar for me is a hobby at best.
smbstressfest 2 months ago
@smbstressfest Me to do you have any videos of you playing bass id love to here you play
azfryguy 2 months ago
@azfryguy There is one video on my account that has me playing bass. If you just search "bass tapping from hell" on my channel it should come up. It's like 90seconds of talking and only about 15 seconds of playing though, LOL.
smbstressfest 2 months ago
Great work and a very good presentation also.You definatelysis put a lot of effort on that !
A huge thanks mate!Keep up the good work!!!!!
pok0000 2 months ago
Great series Jason. Question - About how many hours did the whole process take you? And because of some of the special things you did, how much longer did it take than a normal fret job?
rattletraprock 2 months ago
@rattletraprock I'm not sure about the amount of time, this job was quite a while ago. The only real "special" thing I did was the heavy roll on the fingerboard edge. This normally adds maybe 1.5 hours to the job. Everything else you saw was par for the course on my fret jobs...
smbstressfest 2 months ago
will a guitar play the same after a re-frett ? some say they would never re frett, is it a mith ? to me re fretting would be the best, if your frets are toast, were are U based ?
UKToneKing 3 months ago
Just finished all 22 videos. Man, am I tired! Riveting video series. Thanx.
kammhron 3 months ago
mate, i just picked up dan erlewine's book today and got hooked on your this series. i just sat through from part 3 to the end in the last 3 or 4 hours. excellent job of explaining why and how. couldn't leave the page without making sure you know how much i appreciated this series, even if i don't do this work myself, i'll know what needs doing on my own guitars.
thanks.
beaudjangles 4 months ago
Thanks for the effort man, it was very informative!
esdenaze 4 months ago
awesome,i had fun learning how this was done,thanks for the great info!
acefrehley813 5 months ago
Awsome job man! Thanks for showing us the details.
estradacaster 5 months ago
Not only are you a good luthier, but you make really good videos too...
Thirdgen83 6 months ago
Watched all 22 parts of this video, Awesome job man guitar sounds great!
SirSmighty 7 months ago
Thanks , it was quite a journey, I learned a lot.
MrMemag 7 months ago
Hi Sorry press the wrong button for dislike but really like your great job
jameshbq 7 months ago
I just watched 1 through 22 front to back. I'm hooked and I've subscribed. I thank you for the professional level and detail. I've learned a lot! Thanks!
SuperGuitarpractice 8 months ago
Thank you for all your job and sharing it with us!!! Amazing videos!!!
diminalbantov 9 months ago
Excellent video series. Better than any class I have taken!
sanctuarysucks 9 months ago
you do rock!
speciae 10 months ago
Bro...seriously...thankyou for the best and also entertaining video of a refret .your style is so watchable and you seem extremely knowledgeable about all things guitar..i suggest you make a retail dvd as you have the best repore with the audience that ive seen ,and ive seen quite a few setup vids..honestly you are the man !!!!!
and thats no BS
CHEERS
TIM
BTW..how much would a refret like you performed actually cost?
ahmedgreenacre 11 months ago
Bro...seriously...thankyou for the best and also entertaining video of a refret .your style is so watchable and you seem extremely knowledgeable about all things guitar..i suggest you make a retail dvd as you have the best repore with the audience that ive seen ,and ive seen quite a few setup vids..honestly you are the man !!!!!
and thats no BS
CHEERS
TIM
ahmedgreenacre 11 months ago
Hey, Jason, great series! Really enjoyed watching it. I happen to have an old junk guitar that I could apply what I've seen here. Thanks!
jebenifluxx 11 months ago
Great series, really well done. I hope you have done one on doing a full setup and intonation. Keep up the work.
colindebin 11 months ago
@colindebin I cover intonation and setup in depth in my "Warmoth Strat Build" series.
smbstressfest 11 months ago
amazing work
Xixo 11 months ago
great videos Jason.
2 questions for you: is it necessary to level the freat board during a refret job?
2 what to do not having warping problems? that 's my nightmare lol
thanx!
bye
muaythai4lifelife 1 year ago
Thanks for this series, Jason.
6Vital6Remains6 1 year ago
hey dude, just wondering if the LSR roller nut accepts different gauges of strings. I am about to purchase one for my strat plus and i use 11 - 49's.
thanks
TheRoddiec 1 year ago
great job!! Thanks for sharing with us!!
oldrockmustard 1 year ago
congrats man, great work
Lesstra 1 year ago
on average how much would this same scenario cost???
JohnPatrickPeters 1 year ago
Jason you are a perfectionist! Great video!
TheDriveMaster 1 year ago
Hi Jason, Thanks for a brilliant series of videos.And, brilliantly video'd/ produced.
My question is : Do I need to remove a strat nut before a fret leveling?- or just be careful? ;) I started building my own guitars 28 yrs ago, but obviously I started completely from scratch ( not from a kit or anything like that) so I've not needed to work on strat or strat style guitars (cos I preferred Les Paul type nuts ).
I did see your video where you cut through the nut to remove it .thanks.
MrAT53 1 year ago
@MrAT53 No, you won't need to remove a string nut to level frets. Like you said, just be careful.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
Hi Jason. I´ve seen almost all the videos on your channel.
I have one one problem about truss rod adjustment. While I was trying to adjust it I'd noticed that it is impossible to turn it anyway. Why does it happens?
Thank You.
TheNaKio 1 year ago
Hi Jason,
one question,
I saw a les paul refret video of yours where you actualy use the Neck jeg for what it's for, levelling frets under simulated string pressure.
I noted that you did not do this type of levellng with this stratocaster. I would like to ask you why?
I'm sure the strat neck is insane good as it is now, but wouldn't it play EVEN better if you'ld level the frets under "simulated strung up straight neck"?
larsboyens 1 year ago
@larsboyens Good question. This neck was very static and looked the same under simulated tension with a great deal of truss rod pressure as it did with the strings off and a lot less pressure. When i encounter a neck such as this i'll typically choose not to jig it up for the leveling process.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
Best Tutorial I saw on the internet .Great Great job Jason! Thanks alot from Canada.
DeanDong2 1 year ago
Top man, great job.Your vids have convinced me to get someone else to do my fretwork if i ever need it.
micthetic 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. You ROCK dude!!!
RnRmaCHine 1 year ago
Thank you for taking the time to make these videos. You ROCK dude!!
RnRmaCHine 1 year ago
Awesome job, Jason. It's much appreciated to see someone go so far out of there way to show something that with the right tools, time, and patience, I can do to my own guitars.
Thank you very much.
hogwild6161 1 year ago
Great job Jason. I had never heard someone with so good explanations for the whole process. Besides I am from Spain, so you may guess my English is far from being perfect. However I got every word you said. Thank you.
I am already looking forward for further videos...
JJ.
juaollla 1 year ago
Thanks for sharing your expertise, I really enjoyed this series of vids!
blackcloud45 1 year ago
Hello Jason, That was very interesting and your attention to detail was inspiring. There are no short cuts to quality workmanship. Looking forward to your next video. Very best regards, Pete (Plymouth, U.K.)
pda49184 1 year ago
thanks for this great tutorial!!!!
YOSOYELCRITICO 1 year ago
Hey Jason, im planning to clean my freboard this week, i got a untreated(i guess?) rosewood and jumbo frets, could i use a steel wool 0000 to get rid of the oxidation on the frets and use it a little on the fretboard too?
Ive got no polish for the frets but for the fingerboard i have lemon oil (cleaner&conditioner) by D'Andrea, would that be fine?
7ibanez7 1 year ago
hello Jason
Thanks for this great tutorial. Can you recommend some book for further study about fretting the guitar and leveling frets?
jtpmm777 1 year ago
@jtpmm777 StewMac has a book called "Fret Work Step by Step". That's a good one, I'd strongly recommend that for starters.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
Do you have any websites that make guitar nut repairs, i have the mesurements for my guitar nut but would like a more durable one.
Any website's that send them worldwide or in florida that you know of?
Emceetem 1 year ago
@Emceetem There are too many variables to get a place to send you a string nut and have it fit perfect and also have the slots cut correctly. The luthier or repair tech has to have your guitar on hand for the string nut to be just right. You can get a pre-slotted nut from many places but it will still need final fitting and adjustments made to the slot depth in order for things to be as they should.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
@smbstressfest If it's not too much trouble could i get a link to that website?
Thank you so much for helping.
Emceetem 1 year ago
@Emceetem Just google "pre-slotted guitar nut" and I'm sure you'll find tons of sites selling many different kinds.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
99% work for 1% play.. and when blue strings break with extravagance, we ask ourselves wherein the moderation lies. Simple men with great talent may not know this or much less care under bright lights. To them, it is but only the luck of the draw.
johnpelton 1 year ago
Thanks for putting this together. I've got an '82 strat I'm going to have someone else refret and this has given me a lot of insight that will help me talk intelligently with my new guitar tech so we can get the feel I'm looking for.
You may have answered this before, but I'm really concerned about preserving the hard finish on the maple neck. Do you think it's likely that this can be done?
rbs2492 1 year ago
@rbs2492 If your neck has even an ever so slight twist, the wise guitar tech will choose to level the disparity out of the fingerboard as it's easier to correct the problem in the wood, rather than in the metal frets. However this will remove the finish in the process. It can always be reapplied though. You might get lucky though and have a neck that's true and nearly perfect (rare, but it does occasionally happen). In that case your original finish can stay.
smbstressfest 1 year ago
whew, what a marathon! I've just finished watching all 22 parts to this, and loved every minute of it. I was thinking about getting a re-fret on my '72 RI Strat (not because there's anything wrong with them, I just like bigger frets), and was thinking the quote I got was a little expensive. after watching you and all the work that goes into it I now understand why!
thanks for a great vid series, I really enjoyed the whole thing.
cheers from Australia! :)
superflea72 1 year ago
i know you said that you dont really like the LSR roller nut... but i was wondering if you could do a video on installing one.
johnnythreebyfive 1 year ago
awesome!
AKMAC82 1 year ago
Thanks Jason for the helpful series!!
RudeRaptor 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hey Jason thanks for schooling us, great series !! can you recommend a reputable re-fret guy for southern california ? thnx
spotlightmusic 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
hey Jason thanks for schooling us, great series !! can you recommend a reputable re-fret guy for southern california ? thnx
spotlightmusic 1 year ago
hey Jason thanks for schooling us, great series !! can you recommend a reputable re-fret guy for southern california ? thnx
spotlightmusic 1 year ago
how long does this normally this take you without doing videos
azfryguy 1 year ago
great job! excellent work, and what detailed explanations and workmanship this has been a wonderful and inspirational series!!
thank you!! Jason
Mikkeyboyy 2 years ago
Hello Jason,
I have a quick question: if I refret a maple/maple neck with hard finish, should I put a new finish before or after putting the frets in?
And thanks for these great videos.
Dawid
ujnawierzbie 2 years ago
Nice avatar :-) If you plan on refinishing, you could just do it Fender style and shoot after you fret. If you do this, it's wise to add fingerboard roll (if you so desire) and dress the fret ends first.
Some also prefer to prefinish. Often I apply the first coat prior to fretting, then top coat after the frets are installed. It seems to make for a slicker look and goes a little faster too.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Sorry Jason, Scratch that, I sat here and thought about it, and figured it out. It hit me when I was trying to figure out how to build the temporary body block, that you mentioned SM, may have instuctions available on then jig, Duhhhhh. Sorry mate. Cheers, IC.
IcechickenSr 2 years ago
Hey jason. I had one more question for you before i do the cheap guitar. I built a replica of the erlewine neck jig, Do you measure the backbow on the neck in playable condition, then set that same back bow or relief, whie it's on the neck jig, then level the frets, or do you get the neck dead straight on the jig, then level? I am confused as you talked about simulating string tention on the neck before leveling. I'd really appreciate your help on this one, you can PM me if you have the time. IC
IcechickenSr 2 years ago
Ok so, I just finished watching this entire series. I love the detail you went into and feel like I just had a course in refretting. Thanks much for taking the time to make these videos.
Warpfield 2 years ago
so what books do you suggest?
avhcbeaver1 2 years ago
Thanks for the advice on the file and careful fret end dressing.
I agree, Gibson do overdress their fret ends.
One other question Jason - When heat extracting glued frets on an edge bound fret board, do you gently heat from the center of the fret and move out to within 5-6mm of the fret end to be safe.
If so, how do you gauge when you've applied enough heat, so as not to dis-color or unglue the white binding.
Thanks & Seasonal Greetings to you Jason.
All the best
Have a great time :o)
beyondthedot 2 years ago
great video--tech question:
if the frets are flat ( say customer preference) how is the intonation between the nut and first fret compensated
( all effective fret distances to the bridge being shorter by 1/2 the width of the flat)
ie if tuned at the nut all frets will be slightly
sharp relative to the nut
POLYAL0899 2 years ago
Typically we don't compensate intonation at the nut based on the condition of the frets. I've heard a customer wanting low frets before, but never one that specified flat ones. In this instance where the frets were too low to crown back to center and you knew the string would be leading off the back edge of the fret instead of the middle (ideal situation) you could machine the front edge of the nut back half the width of the fret to compensate. What a pain in the ass though! LOL
smbstressfest 2 years ago
thanks for the reply know what you mean
thanks again great videos
polyal
POLYAL0899 2 years ago
great info.....thanks man.gj
taterj68 2 years ago
Simply awesome, Jason - finished the entire series in on go!
Would dressing fret ends be something doable / adviable for a beginner on a brand new Am Dlx Strat? The ends are a bit sharp - like Fender did the bevel and stopped. I'm no stranger to using hand tools and I'm about as picky (anal :)) as you are but never worked on a guitar before. I was thinking the small 3 corner file would do the trick. I could pay someone $50 to do it but then I'm all over DIY! Any tips for a rookie? Thx again!!
philberto75 2 years ago
Dressing fret ends isn't too much trouble, I still recommend practicing on a cheap guitar first. A small 3 corner file will work great but you'll want to grind a "safe edge" on it first so that you don't gouge the fingerboard. And be sure not to bevel the frets back any more, Fender string spacing is always too wide for their necks it seems. I've made lots of money for refrets over the years on Fender guitars where they just over-beveled at the factory and it causes the player to "fall off".
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thanks for a great set of video's Jason.
I recently bought a great looking Korean Ibanez RG lookalike, bought as a project guitar.
Its very accurately CNC'ed, nice body neck and finish, but badly leveled frets.
It has fret buzzes and a few dead notes from the ninth fret up.
Have you done any videos on re-fretting edge bound necks, this guitar has one and I'm considering re-fretting with Dunlop 6000.
Good to hear your a pipe engineer - I'm one too - A Copper-Smith.
All the best Jason :o)
beyondthedot 2 years ago
Hey, Jason, my cousin has just gotten a used Fender American p-bass, and i was playing it the other night and i noticed some dis-corloration around the frets and he said that it was like that when he got it and that he didnt know what it was it doesn't look like it has had a refret. Do you know what that could be from?
pennstate263 2 years ago
If you could show me a nice hi-rez picture, I could probably make an educated guess.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thanks for the info.
mrlschreur 2 years ago
great video.
MrThreepie 2 years ago
Thanks for all the info I bought a Peavey V type off of ebay just so I could have a guitar to work on and I have leveled the frets so now I just got to take out the scratches and thanks to you I know how to go about it. Thanks again
mrlschreur 2 years ago
If you leveled the frets on a guitar that didn't JUST have a refret, the way I "recrowned" the new frets on this strat may not be adequate. You may wish to recrown with files , gently working the flats back to center before polishing the tops. Otherwise your intonation could suffer as the string won't be taking off dead center of the fret. Proceed with caution.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thanks for the great information man :) I got a old japanese strat off ebay a while back and the frets are killing me. Ive been wanting to refrett it but didnt really know how to go about it. Now ill know how to take it on. after i try this on my mexican strats neck of course lol
GuitarXSlinger 2 years ago
Jason, Thanks again for the amazing job you did on my 87 Strat, the 6000 dunlop frets are amazing. Worth every penny!
cntcordova 2 years ago
Thanks man, I'm glad you're happy with it!
smbstressfest 2 years ago
You Are the best Teacher for doing Refrets and other setup info on youtube hands down, at least that i've found so far anyways. I really appreciate you taking the time to do such a video serries. I had a question for you regarding the radius block. I am doing my frets, but don't and will not have a radius block. Do you have any tips on what a guy could do in this case, or even making one? I thought about doing one on a table saw angled to the blade to create the radius, but my blade is to large
IcechickenSr 2 years ago
You could make one.Trace out the radius you want on one end of the block.Then measure from the surface of the block to your arced line every 1/4" or so and drill a series of holes in a strait line to the exact depth of each measurement.Scarf out the majority of the wood down to the bottom of your hole with rasps or a gouge.Then once you're close, put stick 'em sandpaper down on the surface of a guitar with the corresponding correct radius fingerboard and sand to finish it out, or just buy one:-)
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Hey mate, thanks for the reply Appreciate it! That is a very good idea, and I guess That meathod would pretty much give me an exact match to that particular board. Though I wasn't planning on pulling the frets, however after looking at them they are dented too deep to level them out :( It is a bound neck, with large block inlays, it is going to challenge me to my limits to do this project being bound like that but i'll get it. Dents happend from falling guitar, strings smashed into frets:( IC.
IcechickenSr 2 years ago
a very valuable tutorial from you, thanks a lot..
kaanoner84 2 years ago
...this can be quite an intimidating job to tackle. The investment in time, tools, and materials required really makes me appreciate the value of having a pro do these jobs! Nonetheless, you have also inspired me to give this a shot on one of my beater necks, and see if I can pull it off.
Thanks so much for your efforts and time invested in sharing these!
SCLUCAS01 2 years ago
Jason, Watched every video in the series. What an incredibly valuable resource this is! I must say, I've purchased all the Dan Erlewine DVD's and felt this was actually easier to follow as you went through an entire project step by step. Greatly appreciate your insights and attention to detail.
Now, I must admit, after having watched all of this, I can't help but feel that this is a pretty complex job, and for the average Joe (like myself)...continued...
SCLUCAS01 2 years ago
Thanks, glad you found it useful. It is complex but you have the right idea... always practice on scrap first. Good luck!
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Oh yeah, I've got a question about string height. I got an Eric Johnson signature strat and for some reason the high E will buzz like crazy when I bend her. I have the action set nicely so I'm thinking it could be a high fret maybe? When I press the high and low E at the 8th fret, the string height at the last is 0.5mm . With no strings depressed at all the height at the 17th fret is about 1/20. .....
kdjfnvjvd 2 years ago
Man, I watched every single video on the delux strat refret and I must say, I'm blown away. I always wondered how this job was done. You're a top-knotch pro and not a bad player if I may add. You are a true tech.
kdjfnvjvd 2 years ago
Top notch everything. I worship u now.
Peteworth 2 years ago
Hey i think iv stuffed up really bad
My frets from the 15th, to the 22nd, just buzz really bad, and even some of the notes make the same note as the one beside it
any idea's on what to do mate!
bubbleabee 2 years ago
Give me a little more information and I might be able to help. What exactly did you do, did you just adjust your action or have you actually done work on the frets?
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Go to a proper guitar repairer!
ace69er 2 years ago
thanks for the reply!...just checked the guitar and maybe not quite 45* but around 30*.....basically the ass end of the bridge is about 1/2 inch above the wood.........just inquiring because the action on the fretboard is nice and low and easily playable, but the bridge looks strange 'popping' out of the body....thanks for assuring me that this normal!!
joshta8 2 years ago
watched all vids...awesome!!...question: looking at a side view of my highway one strat, the bridge looks like its about a 45* angle......is this to allow for whammy action? (don't play with whammy)....i realize the bridges on highway one's are low end, but I'm very happy with the guitar......is this normal?....thanks and I really enjoyed your vids!!
joshta8 2 years ago
If you're talking about the gap between the back of the bridge and the top of the guitar. Yeah, it's the so the pitch of the notes can be raised as well as lowered via the trem. When it's setup this way, it's called a floating tremolo. I don't think it's possible that yours is sitting at a 45 degree angle. The ass end of the bridge would have to be several inches off the top of the body to accomplish that LOL.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
And yeah, it IS normal on a 2 point modern tremolo for the factory to set it up to float a little.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Genius
SebastianDavidMusic 2 years ago
Excellent Work.
charleonthronez 2 years ago
Damn this is one hell of a series!!! 5 stars
nickzambrano 2 years ago
hey umm... how do u know when your bass needs new frets? like i bought mine used but it was sold to the store first first but like i was just wondering
9071freak 2 years ago
Nice playing... I love the sustain on those large frets!
nsc217 2 years ago
Hey maybe you can answer this. Can I leave the frets out of the neck for a week or two without harming the neck?
Thanks.
RitusG 2 years ago
It should be fine for much longer than that even, as long as you adjust things so that the neck is straight. We don't like to store them with forward or backbow as a general rule.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
hey i got a guitar where the frets have worn over the g b e strings mainly from heavy vibrato and alot of bends and im getting some nots that bend out and and im getting alot of buzz on certain notes what would you recomend im was thinking about just getting my frets leveled
papiecho18 2 years ago
This is a phenomenal set of videos presented by a terrific luthier/repairman. You'd need to pay a fair amount of money for a set of DVD's produced by Stewart-MacDonald to benefit from such an experienced expert in this field, and it's all here on YouTube for free. I can't really say enough about the quality of the material here - great expertise thoroughly and articulately presented with wonderful home-shot amateur photography, too. Instructional lutherie doesn't get much better than this.
DDEENY 2 years ago 2
Great set of videos Jason, if only everything were this uncomplicated and easy to follow, thank's very much! P.s, you play realy well too!
cmgill2 2 years ago
I have a maple/maple strat neck which i am just about to refret (my first go at it) and i feel a whole lot more
confident after watching your outstanding video series, way to go Jason (thanks)
Blackie211 2 years ago
you the man......
odak24 2 years ago
This series is excellent. I have just done a full refret on an ibanez jem project that im working on. with the help of these videos i now know where to get the tools i need(stew mac) and i have been able to go back and watch certain videos in the series when i have been stuck and need to know how to deal with the job. Thanks jason, keep up the good work.
demonhedgehog 2 years ago
Guitar refretting will never be a carperter's work. Jason shows that refretting is an art. Amazing video with amazing tutor!
PedalTweaker 2 years ago
This is the third time I have watched this whole series. Incredibly informative. I will be attending Roberto-venn soon and I will have a pretty good advantage at fret work because of this. Thank you!!!!
musicalmoses 2 years ago
Great series, very informative. My last (22) fret in my strat seems not well clamped to the fretboard, and is fretting out some bends, how could I clamp it down?
Thanks!
sirgerry 2 years ago
that was great, very heplful, thanks!!
tkojams 2 years ago
thanks for watching, glad to help
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thanks man!!!
BAUTZENERBABY 2 years ago
you're very welcome
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Excellent series. I look forward to more.
valuemike31 2 years ago
thanks man, I'll be doing more as the work comes in
smbstressfest 2 years ago
good job Sam!!
slash78 2 years ago
How do you set up the guitar? I mean action and neck relief. How high is the strings set so avoid fret buzz and fretting out when bending. The lowest i can go on my guitars without problems is approx. 3/64ths above 21st fret on the high E-string and 4-5/64ths on the low E (gradually increasing). Would you say that this is an OK achievement on a 10 inch radius guitar?
290boogie 2 years ago
Jason, my question regards the edge filing of the frets. I'm assuming you file into the side of the fretboard at least a little bit.
What about the finishing of the scratches that are left in the wood after the fret edges have been filed?
I'm sorry if I missed anything, but I didn't notice this addressed.
EmmetsFunny 2 years ago
No I don't think you missed anything, I didn't go into great detail about this. The idea is to slow down on the file usage when you start to get close, switching to a fine diamond stone, whetstone or something similar. Then finally finishing up with sandpaper wrapped around a wood block. If you're careful, you probably won't go through the finish. If you do you'll probably want to touch it up, and that's another topic perhaps for another video. Just be careful and go slow.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
If you want more information about this, call me up at The Musician's Den and I can talk to you about it more.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
cool,keep up the good work :-)
PatandUli 2 years ago
Could you give me a rough idea of how much harder a frett job is when the neck has a binding on it ? I've done alot of bridge ,saddle and nut work on guitars that really turned out well .I'm tempted to do a frett job soon cause the need is there and the want is also there and I just enjoy that kinda stuff . Do you think it would be wise to do a first time frett job with a bound neck?
PatandUli 2 years ago
I don't recommend it for the first refret that you do. But, if you're careful you could definitely make it happen. It's not that much harder. You do have to undercut the tangs on each fret pretty accurately. There is a tool that makes this really easy or you can just use nippers and then follow up with a needle file to remove the rest.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thanks for your great work and patience.
Hope to see more videos..
timbo4y 2 years ago
only one word , AMAZING VIDEOS ! sayd´ before but realy good orginased videos and that is worth alot ! thank you !
warhammerIII 2 years ago
The guitar up on the wall looks like something only a faggot would play.
FleetAdmiralHog 2 years ago
Should I assume that you're basing this statement on the fact that you also own one?
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Nope, just observations.
FleetAdmiralHog 2 years ago
Should I assume by your response that it is your guitar and not a customer's?
FleetAdmiralHog 2 years ago
I don't recommend you assume anything, that tends to get people in trouble. But it's a bass, and yeah it's mine. Now is there anything relevant to guitar repair you wish to add or any questions pertaining to the subject that I can answer for you?
smbstressfest 2 years ago
I've got a question. How hard is it to get a paint job on a guitar?
Maybe you could get one that isn't so gay.
FleetAdmiralHog 2 years ago
You certainly are tenacious sir. I'll tell you what, the store's telephone number is clearly shown at the beginning of the video... why don't you give me a call? I'd be more than happy to address any concerns you have. I'd even go as far to say that I'd probably enjoy having a word or two with you.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Jason, it's no fun if you don't play along. You're taking it way to well.
Remember which of you guitar students mentioned he liked mess with people on Youtube?
FleetAdmiralHog 2 years ago
Bravo! How refreshing to see a real attention the actual EXPLANATION part of a youtube video. Organized too.
In case you're taking requests;)...
-refret Gibson style guitar
-nut making
-make acoustic saddle
Thanks a ton!
mxlflk 2 years ago
Thank you so much for this incredibly informative series of videos. Your attention to detail is nothing short of amazing.
Keep up the great work!
Marcusisit 2 years ago
Thanx Jason! Propably the best instructional video on the net! I would happily trust you to refret my '72 strat if it wasnt for us being a couple of oceans and continents apart.
Thanx again, marvellous job.
ZooT65X 2 years ago
Great job Jason! Your videos are very interesting and helpfull.I own a standard American strat that needs refretting and i would be lucky if could find a pro like you.
paulprio 2 years ago
Thanks Jason
moosey62 2 years ago
Excellent content. Thanks allot!
manatarms47 2 years ago
Fantastic series - you're a real pro and a great teacher. I learned today from Charlie Chandler that my vintage 330 needs a refret - if he does half as good a job as you I'll be happy! I never realised there was so much to it - how much do you charge for a job like that - must be 3 days work huh?
1YBTU8 2 years ago
Hey thanks! Yeah, a refret is a major undertaking for sure. I've been accused more than a few times of being too picky, and there are certainly plenty of good repair guys that do good work that move faster than me... but I tend to treat each instrument as though it we my own when I do fretwork and it takes time. Thanks for watching.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Okay, I was first of all thinking of vintage guitars, but how about a video with a laquered maple fretboard with binding?
Would be really interesting and much appreciated
Cheers!
Klepaadej 2 years ago
I'm planning on doing a video next time I I receive a guitar to refret with binding. Lacquered maple w/binding would be a pretty rare bird I think, but of course if something like that shows up for work I'll definitely consider a video.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
How about a video of refretting a gibson with bound fretboard and how you handle the little nibs at each fret, do you cut them of and do a conventional refret or do you preserve them and fit the fret in between?
Klepaadej 2 years ago
I could do that, except nobody usually wants the nibs saved though after I tell them what it's going to cost. Most of the people I've encountered who gig out with their Gibson guitars don't really care so much about the nibs.
smbstressfest 2 years ago
Thank very much for this series of videos. I am about to have my (loved) vintage Strat worked on and thanks to you I know what to look for.
An old cabinet makers tip: If you don't have worn sandpaper then just spend a minute rubbing two same grit sheets together then give them a shake or vacuum to loose the spikey loos grit.
Thanks.
jaffabend 3 years ago
I am very glad you have provided these tutorials to the community. I came here to find something just like this as I have a little project. You posted the same guitar as I will be working on, way cool! There is another cat on here and I watched his vids, oh my God, the dude is filing with no tape, dropping shit, using plummer clamps etc.. Awesome work dude, anal but I love that. Extrodinary detail in your work..So how much in case I F this thing up and have to send it to you :-)
sniffy45 3 years ago
Depends on how bad you F it up LOL! I'll reply to you in a PM and give you an idea on what I charge for refrets.
smbstressfest 3 years ago
So next year I'll be at a college with 37,000 people, hopefully where there will be many guitarists. How lucrative would starting my own shop, doing refrets and repairs? Any tips or advice helps!
dmenach 3 years ago
Hmm, well my experience with college students... most are always broke LOL. I went to Berklee College of Music where it was guitar player central! Half those dudes up there had axes with worn frets and NOBODY seemed to be able to afford fret work. However if you do good work and work fairly cheap I don't see why it couldn't make some money, beats waiting tables!
smbstressfest 3 years ago
good deal just got thru watching all of them. do have a master copy of all videos combined to make copies? i would pay good money for a dvd copy of all the vids. thanks.
bigstringuser 3 years ago
Good money huh!? For good money, I might be convinced to make a DVD with all the videos...
smbstressfest 3 years ago
How much does a process like this cost a customer?
rnich35180 3 years ago
I replied in a private message.
smbstressfest 3 years ago
Really nice tutorial and masterwork job... we need more luthiers!! thanx for the vids. see ya.
StalinCaster