Sully's Guitar Garage - Crowning and polishing frets

[darkerthebetter]

Sully mate, get yourself some diamond crown files ! i swapped over to them a few months back and it will save you so much time. They leave only fine scratches and you can crown the whole fretboard in 10 min

yeah they cost a bit, but are so worth it

[jsullysix]

@darkerthebetter Yeah, it's on the list of stuff to buy, for sure.

[diegobo135]

Hey sully, another question, hope you answer it! Can I do the crowning with a normal file, or do I really need the round crowning file thing? Cause I don't know where to get it! :/

[jsullysix]

@diegobo135 Google "fret crowning file" and you'll find it! :) Truth is, you could probably use many things, but I'd recommend the proper tools. You wouldn't just build a house with just a screwdriver, right? :)

[seasonedtoker]

you're sully from JCF?

[jsullysix]

@seasonedtoker True story!

[DUDI0215]

body bag ohhh.. haha 

[TheSuckatash]

hey, do you dress the ends of your frets? you may have explained it already, but im just too lazy to read....... ciao

[jsullysix]

@TheSuckatash Yes, but I did that step after the frets were installed and beveled. These two videos pick up after that was done. IMO, it's a crucial step.

[jsullysix]

@JTRiffs It's a fret crowning file.

[redrocker1055]

While watching this vid the thought entered my mind that all those video game "guitarists" that I've raged on relentlessly may, in fact, be on to something... Plastic don't need no polishing!

[JimmyPage968]

Sully, you're freaking hilarious man! I got a body blank over there. "I got a body bag over th... op, nevermind!" That made my day.

[jsullysix]

@JimmyPage968 :) Thanks! I try to make it somewhat entertaining.

[JimmyPage968]

@jsullysix I'm glad you do. I definitely wish you had a TV show. 

[jsullysix]

@JimmyPage968 Thanks again; I'd love that, myself! :)

[Johnnyhumbkr]

Awesome video,brah! Do you think it's worthwhile to use stainless steel fretwire? And do they last longer than nickel-steel? I was thinking about re-freting this old Ibanez I have , even though I've never done it before. Anywhoo, thanks for all the informative videos.

[jsullysix]

@Johnnyhumbkr These frets are stainless steel. I like them, but they're hard on your hands when you're cutting them. They last a lot longer, as they're much harder than nickel.

[idiotbox1998]

So how do you work in the garage when it gets too cold?

[jsullysix]

@idiotbox1998 put on a sweatshirt :) It doesn't get too bad in Texas as far as the winter goes.

[Prostheta]

@jsullysix True about the pointier crown! The speed of the concave (thanks for reminding me) files is great though. I hate losing momentum thanks to a lengthy process. That's what she said.

[jsullysix]

@Prostheta I'm totally with ya. And she really DID say that! :)

[Prostheta]

Those three-corner files just take ages. I have no time for that kind of zen, man. I'm not sure whether those diamond profile files are worth the cash - big money on those. Then again, "normal" profiled fret files aren't cheap....never got along with those Gurian things either. I actually refretting my old EXP with EVO wire this weekend. As always, the better the fretboard the less levelling and recrowning. Always good.

NEED. ANOTHER. BLACK. MARKER.

Always love the videos Sully. \m/

[jsullysix]

@Prostheta I hear ya on the triangle files; I've noticed that I seem to get a narrower crown with them than I do with the concave files. I think, like many others, that I'm still searching for the file that I like the very best. Then again, aren't we all? :) Gotta keep the sharpies on hand! :)

[pixelboxcreative]

Ok, Sully. A couple of qwerstiuns:

1) What were the markings on your tape? I noticed some dots, some +'s and other marks.

2) Do you work from the same side, or do you crown one side and then flip the neck around and do the other side? I get a more even crown when I do the "1/2 flip 1/2" method....or am I wasting my time?

[jsullysix]

@pixelboxcreative The answer to #1 is in the previous video, mwahahahahhaha. #2, I usually work from the same side. The only time I'll spin the neck around is when rounding the fret edges.

[pixelboxcreative]

@jsullysix RE: #1 - LIES!!!!!! You talk about marking the fret tops to check level, but you never mark the tape with pluses or dots! Don't be such a tease! :P

[jsullysix]

@pixelboxcreative Hm. Maybe that part was edited out due to time constraints. If so, it's on the facebook page. That said, I mark the high or low frets and then cross them off when they're fixed .

[Pearson0110]

I would love to see a set of videos creating a sully "T" type guitar but with your own spin on it

[Nickpatient]

Do you sell the Sully guitars? :)

[jsullysix]

@Nickpatient Yep! Check out the site (it's mentioned in the description of this video)

[Ibenhead16]

after watching how much you take your time with all your guitars i cant wait to have a sully guitar of my own. can you make a less paul style body?

[jsullysix]

@Ibenhead16 I could, sure, but I'd rather leave that to the Les Paul guys. That said, I've got a design that may satisfy that craving. Stay tuned (but it's gonna be awhile).

[saynotoemo84]

i find it hilarious that in your old video from the 80's you use your "go get a sandwich" joke and you still use it today.

[jsullysix]

@saynotoemo84 Glad someone finds it amusing! :)

[guitarplayer6262]

Sully, Your the man!! I Love the guitar work you do! Thank You for sharing your wisdom with everyone.

[jsullysix]

@guitarplayer6262 thanks for the kind words. The whole point of all of the videos I've uploaded is that if I can do this stuff, you can too.

[Digideus]

Awesome inlay work! you hid those nicely under the tape!

scarf joining would make a cool vid. got a jig for that?

cool vid Sully. Everybody drink!

[jsullysix]

@Digideus Thanks for the kind words! We'll get to scarfing, I promise. :)

[pixelboxcreative]

@jsullysix Yay! +1!

[typeonegfr]

My advice when you buy a new or used guitar have her set up by semeone that knows what he's doing.And seriously I seldom do set up on 200$ guitar that after paly much better that expensive ones

[jsullysix]

@typeonegfr huh?

[typeonegfr]

Even at higher man,I had to do big fret leveling jobs on two Ibanez Prestige i bought .You would think that at 1000$ they would do it but hey.

[jsullysix]

@typeonegfr Another reason to stay away from Ibeenhad. As much of a Jackson fanboy as I am, they even do fretwork on their imports.

[attainableapex]

just wondering but what forsner bits are you using in the intro to your vid.

i really need a set of them and they are really expensive.

the 22 piece set from rockler looks good

[jsullysix]

@attainableapex I think that's a Whiteside 1/2" bit. I don't have a set; I just buy the ones that I need. I've found that I mainly use 3/8" 1/2" 7/8", and 1/14 ( for hogging out neck pockets and humbucker cavities) bits the most. I get them from woodcraft, but I'm crazy like that.

[pixelboxcreative]

@jsullysix 1/14?!?! Good Times! You meant 1/4", right? RIGHT?!?!?

[jsullysix]

@pixelboxcreative oops, no, I meant  1 1/4" (I'll never give up my secret 1/14" bits!)

[pixelboxcreative]

@jsullysix LOL. Yeah, that's what I meant! ONE AND ONE-QUARTER! Man, I can't even make fun of you without looking like an ASS! *shakesfist* :P

[davey4557]

@attainableapex

try Lee Valley Tools

[attainableapex]

@davey4557 ya i know i looked. they have a set of 29 for $369. ya a little out of my league

[pixelboxcreative]

@attainableapex Plus, you'll probably never need all 29. Buys them individually. You'll maybe need 3 or 4.

[xom400]

im having a fun day thanks for asking ... urself ?

[jsullysix]

@xom400 Been a great day, and weekend! Thanks for watching all the way to the credits! :)

[davey4557]

diamond fret files ROCK !!!

the price sucks :(

[jsullysix]

@davey4557 I hear ya; that's why I haven't purchased one yet. :)

[HearGear]

I like this.. :D

[attainableapex]

i wonder how they do this on production guitars

[jsullysix]

@attainableapex Much faster. :) That said, many manufacturers (especially at the lower product lines) don't level and crown frets.

[disturbtheworlds]

First! Awesome vid, Sully ;)