refretting a Fender stratocaster PART 18 (recrowning/polishing the new frets)

Jason from The Musician's Den in Evansville, IN walks you through a complete refret on an '04 American Deluxe Stratocaster. In part 18 we start the recrowning/polishing process.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• file
• fret end
• refret
• guitar
• The Musician's Den
• luthier
• lutherie
• fretwork
• Fender
• American Deluxe
• Stratocaster
• repair
• rosewood
• fingerboard
• fret
• Evansville IN
• filing
• 3M
• masking
• tape

[42lynchmob]

why are the tangs going all the way across?? rosewood fretboards different from maple necks or what???

[smbstressfest]

@42lynchmob I don't follow? As long as the fingerboard is unbound, you can undercut the tangs or let the go all the way to the edge and file them flush. I tend to go with the latter unless I have a specific reason not to.

[journeyquest1]

Looks nice. Lots of tedious work. Sad that so much of this work goes to some spoiled rich "kid" or guitar hack who has to have the best regardless of talent. I just look for a good Epiphone or Fender standard and set it up and learn to play with it the way it is,like so many great guitar players have done through history. I am intersted in the gold frets that are supposed to have nice tone and wear longer?

[smbstressfest]

@journeyquest1 The Jescar "gold-evo" frets are indeed more durable than standard 18% nickel silver. I'm not trying to be a wet blanket, but any difference in tone is likely to be almost imperceptible by the human ear. If you want this wire, it's probably best to choose it based on the aesthetics and durability.

[jsxtal]

@smbstressfest its still a different tone and feel whether the instrument is drastically different, or hardly noticeable at first. In my opinion, i feel that the best work that can be attained in this area of the bass, is the type that takes a while to really appreciate. I love understanding and gaining the most from work at a later time. Journey quest i think your opinion is a quite jaded, while warranted.

[smbstressfest]

@jsxtal Until somebody does a well designed placebo controlled double blind study on the tonal differences among different fretwire alloys, I gotta stick with the null hypothesis. After all, everything we say here is just anecdotal and speculative. I'll gladly revise my position in light of new evidence, but the emperor still looks naked from where I'm seated at this moment.

[theshyguitarist]

Nice videos. I thought I'd mention that you remind me of Sean Astin....that guy that played Sam Gamgee in Lord of the Rings. No offense. ; )

[danbenkert]

Thank you so much Jason this has made my fretting jobs that I do on my many guitars much better!!

[gary97209]

Great series Jason. You also have taught me how to solder.

Regarding the flap-sanding method for semi-crowning the frets with the rubber pad/sandpaper.

I think I see what might be a better way? Use the other end..the square end and place some self-stick sandpaper ALMOST to the end. That way the sandpaper would hit the sides or the frets but then the rubber tip would ride over the frets top without the paper touching the top of the fret.

Just a idea from watching.

[UVDan]

Thanks.

[smbstressfest]

Oh yeah, I'd say most people refret without many of the tools I use. The neck jig specifically is a tool for the serious professional, or at least the serious hobbyist. You could of course make one rather than buy one too if you're so inclined.