I could see that quite a few of the frets weren't fully seated on the outside edges of the fret board. That might explain why you have so many frets that have very flat tops once they've been leveled. Other than that, the video was very informative and helpful.
I don't understand why some think it's not important to make sure the neck is straight before fret leveling. If the neck isn't straight, then you're going to shave off more fret than you need to, either in the middle if back bowed or at the ends of forwards bowed. Thus far, I haven't been able to get the 2 necks I've worked on perfectly straight, because there's imperfections between the frets. I suppose it's just imported to make sure the notched leveling beam are flush at the ends, as well as where the neck is most affected by the truss rod (middle)?
Your diagrams make all of the difference. Like a university textbook you understand that they are needed and you take the time to make them. This is the best quality video I’ve seen on fret work and I bookmarked dozens.
By 1:00 allow me to help you with the number 1 & 2 problems I encounter on a regular.... #1 Fretboard preparation before fretting. The only way to really see this is by removing the frets. But if the board isnt level even tho all frets are perfectly seated....not level. #2 problem frets radius not matching fretboard radius. Frets not radiused the same act like a spring to some extent pushing themselves out of the slots. If you need all kinds of reverse pressure on a two way rod to get the neck straight in order to counteract the surface tension caused by the fret tangs combined, your essentially squeezing the frets out with the truss rod. While the frets act like a spring because of incorrect radius.
Brilliant! I have never done anything like this before. I bought a guitar cheap guitar to play on and frets were all out of wack. I did what Duncan has showed us all and if you take it easy and methodically its simple. The best. Thank you Mr Duncan Wallace
TLDR, don't make the mistake I made and use cheap masking tape for this job. You'll add a few hours onto the task if you do! Excellent resource that I've now used for the 3rd time. First time, it was a custom build using a cheap-ass guitar as a base, so I was comfortable if I messed up. Turned out fine. Second time, levelled an old acoustic - again, not too worried - job was good, frets not exactly super shiny, but fine for me. At the end of my third time as I type this, new low-to-mid-end of the market Sire Larry Carlton L7. (£500) Fret work looked fab taking it out the box, super shiny. Setup revealed a _very_ different picture - the fret levels were bloody awful across the entire fretboard. I was super disappointed. I checked about 20 times that the fret board was level with my fret ruler, it was. I'd started, so I had to finish. It was difficult, at one point I was thinking "Why didn't I take this to a luthier?" The amount of fret wire that came off was alarming. Some frets were so flat. Crowning took me easily 4 hours - I don't know how long these things are supposed to take! Smoothing and polishing up, another 3 hours. And one BIG lesson. Don't use cheap masking tape. On my two previous attempts, I'd used high quality Frog tape. I'd ran out, so used masking tape. Two problems: 1. Having to reapply tape part way through polishing up, as the higher grit sandpaper does wear through it in places. 2. The residue. Oh, my, the residue! - a goopy gunky mess of glue on the fret board to cleanup. So, the other lesson. We all know know to NEVER rush a job, but also, don't rush _into_ a job - if you haven't got ALL of the right kit at the start, wait until you have. Something as silly as a bit of tape can really make your life difficult.
Duncan, that has to be one of THE best instructional videos I have ever seen! I've done my own setups and maintenance for years. I've re-crowned frets and such here and there, but I've always shied away from fret levelling and gone to a pro. I have one guitar that has quite a few uneven frets, so I'm going to order myself a levelling beam and give it a shot. I have all the other tools, including the slotted straight edge, so the beam and some abrasive for it should be all that I need. Many thanks for all the advice sir! You're a great teacher.
Thank you so much for sharing this sir! I'm new to guitar building and have been so scared to do this! You took the guesswork out in a simple and user friendly video! Thank you!
Ho. Ly. Shite. I bet you had NO idea or even intention really, when you started filming this, that you were going to end up making literally the *best* instructional video (ok, videoS) about DIY fret levelling on the whole damn internet. I'm blown away. Not even remotely kidding: I just got on Amazon and ordered $140 (US dollars) worth of the few basic tools (straight edge with notches, 16" beam, nice crown file, etc) I was still lacking to go ahead and do this on two of my guitars, because I feel like I can handle it now. At least like I'll make them *slightly* better, instead of worse. I wish I had seen your channel about 7 months ago, before I paid a pro $230 to level and crown my Strat. Shoulda bought nice tools with that dosh instead. I've been READING about the process in forums and stuff ever since I paid that painful amount, but hadn't seen anything like this. THANK YOU. I know you haven't uploaded any more stuff in like almost a decade, but... Dude. You should!
Nice video series! I learned a lot, thanks! I echo your disdain for steel wool, I can’t stand the stuff! I like the Light-Duty Scotch-Brite pads, myself. The white ones. They do about as good a job without the horrible mess. I’m going to give 3-corner file crowning another go. Thanks again! -Nate
I want to know who did the Refretting, Duncan will you be brave enough to tell the story of that, how it came to be, is this your work and now we see how to level the frets or was this a job that came into your workshop from a Diy-er.
Always 3 corner file for me,diamond crowning files are good for speed? But I think 3 corner file gives better results and it's great to no how to use one! There brilliant I was only £30 for mine money well spent i think.great vid bye the way best I've saw most detailed
Could you quickly explain how to determine while using a fret rocker that one of the outer frets isn't too low as opposed to the middle fret being too high. I see that either case, that it would rock, or am I missing something. Nice video
ThankYou for such an enjoyable birds eye view of the process and thankYou also for the deconstruction of the myth that one cannot do this for oneSelf:)
