Fret Files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Yasoo
  • Start date Start date
Y

Yasoo

New member
Could someone please point me in the right direction to buy some fret files? Thank you.
 
Do you then recommend just having the frets replaced by a luthier or someone from your local shop that you trust? Or can someone do it themselves?
 
I have to agree with Light, unless you have a lot of experience in filing at a tradesman level you have a good chance of buggering it up. By this I am assuming that you are talking about dressing the frets, if you are looking at replacing them you need to know what you are doing.
I can't speak for Light but the majority of repairs and sets that I do are because someone who does not know what they are doing has had a go themselves. And I just live in a small mining town, I wouldn't mind betting his ratio is the same but more of them.
Clive
 
Toonsmith said:
Do you then recommend just having the frets replaced by a luthier or someone from your local shop that you trust? Or can someone do it themselves?
Click to expand...


There are two main types of fret job. You can get them dressed, or you can get a refret. Dressing is what I described in Yasoo's other thread on the subject. Refreting is pulling and replacing the frets, and always includes a light dress, as it is basically impossible to drive them all to the exact same level. A dress is usually about $125. A refret is anywhere from $225 to $450, depending on a variety of factors (binding, fingerboard material, etc.). For most people, dressing is best, if it is possible. You can usually get two or three dressings out of a set of frets. It does change the feel of the guitar a bit, but most people either don't mind or don't notice. Once the frets get so low that we can not make them level and still get a decent crown out of them, then they need to be refreted. There are some people who can't stand to have their frets lower, so they will automatically spring for new frets. If you don't play ten hours a day, you are not likely to be in this category.

Both of these jobs should only be done by experience professionals. I have never seen a good amateur fret dressing. Ever. If you want to see exactly what is involved, as shown by someone who makes it look easy (don't be fooled), go check out Frank Ford's web site, www.frets.com. Frank is one of the few repair folks in the country who has been at this longer then us, and we have great respect for him and his shop (Gryphon Music, in Palo Alto, CA).


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Thanks Light!

In fact Gryphons is where I bought my Taylor and that's where I get my work done on my guitars! I know they do good work and your affirmation just goes to prove my intelligence. Ha, ha, ha.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top