Installing new BIG frets.

After replacing the inlays, I've finally started the refret on my 1978 Custom with Jescar FW57110. I must be doing something wrong, because after the first eleven frets, I can put my fret rocker anywhere on the new frets and it doesn't move in the slightest. :)

Mike Fields

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Permalink Reply by Hesh Breakstone on December 29, 2015 at 2:52am

The leveling beams are to be used with strings off and are part of a fret leveling method that does not need string tension to provide excellent results.

People's methods evolve and change over time. Can't speak for Murray but he is making these beam and selling them and clearly they are to be used without strings on.

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Permalink Reply by steven gallagher on December 25, 2015 at 6:37pm

Mike,

The following replies in this thread got me remembering that Jeff Suits once said he was thinking about offering lapped U-channel for sale. He hasn't posted here for awhile, but he used to live just a few miles from me. Does anyone know of his whereabouts now?

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Permalink Reply by Michael S. Fields on December 26, 2015 at 5:57pm

Oh, ok, Hesh, that makes sense. Would you use a straightedge to check it to find individual high or low frets or just go right to a sanding beam and hit all of them? Thanks.

Mike Fields

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Permalink Reply by Hesh Breakstone on December 29, 2015 at 3:02am

Michael proper fret dressing is an art and takes time to learn and understand. We teach a method using leveling beams and our class takes an entire day with folks compelling a fret job on one of their instruments. These are mostly builders so far in our classes.

Long story short every fret is marked with bluing (magic marker) just like a machinist does and then with a leveling beam the frets are kissed to see from the ink where we hit, where we don't. Truss rod is adjusted for optimal material removal (where it needs to be removed and leaving other area alone if possible). Fall-away is induced after the 12th, relief is added or removed from each respective side of the neck as required for the specific neck with hand pressure while using the beam.

Ink is reapplied, results are "read" more work is done if necessary. It's an entire process, pretty detailed and provides excellent results. After one of our fret dresses we can usually get action of 2/64th" high e at the 12th and 3/64th" for the low e. Not recommending this action but two of our pro clients, one who used to play with Joe Pass and on his D'Aquistos (2 of them) (originals not post Fender) he likes action this low and can play it too.

What's important and why the fret rocker is not intended to be anything beyond a quick and dirty check for a proud fret is to always address the entire fret plane as a whole just as the strings see it. Methods that only check three frets at a time are only seeing the relationship of those three frets and any inaccuracies are greatly multiplied as you move up or down the neck.

With a precision lapped leveling beam checked on a calibrated surface plate with accuracy of .001" or better the fret rocker doesn't cut it.

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Permalink Reply by Andrew on December 29, 2015 at 4:59pm

Oh how I wish I could take that class, Hesh. Coming through Ontario, Canada any time soon? ;) lol

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Permalink Reply by Michael S. Fields on December 29, 2015 at 1:27pm

Thanks for the detailed explanation, Hesh. Greatly appreciated.

Mike Fields

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Permalink Reply by Michael S. Fields on January 24, 2016 at 10:48am

This is taking a while. Not enough hours in the day. I finally got the fret ends beveled and then the sharp edges knocked off with a fret file. My DIY, over-engineered bevel too was made from a Stew-Mac 12" radius block. I angled each side longitudinally the same angle as the neck and vertically, 20 degrees. I went with 20 degrees for the bevel so that I could space the strings out just a little more, as I've always thought they were a little cramped on this guitar.

Mike Fields

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Permalink Reply by Michael S. Fields on August 29, 2016 at 1:06pm

Hesh, I took your advice and purchased the leveling beam from Technofret. Although sanding-in relief is beyond me at this time, I did add some fall-away to the upper frets. The picture below is after leveling, recrowning, and polishing. Thanks for all the help, guys.