Leveling frets

[Michael Tulloch]

I've just built my first acoustic guitar, and due to some fret buzz....I need to go back and do a better job of leveling the frets. Does the neck need to be flat (no relief) to do this properly....or can one do this with a slight relief in the neck?

[Christian Johnson]

get it flat. Use a straight edge to be sure it's flat

[Donald A. Fortune]

Hi Michael-- The best place to send you on this objective is to go up on frets.com and do some searching and bet dollar to doughnuts that you will get a novel of info there...
Donald

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

I like to get the neck as flat as it's going to get, UNDER STRING TENSION--this is a "real world" measurement. I level with Aluminum U-channel with sandpaper, under each string. Kudos to Bishop Cochran for this method, and Rick Turner, who uses L-stock instead of U-channel.

I'll go so far as to back clamp a neck to get it straight--again with the strings on--but only of it has a gross forward bow, and the trussrod is complaining. Otherwise, I get it as straight as it's gonna get, and go for it.

This method is extremely fast, and produces Plek-like results.

[Penql]

that's so simple and brilliant, thanks for passing it on

[Len Biglin]

Jeffrey your strung up method of fret dressing is one of those beautiful , simple revelations , I have to try it - but whats the best glue and best grit size to go with ? Len Biglin

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

Glue?

I use PSA sandpaper, 320/400/600, as needed.

I'm thinking of making up some of these, and offering them on ebay--after all, that silly, "Thomas Ginex system keeps selling...

[Magnus Hultin]

What´s the wood thing for?

Magnus

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

It's a handle.

[danove]

To avoid buzz, you will end up with strings mutch to high,
especially at the bass side, with a dead straight fretboard.

It should at best follow the underside of the singing strings.

Under the high e-string this is hardly noticeable by sight,
but at the basside a little more obvious slope down to 12th fret.

[Michael Tulloch]

Thanks for the help Gentlemen. Flat it will be. One more problem though....truss rod seems maxed out, on the "righty tighty" and stuck with too much relief. Will not go to flat, so that's first on my list now.

[Jeffrey L. Suits]

I'd suggest removing the adjusting nut, and slipping a very small washer or two over the end of the trussrod. Then, a shim between the nut & first fret, another between 14 & 15; these should be higher than the frets, of course. I use a level for my clamping bar, but you can use anything reasonably straight. A couple of clamps (protect the back of the neck) will bring the neck into a backbow; tighten the trussrod nut now, but don't overdo it--that "snap" sound will give you a chill, before you start cursing.

With the strings-on method, you'll string it up, and, hopefully, loosen the trussrod to get the top of the frets flat. Strings are wonderfully appropriate straightedges at this point.

BTW, it should go w/o saying, that you introduce a little relief, once you've gone through
the level/recrown process.

Hope this helps.

[Michael Tulloch]

Yes, Jeffrey this helps. Adding washers to the end of the rod suggests that the nut has run out of thread. Yes?

I'll give this a shot. Thank you.