Got in a late 70s P-bass with J-bass neck. Dates to about 1977 per serial number/Gruhn book. Bound fingerboard. Frets right up to the edge of binding, but not overlapping. Original frets; lacquer/poly 'fillets' along frets. I've got a lots of fret experience, but never done one of these.
1. How to remove frets? Sideways won't work with binding. Use standard heat-pull straight up method?
2. How to fit new frets without overhanging binding. How to bevel, round, flush? Rusty, you've done this
Jason Gatewood
as for radiusing the frets before installation... if you have not already decided how you are going to do it, I can send you images, and instructions to build a jig to is similar to the Stewmac fretwire bending jig, only mine also has a the ability to also "unbend" or increase the radius. I decided to add this because where I order my fretwire from, it comes spooled up fairly tightly, and for acoustics, etc..., I need to decrease the bend. The jig I built and use will do a whole strip of fretwire at once, so you are not doing each fret indepently.
Also, if you do have binding, check out Stewmac or LMI's tool for cutting the tang off of the ends of the pieces. However, I have found that with either tool, I still need to do some hand filing to make sure the hole tang is completely gone and there will be a tight fit with no gap on the binding overhang.
Another thought - if you find that you need to widen the tangs because the frets are fitting tightly and are pulling up, I can send you a picture and instructions on making a tool to quickly crimp some spots along the tang to ensure a snug fit.
Let me know if any of this would be of use to you. Thank you, Jason
Feb 5, 2013
Paul Verticchio
Your planning & hard work paid off, Christian.
Very nice work and a super attractive look...more so than "factory"!!!
A very impressive job buddy :-)
Mar 29, 2013
Amedeo Ciminnisi
Specifically, which make/model of fret wire did you purchase for this job?
Apr 21