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Fret Leveling - The Easy Way // How To

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  • čas přidán 13. 08. 2024
  • How to level Guitar Frets the easy way.
    In this video I show you how to level the frets on your guitar with minimal tools. You don't need expensive tools to do a proper fret job. For example you can easily make a fret leveling beam out of a spirit level or a straight piece of wood and some sandpaper. A nodged straigt edge can be made out of a metal ruler or anything els that is straigt. I improvised a nodged straight edge out of cardboard and it worked too. But In all fairness, I have to add that if you're planing on working on more that one or two guitars pruchasing quality fret leveling tools will make your life easyer.

Komentáře • 785

  • @FabiansTinyWorkshop
    @FabiansTinyWorkshop  Před 2 lety +54

    Please bear in mind that you also should file the nut slots to the new fret level (picture the nut slots as the zero fret).
    Nut slots that are too high create a situation where the guitar is difficult to play due to the high action in first positions. They can also throw off the tuning and intonation.
    The ideal nut slot height, in terms of playability, is subjective - much like string action height at the bridge. Some players like the slots to be cut up a little higher - like slide players - , and some players want them cut down as low as possible so the guitar plays very easy with no fight - that would be me ;-).

    • @Roman-wm4ji
      @Roman-wm4ji Před 2 lety +5

      Thank you so much for this helpul video! I am learning luthier work, but am on a budget. This video was straight to the point and I can't tell you how much I appreciate you showing how to make home made tools. Thank you!!
      One question though, when rounding frets edges, is there a certain amount of the fret to remove? Any specific things to pay attention to?

    • @FabiansTinyWorkshop
      @FabiansTinyWorkshop  Před 2 lety +5

      @@Roman-wm4ji Just make them comfortable round. Don't remove material from the top of the fret ends thereby making the centerline of the fret shorter. If the fret ends are too much angled the strings could glide of the fret ends.
      Crimson Guitars has a great video on dressing fret ends although they're using more "sufisticated" tools ;-)
      czcams.com/video/MFHcavzk80Q/video.html

    • @Roman-wm4ji
      @Roman-wm4ji Před 2 lety +2

      @@FabiansTinyWorkshop Thanks so much! just watched his video :)

    • @renatofdearaujo8997
      @renatofdearaujo8997 Před 2 lety

      thanks for the great video. I'm experiencing buzzing in one string, and I suspect this video will help me figure out a way to fix it. Regarding the nuts, my impression is that depending on the strig you'll have a different width on each slot, to lodge properly the string according to the caliber. This way they can sit on the same level... That's another problem I'm experiencing: I'll have to widen some nut slots a bit to make sure they are leveled from the bottom. Makes sense? thanks

    • @paulyoung4781
      @paulyoung4781 Před rokem

      I have the jem but my fretts seem abit uneaven I definitely think it is needing this done as I have lots frett buz,I've tried all the basics set ups adjustment s like the kneck!! Raising the saddles the bridge ect but I ain't raising it too much past 2mm low E that be too hard to play,seems only my low E that has lots buzz up and down kneck strange one!! I do feel it would be beneficial to level off the fretts and do this,I feel very confident after watching ur video many many thanks buddy thank u

  • @Scotchegz
    @Scotchegz Před 4 lety +566

    Quick tip! place a piece of tape down the neck on each side before applying fretboard masking for quick removal.

    • @Enzo4music
      @Enzo4music Před 4 lety +5

      thanks!

    • @briantinsley7864
      @briantinsley7864 Před 4 lety +6

      Since you're using some Stew Mac stuff, I think I got several widths of masking tape (blue) and use the narrow rolls on the high frets. I use a piece of granite with double stick 320 to get flat using your basic technique. Ive used several crowning tool, but I use a 3 corner file, but grind one side smooth and polish the corner, and you can get pretty surgical with the frets that way. I got a cheap diamond crowning file, and if you're working on multiple guitars I wouldn't skimp on this tool. I also use the StewMac gritty erasors, and finish by buffing frets with a cloth dremel wheel and simichrome polish.

    • @carlmontney7916
      @carlmontney7916 Před 4 lety +1

      @@briantinsley7864 I also use a dremel and Simichrome. Great stuff

    • @ThePelekatMan
      @ThePelekatMan Před 3 lety

      Nice tips! Thanks ☺️

    • @stradaveriusfiddle
      @stradaveriusfiddle Před 3 lety +6

      And why not use a dollar or two worth of ‘blue painters’ tape? I believe in saving money when it makes sense, but most old style ‘masking tape’ has some pretty nasty adhesive.
      When I compare the extra dollar for tape, to the value of my guitar neck, it’s a ‘no-brainer.’ It doesn’t have to be the 3m kind. Just keep an eye out for any sort of dollar store, it’s worth a look, because most of them now carry a cheap version of blue painters tape.

  • @Defekcija
    @Defekcija Před rokem +59

    This is a great example of how videos should be done. No clickbait and straight to the point! Thank you, Sir.

  • @bastiangigas
    @bastiangigas Před 4 lety +271

    The clearest video about crowning and leveling I've seen so far. Thank you!

    • @SinsOD
      @SinsOD Před 3 lety +1

      Yes!!!

    • @johndoe1765
      @johndoe1765 Před 2 lety +1

      Yes I agree straight forward thank you very much.

  • @jonathaneftychiou
    @jonathaneftychiou Před 4 lety +148

    After a quick trip to Lowe's, I just followed this video step by step. Amazed at how doable it actually was and very glad to save $100+ on tools I won't really use again for years. Thanks so much!

  • @jacob_krause_official7286
    @jacob_krause_official7286 Před 2 lety +33

    This is easily the best video on the subject by far. Your directions are distinct, you speak clearly, and actually show us everything you're doing. Thank you!

  • @onpsxmember
    @onpsxmember Před 4 lety +44

    Just if anyone is new to that, the file at 3:58 needs the edges ground off to get safe edges. The regular sharp edges will eat through the masking tape and destroy (in this case) the finish of the neck and the wood beneath it. Good video, lowered the hurdle with the self made tools.

  • @RumbleFish69
    @RumbleFish69 Před 3 lety +5

    I took my guitar into Guitar Center for a tune up, never thinking this would be an issue, but it was... After taking my money and not letting me know about this problem, which I am sure they spotted when they originally tested it, they were more than happy to let me know when I brought it back the next day. So, now, on top of the $50 bucks I spent on the tune up, I now have to give them an extra $125 to level the frets?? No thanks, I am doing it myself!
    This is a great video and I am certain that I will have no issues completing this project successfully. I have all the tools, but more importantly, this video has given me the confidence to succeed. I will never take my guitar into Guitar Center again! I realized that getting my guitar serviced at Guitar Center is no different than having my car serviced at one of those $10 oil lube places! Live and learn!

  • @jeremykemp3782
    @jeremykemp3782 Před 2 měsíci +2

    No frills, no expensive tools and no nonsense. Great video thanks

  • @emmabrewer2283
    @emmabrewer2283 Před 4 lety +19

    So glad this video isn’t telling me to buy expensive tools 🙏

  • @replicated
    @replicated Před 4 měsíci +2

    I am glad there are videos for amateurs like me who can't the afford StewMac tools. Not knocking them, I know they're great, but I just make my tools for now.

  • @bastimixacoustic3958
    @bastimixacoustic3958 Před 6 měsíci +3

    I saw a friend of mine on Facebook talking about leveling the frets on his guitars and wanted to know what exactly this is all about. This video was very informative but also showed me that this is something I will never ever attempt to do myself XD

  • @Marksleftboot1
    @Marksleftboot1 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Great video, no expensive tools, down to earth simple how to! Great stuff!

  • @LetMeDieLord
    @LetMeDieLord Před 2 lety +2

    Wow, danke Fabian! Was für eine geniale Anleitung!!! Gold wert!!

  • @claudemoanet6870
    @claudemoanet6870 Před 2 lety +4

    I levelled my frets following this tutorial and my guitar turned out great.

  • @hussamjamil4980
    @hussamjamil4980 Před rokem +5

    Thank you very much for the tips. I am a beginner (6 months) and my cheap €90 Stratocaster has 3 slightly higher frets. I learned a lot about proper set up (neck relief, inntonation, string hights, pick up heights etc) and was wondering how to do this without special tools and also learn. I also watched your DIY kit, i was looking into a telecaster DIY kit (love the tele twang) and again learned alot. Much appreciated.

  • @yavuzakkus9548
    @yavuzakkus9548 Před rokem +5

    The minimalistic approach is very understandable and encouraging for a newbie like me. If there's one, I'll watch your fret replacing video, too. Keep up the good work!

  • @keithsa41
    @keithsa41 Před rokem +7

    This is concise and straight to the point. You have a natural teaching talent, thanks for posting!

  • @violetadanicic5363
    @violetadanicic5363 Před 4 lety +6

    We did a great job with our frets thanks to your video. Thanks. Greetings from Serbia!

  • @richardockenden8669
    @richardockenden8669 Před 4 lety +9

    Clear and concise instructions and straight to the point with no garbage in between , great video matey thank you .

  • @zippygogo3660
    @zippygogo3660 Před rokem +1

    Perfect vid , this is what you need , this is how you do it , straight to the point , no bells and whistles

  • @bassyey
    @bassyey Před rokem +4

    Great no bullshit approach. Seriously, I like how this doesn't require me to buy expensive stuff and establishes what needs to be done.. Though, I'll probably spend at least for the crowning file, only because I'm not confident enough to do the final shaping. But for the leveling stuff, I'll get the cheap stuff you mentioned, I never thought it would be that easy.

  • @mrfriendly67
    @mrfriendly67 Před 3 lety +40

    Watching such films, I become convinced that I can do these things myself with my guitars, instead of paying the luthiers.

    • @Dude_Guyman
      @Dude_Guyman Před 2 lety +2

      I paid a "luthier" (Firehouse Guitars, Muskegon) to do this once on a brand new guitar. He wrecked the frets, filed them down to almost nothing and totally uneven from high to low side. When I gave it to them it had some buzzing, high frets, when I got it back it was worse than before with totally dead notes and deep file chatter all over the place.They refunded my money but refused to fix the issue, claiming I did it myself, "It was fine when it left here (an hour and a half before), get out, you're no longer welcome here", etc. I had not even played the thing yet other than to drive it home and check if it was playable, then head straight back to the store.
      /madface
      Then I learned to do a complete refret and level, made it into a great playing guitar, and never looked back. F@#$ that guy, and f#$% Firehouse Guitars!

    • @Swope_1995
      @Swope_1995 Před 2 lety

      You can. Through trial and error, and learning.

  • @STAY-GOLD-VINYL
    @STAY-GOLD-VINYL Před 5 lety +3

    The simplified and downright best fret tutorial out there!! No fancy tools like "StewMac"!!!

  • @Im-a-Fool
    @Im-a-Fool Před 4 lety +8

    This is great! I have been delaying a fret leveling on one of my guitars because of the over priced cost of the luthier tools, it is hard to justify that cost especially when the total cost of those tools nears the cost of new neck. This is great information thank you!

  • @manfredoliveras3196
    @manfredoliveras3196 Před 5 lety +22

    Very good, straight to the point.

  • @benhughes2563
    @benhughes2563 Před 2 lety +18

    It's amazing what clear and detailed yet plain instructions can do for one's confidence! I am now fully confident that I will be able to do this to my guitars, though I will be investing somewhat into a proper diamond crowning file and radius block to make life a little easier. Many thanks!
    Edit: Update - done and done. Might go over the crown again in the future as I think I'd get better results with a traditional 3 corner file. My polishing, while adequate, isn't quite mirror finish - really can't afford to skip grits there!
    No more weird zingy notes though!

    • @Big_Red_Dork
      @Big_Red_Dork Před rokem +2

      Just use a Dremel with a buffing wheel and compound for the polish

    • @anthonyrmay1502
      @anthonyrmay1502 Před rokem

      flash .......................... but wish I could afford them

  • @chrisn527
    @chrisn527 Před 4 lety +6

    Straight and to the point,, great workarounds for the non-luthier in the family. Thank you so much.

  • @danepaulstewart8464
    @danepaulstewart8464 Před 3 lety +2

    WOW! What a great SIMPLE and easy to understand lesson. 👍👍👍👍
    This should be the FIRST lesson on fret leveling new learners should watch.
    Yes, you can go further, but all that includes is just being a little more precise at each step - NOTHING would be fundamentally any different.
    A+ Video Right Here! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

  • @EnmandsBand1
    @EnmandsBand1 Před 4 lety +11

    oh yeah, and I bought a really cheap (but straight) 60 cm aluminium ruler and filed it down to allow for the frets to check the neck straightness

  • @jimbradley727
    @jimbradley727 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Your vid was direct to the point less than 19 minutes and completed a fret job...So yes i loved it.. Any vid of this process more than 20 minutes will not get my look.

  • @alansturgess1324
    @alansturgess1324 Před 4 lety +3

    Outstanding. I have a fairly cheap ES335 copy which has a great sound but several high frets - this video is EXACTLY what I needed. I've seen others which make the job look very tricky ... your approach is very straightforward. Many thanks.

  • @christopherchurch9274
    @christopherchurch9274 Před 4 lety +11

    Thanks for the really informative video. I'm about to try my hand at some fret leveling for the first time, and I feel your video gave me a good sense of what to do.

  • @mikewright7236
    @mikewright7236 Před 4 lety +4

    Thanks to your video, I was able to get my very first and favorite Washburn electric finally playing right. For years I've had problems with it and I just pretty much stopped playing. I thought the fret buzz I kept getting in placed was an adjustment issue... So I adjusted and adjusted to no avail . I finally started examining the frets and noticed very small intentions in the frets in certain places. I used about 8 dollars worth of stuff and used your method and it's playing great now. Thanks so much for this video

  • @danielvalles9554
    @danielvalles9554 Před 4 lety +25

    Hey, Just throwing it out there.. spend the money on a crowning file. I've leaned a lot of guitar oriented tools are just common or obscure tools repackaged for guitar work, but crowning is hard. If you're not already proficient with a file or woodworking, you'll either mess it up the first time or spend far too long doing the frets. Sometimes it's worth it to have a purpose built and purpose bought tool for the price of, maybe, a set up with new strings.

    • @frankzander7151
      @frankzander7151 Před 4 lety +1

      ....I thought about the same as you and just ordered a crowning file.

    • @Mr.Steve-O
      @Mr.Steve-O Před 4 lety

      agreed, you can buy a decent kit for $10.00 .... loved the home made fret sanding tool from a block of wool .... Sorry StewMac www.ebay.com/itm/Guitar-Fret-Crowning-Luthier-File-Leveling-Grinding-Tool-Kits-Guitar-Repair-Tool/223235176398?hash=item33f9da77ce&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&enc=AQAEAAADMKvsXIZtBqdkfsZsMtzFbFsbX3WcW5fmB%2Fx7ZbaZTyexqLRTmHPDQOa6MFtb3GhMulYgkhtz0hhWJ%2BpMzfr72b5Iye%2BM6efrToeJAzSp%2BYsO8VTQSpLAvOkeR5wnuQUmL3RW5pWJal6cSoAeh5D88Tsyo2n4v4CJfX0Gb%2FX8uaXPjixfhWCLZpzljjA3U7kv41iu4DUGZwNeobTlGexRSVdnPZhbJE4deykUpZWckObtav%2F2UG1BEAA6GIbwiaZa%2FNAZrTH0muQrXzjBGJTkQWwB0v0U2IPQBqtea5MmUDWsiTZy4OKfZezHRSKE0a7g353LVg7eycKhb2JqUSjwoYrztbu75PGdKwumwl4od6nGRwz05kTgrBUvrkf3y4bnBte0ldTqwOvnPyQQOXs0C0o2LVpacjZNAMIi20kOUgu04mhUrPlO3AJZC69A1pe5dLNorEXLrLv9h3jdXAlqOJG04Yg4dV%2FxyDBewUEzjkXmzBbH7EngDxZrUg9l2VlPUZk4cl0d9UUhD9uOmaDihPHrys2Bc%2BuBluJB8KjRQKpRm88HGD9qKmeyP8iHN1nAVmQ3rO9qDFku3%2FqsMRs6r1TnvSXV18fnZbbTXDfHn9vZnmdzI28%2Bodsk4TDMZYZBNVXT%2FAJ8X7ZjfrqU99wDsr4p6X%2BgJQwONCCt2zkwNKic%2FwP9PskkbPziC6lWQCD63YgUwv0jNQ2eeaR%2F3fZ%2F4bJ9cV4m2emE%2FtllWbGoLgY8%2BR90RloEOr%2Fd1%2BkC7kouHStl9llVmDLH3MliajLFIk3g0I7GQ5EwoQX%2BYbzHhYZnZu%2F7vXfRbjkd%2F%2B12ISOfXkd%2F37bLoYeQh5ckPO7DMIyO%2Flfk3rN7vXJmXZ9DIUPx25lDXK3OFKVsAa%2FHIXTD8YnqdLqdE%2BFD%2FljjXwoAO2gIn9v28RTlnTzegAKLgbe1UC2n%2B0h2bUSKa4JwBFbZ%2BcnrGVZPfXG7iQVm2iL%2B%2FKv4rAbQK6lMOICKN45kerPdo1A30GaB%2FRp2Ve16gD87wKpKX43TI1L2VRSZkIfjyVOQt7wEmCex67CI0BX%2FE9b0DfBF2fj%2FPqTzgzH6c9Ta6w%3D%3D&checksum=223235176398c1af72c1f1b44886875e812429b8ef1e

    • @riverboy1481
      @riverboy1481 Před 4 lety

      And I really don't think a piece of cardboard is good for a straightedge. Just saying....

    • @meadish
      @meadish Před 4 lety +2

      @@Mr.Steve-O I bought one of those sets, and the included 'crowning file' took off the tops of the frets and put ugly scratches in them. This type of file should not be abrasive at the top, but the Chinese ones are. The diamond coating is uneven and coarse which is what can cause long deep scratches.
      You don't necessarily need to buy Stew Mac files, although if you can afford it and plan to do many fret jobs, it is probably worthwhile although the price is hard to stomach.
      Anyway, a three corner file with safe edges works too, and after the useless Chinese file had ruined a couple of frets, I switched to a three corner file, watched a few tutorials on them, and got very decent results for a first try.

    • @stephenhookings1985
      @stephenhookings1985 Před 4 lety +2

      @@meadish I got some tools from Crimson guitars in UK ... They do.the trick and since I got a few cheap basses I figured spending a little in some good tools to make them super playable is better than paying for expensive bass and marketing.
      I saw Highline guitars made a crowning file our of some soft balsa wood, a good fret and some sandpaper.

  • @kathekokolias9569
    @kathekokolias9569 Před 2 lety

    It’s Brian here on my dear wife’s iPad. Mine is opened up for a screen digitizer replacement in my “studio.” Thanks for a thorough discussion on fret level and crown procedure. Your video gave me the confidence to proceed as a DIY amateur luthier with old school attitude about fixing what you own and love when necessary.
    I’d collected new locking tuners, graphtech saddles, TUSQ nuts and a bridge, a Bigsby B30 and a Bourne split coil harness and I was about to order a pricey 6” leveling file to address two guitars of 4 I own and play, a 2000 Epiphone 335vs and a1988 Fender Strat. The Strat has moderate fret wear, divots and some buzz and the maple neck and fretboard will be stripped and treated with boiled linseed oil over Japan drier, then new saddles and nut. The Epi gets light fret dressing, new harness, the the Bigsby and bridge with Towner down pressure bar into a Graphtech Rotamax Bridge , ditching the OEM Rotomatic with steel saddles. .
    The other two are a 2019 LP Plus Top Pro VS which needs nothing and a 1952 Martin 018 on which if the two jobs above turn out as well as expected I will also do a fret restore. As refined and vintage sounding as it is it will likely regain what’s been worn away these years….Already refinished the neck myself, had a pro luthier in upstate NY reset that and repair/ stabilize some checking. It was my mom’s, I started playing that when I was 9 or so, now I’m 72.
    The roughly $65 saved from the leveling file (I own a new FretGuru 2.0 crowning file as of yesterday) I’ll roll into locking tuners for the Strat, save all the OEM hardware removed and all the tools in a box for whoever inherits my guitar collection when I ride off into the sunset.
    .

  • @darrelldunn4618
    @darrelldunn4618 Před 3 lety +4

    I like the marking each fret with a sharpie tip.

  • @hamid1398
    @hamid1398 Před 2 měsíci

    Thanks for the great video.
    It is also important to check for strightness of the neck once truss rod is adjusted

  • @mikepawlikguitar
    @mikepawlikguitar Před 3 lety +1

    Hallo Fabian, ich wollte danke sagen, für das tolle Video. Ich fahre jetzt nach Canadian Tire um mir die notwendigen Sachen zu besorgen
    Im pretty confident I can do this. Thank you so much!

  • @TRGP331
    @TRGP331 Před 4 lety +2

    Here in the US you can get a notched straight edge for under $30. Even if you're not doing a lot of fret work, it is an indispensable tool for setups. I personally wouldn't trust a piece of cardboard.
    Also, you can buy a $5 slim taper file at Home Depot, "safe-sand" the corners, and you have a fantastic crowning file akin to a high-dollar crowning file.

  • @idigchickflicks8730
    @idigchickflicks8730 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Thank you!
    Easy tips & straight to the point. No babbling on about nonsense lol. Instant Sub!!

  • @chadwhitaker3949
    @chadwhitaker3949 Před rokem +1

    Good job man and I enjoyed your video. Most people focus on how careful you need to be but you didn't hold back. I like your style. It was killing me that you weren't blowing off the metal shavings with compressed air like I would've been doing each step lol. Get you a compressor and an air pistol attachment. I use it for anything and everything around the house

  • @st.stephensabqumc5283
    @st.stephensabqumc5283 Před 2 lety +2

    Well done! I've got a guitar in need of leveling and after watching, I'm confident I can do this myself. Thanks.

  • @JesusMartinez-fp5yh
    @JesusMartinez-fp5yh Před 2 lety

    First video that I’ve seen to take into consideration that not all of us want to spend so much money on special tools. Thank you

  • @conornos
    @conornos Před 4 lety +4

    I thought I'd get back into guitar again after many years not playing. Bought a "beginner" pack and I would not have the confidence to set up a guitar like this video :-P

  • @misterbearsir
    @misterbearsir Před 3 měsíci

    Outstanding video. Thank you for showing us (in such a clear, direct, joyful way) that we can learn to work on our own guitars with confidence. All the best. ❤

  • @kh884488
    @kh884488 Před 4 lety +4

    So helpful! The double-sided adhesive method looks like a great idea.

  • @amazingthingsfromaroundthe2057

    I would highly recommend just spending the money and getting a good fret crowning file to use to crown the frets with. You won't regret it. The rest of the instructions is good though.

    • @erwinerwin1245
      @erwinerwin1245 Před 3 lety

      You are right. I bought a fret crowning file and it is idiot proof. I find with just a basic file one if not careful can easily damage a fret.

    • @generalawareness101
      @generalawareness101 Před 3 lety

      Besides StewMac do you have a place for one? Amazon is a hodge podge of junk, or so say the reviews on them.

    • @erwinerwin1245
      @erwinerwin1245 Před 3 lety +1

      @@generalawareness101 I did buy my $40.00 fret crowning file from Amazon. However I have never done fret leveling before and have not yet started so I do not know if that file is junk.
      And yes Stew Mack what ever they sell is top quality and also top quality money

    • @jasondickerson2463
      @jasondickerson2463 Před 3 lety +1

      @@generalawareness101 baroque I think they're called make a decent fret crowning file its like $40 U.S. but it's got the 3 sides for the 3 basic fret sizes. If you want to see some in depth detail and see it used there's a CZcams channel called gunsandguitars just look for his fret leveling and crowning video

    • @lordmanshaft1112
      @lordmanshaft1112 Před 3 lety +2

      @@generalawareness101 I use the "Hosco" brand crowning file from amazon. Works great and has held up very well. Definitely avoid the chinese files below 30$

  • @Xxmeca421xX
    @Xxmeca421xX Před 3 lety +1

    I practiced on my squier and it plays so good. It's hilarious people think you need stew Mac tools to get a perfect looking neck. My 5 dollar file set has lasted me 2 years so far.

  • @kawwabonga
    @kawwabonga Před 5 lety +4

    Thanks Fabian! You literally just stopped me from wasting quite some money on the tools I would have used one or two times =)

  • @nicksherman88
    @nicksherman88 Před 3 lety +1

    Some tricks I have been using for years is using a Laser cut nail file and a multi sided nail buffer block the metal laser cut nail file the perfect grit, shape and size that cannot be found in traditional metal files or dimond files for frets and last a very very long time , same withe the buffer block, 4 sides with 4 different super fine grits for polishing and both together cost no more than $9 us

  • @ne2i
    @ne2i Před 4 lety +7

    I have a piece of leather glued to a piece of wood. I normally use this for chisel sharpening. It works great for final polishing frets. Use jeweler's rouge or whatever you have avalable on the leather and have at it. You get a mirror finish!

    • @Daddy53751
      @Daddy53751 Před rokem

      My favorite trick is my dremmel with a polishing wheel, as a last step.
      It’s like string bending on glass!

    • @banjomango145
      @banjomango145 Před rokem

      I bought one of the green compound bricks for my strop and polishing anything metal around the shop, 8 euros for a giant brick ill probably have to pass down the family lol

  • @music-collective
    @music-collective Před rokem +1

    Excellent tutorial. I want to attempt to do this on my guitar.

  • @tjsogmc
    @tjsogmc Před 3 lety

    Simple and easy to follow tutorial. There is no reason you can't do this at home! I would recommend buying a crowning file (you can get them on Amazon for about $25) and save yourself a lot of extra work and headaches. Everything else you can get from any local hardware store.

  • @adrianogomes1871
    @adrianogomes1871 Před 4 lety +4

    Great lesson
    I appreciate the alternatives, since they don't sell most luthier's tools in my country - Cabo Verde

  • @a.b.c.520
    @a.b.c.520 Před 4 lety +129

    The 17 dislikes are from Luthiers :)

    • @ladyjulia4038
      @ladyjulia4038 Před 4 lety +13

      Don't forget the self proclaimed luthiers. Ya the ones that know how to do the super basic things like replacing pickups or intonation. I just want to scream at those guys. "Frakenstiening your own guitar doesn't make you a luthier!"

    • @SlowPersuit
      @SlowPersuit Před 4 lety +1

      @@ladyjulia4038 Fruthier?
      Frankerier? Frankuthier?

    • @scottconnors8419
      @scottconnors8419 Před 4 lety +5

      Ya take bread out of there mouth .it's like learning to work on your own car mechanic s hate that,

    • @YesuAiNimen
      @YesuAiNimen Před 4 lety +17

      Luthier is one of the most misused words in the English language. Luthier means: (noun) a maker of stringed instruments such as violins or guitars. I have been repairing guitars for over 30 years and would never use that word to describe myself or anyone, except the few I know who actually build guitars.

    • @mathprodigy
      @mathprodigy Před 3 lety +1

      @@YesuAiNimen the full definition of the word can include those who repair stringed instruments with a tone box as well, it depends on the scope of your repair work

  • @ServingMyJesus
    @ServingMyJesus Před 8 měsíci

    Thank you sir for this video. Like others have said, you have made this plain and simple without unnecessary waffling. My bassis buzzing at the 12th fret only and was wondering how to file down the offending fret. Thank you so much for your lesson.

  • @022rty
    @022rty Před 2 lety +2

    Awesome video bro! Perfect for the everyday average guitar guy like most of us. Thank you!

  • @rottalmusik6563
    @rottalmusik6563 Před 4 lety +2

    thanks for showing this! I will encourage at least someone to do this by him self. I do it this way now a couple yers now with my guitars when needed, but I took me much more years to overcome my fears to make somthing wrong! With your manual and a cheap guitar neck to practice, everybody can get better at this an save money!

  • @jon_pen
    @jon_pen Před 2 lety +11

    Tip: If you shape a piece of thick 220 grit around a drill bit roughly the same size as the fret wire, it will hold it's shape and give you a perfect crowning file.
    Sanding with light pressure on one side of the fret at a time, then moving to the other side gives you a distinct intonation line right through the middle of the fret.
    Keep sanding side to side until the line disappears and your crown will be perfectly centered, shaped and level.

    • @rygdoomed442
      @rygdoomed442 Před 2 lety

      But a drill bit is cylindrical, i don’t understand how you can crown a fret with that? Am i missing a part 😂

    • @gaddebeli
      @gaddebeli Před rokem

      I don't get it either. How can you get a concave fret crown with a convex drill bit?

    • @jon_pen
      @jon_pen Před rokem +1

      @@gaddebeli The gritty side of the sandpaper wraps tightly around the drill bit. You press a crease where the two sides of the sandpaper meet. When you REMOVE THE DRILL BIT from the sandpaper and open it up, you have the right size and shape to crown with. The crease you made sits snug between the fret and fingerboard and that's where you put most of the pressure with the edge of your finger to hold it in place. Work side to side a little at a time until theres a very fine intonation line dead center of the fret. That line will eventually be polished out as you use fine and finer grits. If you take your time, you'll end up with custom shop quality frets even if you have little experience, like me.
      I did this after taking my guitar to a luthier and ending up with triangle frets. It wasn't really that bad, but I wanted that straight off the wall PRS feel and most luthiers will not get you there, or charge $300, because it does take time.

  • @EnmandsBand1
    @EnmandsBand1 Před 4 lety +4

    great tutorial thank you
    I found that you can buy a pretty cheap aluminium Water level, they are milled totally flat from the factory and I use the same method on these: stick on sand paper with double sided sticky tape
    I just use a piece of sandpaper with my fingers to crown the frets after levelling
    After the steel wool I use Autosol metal polish, the frets get really shiny :-)

    • @onpsxmember
      @onpsxmember Před 4 lety +1

      If you have a machine bed or a flat piece of marble, check if it's really flat. It often isn't, especially on the cheap ones. But it's a good start and with that surface and some sand paper taped to it, the beam can get there. After a number of strokes, turn the beam around to get a more uniform result.

  • @hunger993
    @hunger993 Před 4 lety +14

    You can probbably use a dremel with a buffing wheel and compound to eliminate muchof the polishing work

    • @YesuAiNimen
      @YesuAiNimen Před 4 lety +1

      This is what I do and it works great. It's quick too.

    • @GalenIRL
      @GalenIRL Před 3 lety +1

      I do this too, i go from 1000 to 2000 and then buff with the dremel. Mirror finish

  • @keith612
    @keith612 Před 4 lety +6

    Prima! Thanks Fabian - really demystified the process.

  • @Lewis_tiger91
    @Lewis_tiger91 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you so so much.
    By teaching me how to do this, you've made an unplayable guitar, my favourite again.
    I can't thank you enough for this lesson. 👍

  • @akipachoekie
    @akipachoekie Před 5 lety +4

    Thank you for this video.
    I'am gonna use this on my Martin T1k Ukelele.
    I have only oké change.
    Greetings from the Netherlands.

  • @donkeninitz4590
    @donkeninitz4590 Před 3 lety +3

    Good video, but I'd suggesting buying and using an aluminum fret-leveling beam. The problem with wood is that a piece that's dead straight this week can be warped next week, even by just a few hundredths of an inch. And for a DIY'er, that just creates the potential to make a mess. Fret-leveling beams can had be had relatively inexpensively.

  • @stephencastro1437
    @stephencastro1437 Před 4 lety +2

    Thank you very much. I was to do a leveling job, but I did not have the proper tools. This helps.

  • @TheChristafershawn
    @TheChristafershawn Před 3 lety +2

    Thank you for the knowledge, now I know I will be heading to my local luthier soon to have a professional handle my fret work. I know I will screw this up and end up there anyway. Thanks again.

  • @maciejprokop2001
    @maciejprokop2001 Před 3 lety +1

    Thank you !! managed to "repair" a 12 string, the 11, 12 ,13 frets were higher than others wchich prevented me from playing above fret 5 due to fret buzz. After the fret job it is much better, i can now play all over the freatboard :D with only a little bit of buzz ;)

  • @mulekickhandmadeguitars8465

    Thank you, sir. This tells me just what I need to do.

  • @Kadehr
    @Kadehr Před 3 lety +1

    This video is GOLD
    Thank you

  • @JaimeCerrada
    @JaimeCerrada Před 4 lety

    Nice video.
    It's nice to see videos like this where the luthier do the job with a simple tools and not using those special and expensive tools.

  • @genegarneau3822
    @genegarneau3822 Před 2 lety

    Right to the point. I love it. I cannot stand fret buzz, not at all. I watched some video's that said fret buzz is ok, it is normal. No it is not, back in the day, when i was a kid, if you had a really nice guitar, there was no such thing as fret buzz, but today, it seems to be the norm of ALL guitars, it sucks, you should be able to buy a high end guitar with no fret buzz. Very good video..

  • @eddievanhelsing
    @eddievanhelsing Před 10 měsíci

    Thanks! I have done a fret level before but I needed a refresh and this video was very helpful to get the process back in my mind.

  • @Oceansovermidnight
    @Oceansovermidnight Před rokem

    Thank you for the quick video!! Helped me setup my new partscaster Tele. Got it done fast and only needed to buy a level! 🤘🏼

  • @mikegayda715
    @mikegayda715 Před 3 lety +1

    Take your time and think, guys like this are very helpful you can do this

  • @lorenzoparedes2306
    @lorenzoparedes2306 Před 2 lety +1

    Thank you for the lesson, especially your simplified approach without using specialized tools which are fine, but I find that sometimes simple jobs are made to look like rocket science with the "Don't try this at home, I am a professional" b.s.

  • @nj1255
    @nj1255 Před 5 měsíci

    Yep. This is almost exactly how I've done it for 12-13 years. No fancy tools, just a cheap diamond needle file set, a flat piece of wood and some sandpaper. The only things I've spent some money on are nut files, since I haven't found a cheap alternative that can replace real nut files. I also have two notched metal rulers, but I only bought them because they are practical, not because I actually needed them.

  • @mreduardobarbosa
    @mreduardobarbosa Před 8 měsíci

    Thanks for sharing, I bought a Gretsch guitar and some frets are higher than others. I'm not a luthier so I'll follow your advice, hope I don't damage the guitar neck.

  • @alemm.h9393
    @alemm.h9393 Před měsícem

    This is exactly diy looks like, ... Thank you for the video

  • @peterjosvai9804
    @peterjosvai9804 Před 4 lety +5

    beautiful, you are really sharing knowledge!!! thank you very much!!

  • @neilsmith5464
    @neilsmith5464 Před 3 lety +2

    Fantastic video. Will be having a go using your approach. Really appreciate your pragmatic attitude, friendly tone and top tips. Elise I already have most of what I need tool wise, so just need to get started!

  • @giovanninatale7075
    @giovanninatale7075 Před 4 měsíci

    good video on fret levelling, you make it look easy, thanks! Good job!

  • @lucjanszulik7354
    @lucjanszulik7354 Před měsícem

    Gonna try my first fret leveling job next week... hope petient will feel better :D

  • @UndeadBoogie
    @UndeadBoogie Před 3 lety +2

    Quick, to the point, and good instructions. Thank you !

  • @glynnrichards942
    @glynnrichards942 Před 4 lety +1

    Many thanks Fabian, excellent video: very clear and detailed, with good camera angles to show the results.

  • @vl292
    @vl292 Před rokem

    Good tutorial. I’m gonna try this. I think the challenge will be maintaining fairly consistent fret height as wear tends to concentrate below unwound strings between 1st and 17th frets. I quess you just have to take more from the areas with less wear. But not to worry, if I overdo it, next I will be learning how to scallop a neck.

  • @T.m.K
    @T.m.K Před 4 lety +1

    Thank you for that video. I just made only how you did and that helped me remove some buzz on frets. Thanks a lot and I wish you all the best !

    • @montag4516
      @montag4516 Před 3 lety

      So your first time fret leveling was a success? I'm certain I could do a good job at it but still have been hesitant to do so.

  • @sirnigelcogs
    @sirnigelcogs Před 3 lety +1

    Rather than using steel wool and having to deal with the steel wool dust, I like to use a sanding sponge which works just as well but is cleaner and safer.

  • @hearpalhere
    @hearpalhere Před 3 lety +1

    Really great video, thanks for showing how to do this process with basic and inexpensive tools!

  • @travismccartney
    @travismccartney Před 3 lety

    Thanks for sharing your technique. I had a set-up done on a strat-shaped object of mine but I'm still getting fret buzz, a fret rocker and a notched straight edge from amazon later, and now I now how the fix the fret issues myself.

  • @jabollito1583
    @jabollito1583 Před 2 lety

    Just leveled my frets successfully lately. My main tip was to get Fret crowning file, why? because there's many reason. 1.) it would save you a lot of time and labor(i shaped my fret less than 15 minute) 2.) it would also prevent you from damaging the frets specially if you were first timer like me. 3.) it would give you a clean look. I got my fret crowning file in online shopping for just $4 shipping included(it's a cheap one but it does the job pretty well). My next tip is to make sure that the top of the low fret was sanded completely because if not you might still get fret choking specially when you bend string going to that low fret. My last tip was to use 400, 800, 1000 grit sander paper for sanding the frets after it was got crowned.

  • @Case_
    @Case_ Před 3 lety +2

    This is great, thank you! I guess I might actually pick up the courage to do my guitar which is badly in need of some fret leveling and re-crowning.

    • @jamestaylor3500
      @jamestaylor3500 Před 2 lety

      Did you say you are gonna do your guitar!!!? No shame in your game,,, lemme know how that goes. Ummmm does your guitar have a sister???

  • @graxjpg
    @graxjpg Před 3 lety +1

    This was fantastically succinct, thank you very much!

  • @jorgelozadamusic
    @jorgelozadamusic Před 8 měsíci

    Loved the video! I never thought you could use simple tools for this job 😮

  • @lorencing
    @lorencing Před 2 lety

    Thanks for the instructional demo, looks like I need much less tools than I thought.

  • @markalladinyaon2147
    @markalladinyaon2147 Před rokem

    Thankyou for sharing how to dix fret leveling. It helps. Godbless

  • @reddmann2216
    @reddmann2216 Před 4 lety +1

    Crowning file is worth the money
    However bamboo is round and use same double side tape trick and sandpaper

  • @oldguy5381
    @oldguy5381 Před 3 lety +2

    That’s just what I was looking for, thanks

  • @rockoc7590
    @rockoc7590 Před 3 lety +1

    AWESOME Video Fabian! I've been building guitars for awhile, but I've farmed out the fret leveling because I thought it was a BIG hassle! You made it nice and simple.