Official Luthiers Forum!

It seems to me that the fret work on a guitar can really be one of the most important, defining characteristic when assessing build quality. That said my fret work could use some improvement. Dan Erlewine's videos have been recommended in another post. Are they the best I can buy or are there others you might recommend?

I'm mostly interested in fret installation leveling and dressing as it pertains to building. Information pertaining to repair would be a bonus.

Yes. Dan's Fret vids (along with the book) are a great resource. I refer to them constantly.

He does make extensive use of the fret jig in his advanced series. I don't have one, but everyone I know who does have one, loves it. FWIW...

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I just mentioned this in a previous post, but I will here too, check out the instructions from Tim Mcknight in the jigs section, this to me is a great reference.

Tim's advice is good( it's almost exactly what I do ) and it's free. Dan Erlewine's video is the best I've seen. And you can go back and watch it over and over. Many many good tips as well. Worth the money (if you realy want to know about this stuff). Get all Three. Dave-SKG38709.4069560185

_________________
Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

Regardless of what resource you use. I would definitely get the SM fretting 123 book. It is PACKED with all kinds of great info.

_________________
Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I third(?) The Fretting Step By Step reccomendation. It's a dense read, and contains more than you ever even imagined asking about, plus a little bit extra for good measure.

Good topic, this. This is an area where I too can stand to improve my technique. I wasn't aware of Tim McKnight's fretting tutorial here. So, I read through it just now. My methods are quite similar to Tim's, except I don't use the Stewmac fingerboard oil. I just hammer them in dry. Also, rather than seat each fret on the edges and hammer toward the middle (I used to do it this way), I now prefer to start on one end and hammer the fret down from one end to the other. My experience is that I get a more evenly seated fret this way.

I use a large sanding block, as well, to level the fingerboard. This is especially important with classicals, because one needs to plane in some relief for the bass strings. And since I plane the relief in freehand, using a leveling block afterwards is essential to insure that the contour tapers evenly into the rest of the fingerboard.

Even though my technique is improving, I find that I still have to at least lightly level the frets. After reading Tim's tutorial, though, I'm thinking that the Stewmac fingerboard oil may be the "missing ingredient." I can see how it would aid in a more evenly seated frets across their length. And boy howdy, would I ever love to dispense with leveling and recrowning. Gotta get me some of that stuff. I wonder, though, wouldn't something like Truoil work just as well?

Best,

Michael

_________________
Live to Play, Play to Live

After looking at Tim's tutorial, It is very close to what I do as well. I did however pick up a few ideas that should really help. My last guitar was a real nightmare. Something I don't wish to repeat. I had to completely refret it at one point. My first refret on a bound neck...

My trouble was, in the end, not in the frets but in the board. Something Tim's process would have helped me avoid. Reveiwing my process, it's amazing I haven't had a similar trouble before. Blind luck I suppose.

Thnx for the advice. I just ordered the three Erlewine dvd's and the Fret Work Step By Step book. That along with the Finishing dvd I ordered from Robbie earlier and I should be prepared to attack my weak points and make them my strong points...