Official Luthiers Forum!

I'm making myself a set of 20 fret press inserts in .5" incremements from 6" to 16" to ensure a good fit for every fret position of every compound radius. They will be brass, with a concave cut, just like the Stew Mac ones, and they will fit the Stew Mac arbor, but will be a 1/4" longer to cover the whole fret at once on 7-string guitars.

I'm putting out the feelers to see how many forum members would like a set of these. If there is enough interest, I'll make a big batch of them. The price will be $50/set. Do not send money now! Just let me know if you're in.

Thanks,

John John Watkins38714.6501736111

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John, I'd be in for a set. Stew Mac's are not complete enough to get the right radius for each fret. I've done the "use a smaller raduis and tap the middle" but that's an extra step and I HATE hammering in frets.
One suggestion: would you consider going up to around 20"? A standard 12/16 compound board is 16 at the 12th which leaves the last 1/3 or so of the board without cauls. Maybe I'm wrong on this but that is my understanding.

Paul,

Whatever the consensus, that's what I'll do. The fixturing will go from about 3" to about 48", so whatever...

I know Stew Mac's compound goes from 10" at the nut to 16" at the 24th fret, but anything's possible.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Yes, I'd like my set to go from 3" to 48" at .5 intervals please. For $50 you said, right?

Count me in. I assume they will be the same thickness as the fret press cauls Stew Mac sells so that they will fit in their holder.

Yes, they will. .125"

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John I too would be interested and like Paul 12" to 20" would be my preference.

Yes, I would be interested too John.

John, I'd be up for some, too. I think mine runs to 20" or so, too....

Have you considered doing what Collings does? They have all the various radii on the one caul. The caul is about an inch or so wide. You simply move the fret under the area where the radius will match. With a bit of practice, we'd know where that spot was without thinking of it. No changing of the caul as you move down the fretboard! Also lets you "squeeze" the ends down by simply moving the caul to the tighter radius end of the caul for a final 'tap' on the fret before going to the next one.

just a thought, but I've wanted one since seeing photos of their's....Mario38686.980150463

That Collings thing doesn't really trip my trigger, to be honest. You'd have to get the fret in enough to vertically register it before pressing because there's no concave.

To each his own, right?

So it sounds like the consensus is to go up to 20", but I don't want to exclude the lower numbers since 7.25" Teles are enjoying a bit of a renaissance right now.

How about this? I've raised it to 26. Same price.

6, 7.25, 8, 9, 10, 10.5, 11, 11.5, 12, 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, 14.5, 15, 15.5, 16, 16.5, 17, 17.5, 18, 18.5, 19, 19.5, 20, 20.5

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I'm interested as well, would you throw in a flat caul as well?

Thanks,
Greg

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Gwaltney Guitars

Flat caul is no problem. Hesh, if you're only doing 16" radius boards, the one insert is fine. I'm not sure I understand your query though.

So it's officially a go. I'll take orders for about a week, and ship within a week after that.

I'll eat the shipping, but if you live in another country you officially owe me a beer!   

To be included, go to
http://www.watkinsguitars.com/fretcauls.htmBrock Poling38687.409212963

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John I definitely would like a set.

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Dave Bland

remember...

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

John count me in too.

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

Excellent. Thanks, guys.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

I'm in. I just signed up onyour web page. Thanks for including us in this John!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Thanks, Dave

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Count me in too, but I think the postage is going to be high - let me know what I owe you.

Paul, I sent you an email.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

John,
I sent you the money via PP. THANKS!

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Dave Bland

remember...

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

John,
I signed up on your website too. I will PayPal.

We sure appreciate your offer John. Count me in as well.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

No sweat, Don. Thanks for participating.

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John Watkins
CNC Guitar Parts

Absolutely, count me in for a full set. I made a couple myself by hand, 12 and 15, and it takes a while for sure. Having them all would be awesome. I am up in the deep dark depths of Canada somewhere, for shipping price purposes !!! Oh yeah, can you use USPS - I get tired of paying the criminals at the border (UPS and the like) for nothing that the post office wont do for peanuts !!

Cheers Tony.TonyKarol38688.3236921296

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Tony Karol
www.karol-guitars.com
"let my passion .. fulfill yours"