Official Luthiers Forum!

Stew Mac has their black Friday sale on right now and the fret buck is on sale. How useful/necessary do people find this? The guy that taught me how to fret guitars has one and he is not one to buy fancy specialized tools. But I'm not sure I'm ready to drop $150 on something I don't need right now. Having said that, knowing my luck I'll pass on it and an acoustic guitar will come along that needs a re-fret.

I've never tried one, although it looks like a good design if you are hammering Frets on the guitar. Seems like there was one in the classifieds for a hundred bucks lately that wasn't sold.

New username, same ole Pat Macaluso!

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Pat

1 - I don't fret new guitars with the neck or f/b on the body. I use a drill press, not a hammer.

2 - I usually don't refret old guitars over the body. Acoustics never need it, electrics either the neck comes off or its is supported by the body

3 - if I have to refret old guitars over the body I have a hunk of steel that I hold against the underside of the neck. I think I've done that once

4 - therefore, I have no use for it

A fret buck is certainly not necessary. I install the frets with the neck on the body using a hammer. I was taught to use a heavy weight held firmly against the underside of the top under the fretboard extension area to absorb the energy of the hammer blows. The weight needs to have flat face that fits into the area north of the upper face brace and it should fit nicely in the hand so it can be held firmly against the top. I use the sheet metal dolly in the photo below. It weighs 1 lb 9 oz and cost me about $20.00 at a local hardware store. I'm sure they can be found somewhere online. The narrow face facing the ruler goes against the underside of the top and the opposite curved edge fits nicely into my fingers and palm. The dolly works, it's way cheaper, it takes up very little space in a drawer, and it's simpler to use.

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Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right - Robert Hunter

Haha, I've been so confused! I've heard people say they use dollies for this task before and I couldn't figure out what they were talking about. How is the thing a mechanic lies on to look under your car anyway useful for this task?!?