Hi ..When the neck is new...and u have 3-4 high spots..Would you try to tap them down with a hammer to make sure they are seated??Thanks again for a nice video...Dave
Just curious, but wouldn't you first want to check that those high frets are properly seated first - just give them a loving tap with a fret hammer? Then re-check and proceed from there?
@@dustinnicholson215 Exactly what I wanted to point out as it wasn't mentioned in the video. With the target audience missing the knowledge and experience of setting up a guitar, one can't just skip stuff like that.
Thanks for taking the time to be detailed and in depth. I watched the video twice, took a whole lotta notes and went hunting for the tools (some of them to start). Didn’t expect to spend 4 hrs on this on Super Bowl Sunday, but that’s a testament to your experience, knowledge, passion and style. The comment section ain’t too bad either.
One or two additions : If you do this without removing the neck, be sure to also tape the pickups! You do not want filings in you pickups! Also ; make sure the guitar is on a flat surface and SUPPORT the neck properly.
It looks so easy when pros do this. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I can't get rid of rocking completely. Maybe it's the tools, idk. I even have this weird situation when I have a bunch of consequetive frets that all appear to be rocking slightly. Doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, thanks for the tutorial. Maybe one day I'll get there too.
Thank you so much for the post! I used many of your tips to level frets on one of my builds that had lots of buzz. Came out great and thanks for sharing!
Excellent tutorial. As a newbie to this kind of work I followed the steps and it worked out amazingly well. The tip about marking the masking tape is a gem!
Let me begin by thanking you. I've much to say, but it's pretty boring. I'm 70, and because my 14 year old grandson is taking guitar in Jr. High, and I'm joining him. I bought us each an acoustic and myself 4 electric. I bought a tele, an LP, and two strats, all without playing a note, lol. What I HAVE done is watch a lot of UA-cam videos, bought a MANY tools and accessories. All that said, this video is THE most informative and beneficial video I've watched to date. As I scrolled You Tube to get info on frets, etc., I came across yours, saw nearly 50 minutes of instruction ahead and decided, nah, that's too long...but before I clicked away, I changed my mind, and I'm PAST grateful. I'm subscribing and hope that over time and as I learn to play (grandson is WAY ahead!), learn more from you and your channel. Again, my sincere thanks. Now, if I could just learn to PLAY!!!
Thank you. It’s always great to hear some positive feedback. Welcome to the channel. I also do a live Sunday show you are welcome to check out. It’s lots of fun and pretty informative too. Cheers!
Really good video! It was great actually seeing you apply some magic to your fret-board. A bit time-consuming... but totally worth it to get a smooth, even, and great -playing neck! This was very informative, and I like your techniques.
I followed your whole process on my 95 strat. Wow it has never played this smooth before. The bends are so much easier now with polished frets. I wished I learned these skills when I started playing guitar. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us
Great video, thanks! @addictedtogear, I have heard that it is best to first tap the high frets with a plastic top hammer before working on the frets with filing and sanding. Do you agree?
Is that just a concave sort of file your using buddy for the couple of frets that your just passing of little material like,would a 3 corner file work or is that gonna take of abit much if you no what I mean! I do have a crowning concave diamond file! I take it that's not what your using for taking of very little.sorry to be asking a silly question if I dont ask I wont ever no I quess lol.great video great work you do! Love your videos,I'm away to purchase a fender stratocaster floyd rose next month and I no it's going to need a fret level as I did it to my ibenez last year after watching your last video I managed to get it done and have great action on my guitar,thanks again bye the way mate.,,all guitars brand new I now no will need a full set up! And it's worth knowing learning how to level your frets it's really fun! And saves money and great experience too.id love to learn how to re-fret but one day I will try but that is left for professional luthier I think it's a different ball game I was told! But I quess if your willing to learn anyone could learn if shown.thanks for your vids man?
Here's a common problem I see over and over again. On a 6 string guitar - The 3rd, 4th, and 5th fret has a slight buzz on the "B" string when I play a Open "D" chord. I have 3 guitars with this same problem after leveling...two of them I just got lucky and got rid of it but have no idea how to address this properly instead of easter egging it? My guess it's coming from the middlwe section of the neck from where I finger the note to the saddle....I've tried going to where the buzz starts and work back one fret at a time....leveling the fret under the individual string with small piece of sand paper on my finger....pulling the string to the side under tension. The frets show level with a rocker but the slight buzz is there.
Been watching a few of your fret levelling videos. Really informative thank you. One question - Is it necessary to tape up a rosewood fingerboard? From what i can tell this is normally only really needed for lacquered maple? Thank you.
Thanks for that, the best thing about it was that you made it look easy! Then again, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten make playing the bass look easy and we all know that is the furthest thing from the truth. But yeah, you definitely took a lot of the terror out it for me and that alone is probably worth a ton of technical information which one can find any/every where. So thanks again, now I’m off to ruin my fretboard. 🎵Do dee d’oh doe...🎶 Just kidding! (OR WAS I...⁉️👁👀)
Oh yeah, I’m a bass player - hence the references to Miller and Wooten. Otherwise I would of said... hmm, come to think of it, I can’t name any famous guitarists! I GUESS THEYRE NOT AS LOVED BY THE PUBLIC AS BASS PLAYERS. Oh come on, you can let me dream it for just a little while, can’t you? Reality will come crashing down on my bass clef-shaped noggin in a... oh no! Nope, it’s gone. You ruined it. Happy? (Bloody dime-a-dozen guitarists!) The End
@ADDICTED TO GEAR whats the consenus on leveling frets when there is string tension vs a straight neckand why would a straight neck be better for leveling? This is the part thats hard for me to understand.
So Not informative. This was a custom design by Dodson and more info should be available. Fender made strat and Tele doubles in the 60s, that body and pick-up set up is not Fender. Someone interview Dodson! 😬
What material are these frets? I have a Guitar Anatomy neck with stainless steel frets which I'm going to level, so I'm wondering of the process is the same for SS and nickel.
@@addictedtogear It turns out my frets came dead level from Guitar Anatomy, so huge props to them, and quite the relief for me. I did fix some fret sprout, rounded off the fingerbord, and really rounded off the fret ends with a file. Afterward it was just a matter of sanding it smooth and polishing up. I found working on stainless steel very comfortable. Because it’s such a hard material it takes a lot of work to get it where you want, but that also makes it very forgiving, as you can’t just suddenly take off way too much material. This was my first fret job (after practicing a bit on a trash neck), and it turned out amazing. 5000$ custom shop frets for a days work. Thanks for the tips!
Killer vid gonnA Watch more
Excellent sharing!!!
Thank you!
You're welcome!
Hi ..When the neck is new...and u have 3-4 high spots..Would you try to tap them down with a hammer to make sure they are seated??Thanks again for a nice video...Dave
The long tape trick is worth a new car
Just curious, but wouldn't you first want to check that those high frets are properly seated first - just give them a loving tap with a fret hammer? Then re-check and proceed from there?
Worked like a dream, thank you.
So how do you make the neck flat if it's not ?
Adjust the truss rod
@@dustinnicholson215 Exactly what I wanted to point out as it wasn't mentioned in the video.
With the target audience missing the knowledge and experience of setting up a guitar, one can't just skip stuff like that.
Thanks for taking the time to be detailed and in depth. I watched the video twice, took a whole lotta notes and went hunting for the tools (some of them to start). Didn’t expect to spend 4 hrs on this on Super Bowl Sunday, but that’s a testament to your experience, knowledge, passion and style. The comment section ain’t too bad either.
Glad you liked it. Join in on the Sunday live show if you have any other questions! Cheers!
One or two additions :
If you do this without removing the neck, be sure to also tape the pickups! You do not want filings in you pickups! Also ; make sure the guitar is on a flat surface and SUPPORT the neck properly.
It looks so easy when pros do this. I don't know what I'm doing wrong, but I can't get rid of rocking completely. Maybe it's the tools, idk. I even have this weird situation when I have a bunch of consequetive frets that all appear to be rocking slightly. Doesn't make any sense to me. Anyway, thanks for the tutorial. Maybe one day I'll get there too.
This is one of the best UA-cam channels for guitar work! Thanks!
Thank you so much for the post! I used many of your tips to level frets on one of my builds that had lots of buzz. Came out great and thanks for sharing!
Looks like you could have used the thinner tape alone??
Great video, how do you maintain the curvature/radius of the fingerboard during the leveling process?
Excellent tutorial. As a newbie to this kind of work I followed the steps and it worked out amazingly well. The tip about marking the masking tape is a gem!
Let me begin by thanking you. I've much to say, but it's pretty boring. I'm 70, and because my 14 year old grandson is taking guitar in Jr. High, and I'm joining him. I bought us each an acoustic and myself 4 electric. I bought a tele, an LP, and two strats, all without playing a note, lol. What I HAVE done is watch a lot of UA-cam videos, bought a MANY tools and accessories. All that said, this video is THE most informative and beneficial video I've watched to date. As I scrolled You Tube to get info on frets, etc., I came across yours, saw nearly 50 minutes of instruction ahead and decided, nah, that's too long...but before I clicked away, I changed my mind, and I'm PAST grateful. I'm subscribing and hope that over time and as I learn to play (grandson is WAY ahead!), learn more from you and your channel. Again, my sincere thanks. Now, if I could just learn to PLAY!!!
Thank you. It’s always great to hear some positive feedback. Welcome to the channel. I also do a live Sunday show you are welcome to check out. It’s lots of fun and pretty informative too. Cheers!
Nice video as usual Tony.
Thank you.
Did my first fret job a week ago. It was an improvement on the bass but now I know how to do it much better. Thanks!
Nice technique & method. Nicely explained and demonstrated. Nice final shine! Thank you! (like the ‘side tape’ technique)
Very nice tutorial, very informative. Can't wait to give it a go myself.Thank you!
Really good video! It was great actually seeing you apply some magic to your fret-board. A bit time-consuming... but totally worth it to get a smooth, even, and great -playing neck! This was very informative, and I like your techniques.
Excellent video, Tony. I have never tried this before, but having seen this, I may give it a try. Great job!
Fantastic job 🤘👍
Excellent video Tony…I was surprised, the frets on that “kit” neck were in better shape than some production guitars you buy!!!!!
I followed your whole process on my 95 strat. Wow it has never played this smooth before. The bends are so much easier now with polished frets. I wished I learned these skills when I started playing guitar. Thanks for sharing your knowledge with us
Glad to hear it!
whats the difference between that file you used in 24:35 and the stewmac crowning file?
Great video, thanks! @addictedtogear, I have heard that it is best to first tap the high frets with a plastic top hammer before working on the frets with filing and sanding. Do you agree?
I don’t do that unless the frets look like they are not properly seated.
Is that just a concave sort of file your using buddy for the couple of frets that your just passing of little material like,would a 3 corner file work or is that gonna take of abit much if you no what I mean! I do have a crowning concave diamond file! I take it that's not what your using for taking of very little.sorry to be asking a silly question if I dont ask I wont ever no I quess lol.great video great work you do! Love your videos,I'm away to purchase a fender stratocaster floyd rose next month and I no it's going to need a fret level as I did it to my ibenez last year after watching your last video I managed to get it done and have great action on my guitar,thanks again bye the way mate.,,all guitars brand new I now no will need a full set up! And it's worth knowing learning how to level your frets it's really fun! And saves money and great experience too.id love to learn how to re-fret but one day I will try but that is left for professional luthier I think it's a different ball game I was told! But I quess if your willing to learn anyone could learn if shown.thanks for your vids man?
Here's a common problem I see over and over again. On a 6 string guitar - The 3rd, 4th, and 5th fret has a slight buzz on the "B" string when I play a Open "D" chord. I have 3 guitars with this same problem after leveling...two of them I just got lucky and got rid of it but have no idea how to address this properly instead of easter egging it? My guess it's coming from the middlwe section of the neck from where I finger the note to the saddle....I've tried going to where the buzz starts and work back one fret at a time....leveling the fret under the individual string with small piece of sand paper on my finger....pulling the string to the side under tension. The frets show level with a rocker but the slight buzz is there.
That could indicate a slightly warped neck.
Great work! I will have to get you to make me a lefty someday. ❤
You are not rocking the frets. You are rocking the fret rocker.
I just like to rock in general LOL
Straight to the point as always and very useful.What I miss in “lvl up” approach is at least some comment about fall away on heel side frets.
I'll possibly address that in another video
What brand crowning file is that ? I use StewMac z file but not entirely happy with the shape it creates
Hiroshima
Thanks
Been watching a few of your fret levelling videos. Really informative thank you. One question - Is it necessary to tape up a rosewood fingerboard? From what i can tell this is normally only really needed for lacquered maple? Thank you.
I do it on both just to be safe.
@@addictedtogear Gotcha - i realised once i had watched more of the video what you had meant. :)
great video, do you reslot the nut aswell since the frets will be lower after leveling ?
I normally do that last in the build.
Thanks for that, the best thing about it was that you made it look easy! Then again, Marcus Miller and Victor Wooten make playing the bass look easy and we all know that is the furthest thing from the truth.
But yeah, you definitely took a lot of the terror out it for me and that alone is probably worth a ton of technical information which one can find any/every where.
So thanks again, now I’m off to ruin my fretboard. 🎵Do dee d’oh doe...🎶
Just kidding! (OR WAS I...⁉️👁👀)
Oh yeah, I’m a bass player - hence the references to Miller and Wooten. Otherwise I would of said... hmm, come to think of it, I can’t name any famous guitarists! I GUESS THEYRE NOT AS LOVED BY THE PUBLIC AS BASS PLAYERS.
Oh come on, you can let me dream it for just a little while, can’t you? Reality will come crashing down on my bass clef-shaped noggin in a... oh no! Nope, it’s gone. You ruined it. Happy? (Bloody dime-a-dozen guitarists!) The End
Where do you get that diamond crowning file?
I got it off of Ebay
@ADDICTED TO GEAR whats the consenus on leveling frets when there is string tension vs a straight neckand why would a straight neck be better for leveling? This is the part thats hard for me to understand.
I would not recommend using a file.
Not efektif solution. I can do it without abrasiv . But it my secret teknik. It cost to see my teknik. Soory and goodluck !
So Not informative. This was a custom design by Dodson and more info should be available. Fender made strat and Tele doubles in the 60s, that body and pick-up set up is not Fender. Someone interview Dodson! 😬
What material are these frets? I have a Guitar Anatomy neck with stainless steel frets which I'm going to level, so I'm wondering of the process is the same for SS and nickel.
Stainless steel frets are much harder and more difficult to work with. Let me know how it turns out. These frets are standard and not stainless steel.
@@addictedtogear Thanks, I will!
@@addictedtogear It turns out my frets came dead level from Guitar Anatomy, so huge props to them, and quite the relief for me. I did fix some fret sprout, rounded off the fingerbord, and really rounded off the fret ends with a file. Afterward it was just a matter of sanding it smooth and polishing up. I found working on stainless steel very comfortable. Because it’s such a hard material it takes a lot of work to get it where you want, but that also makes it very forgiving, as you can’t just suddenly take off way too much material. This was my first fret job (after practicing a bit on a trash neck), and it turned out amazing. 5000$ custom shop frets for a days work. Thanks for the tips!
Thanks!