Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: cozmik_cowboy on April 21, 2021, 07:46:06 PM

Title: Fret advice
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 21, 2021, 07:46:06 PM

A question for those of you who build:

My first (and still main) guitar's nut is in sad shape - most notably the G slot is much deeper that the others.  Grandson Rudy (I suspect with some help & advice from Dad....) got me a Stew-Mac gift certificate for my b-day, so (along with new tuners for my classical & under-string radius gauges for setting up the Tele & Strat) I got a ZeroGlide nut for it; figured "Hey, no slot filing & the same tonality on open & fretted strings!  Why not?"  I had assumed that the zero frets (they include a selection so you can find the height you need) would be the same width as the nut.  Guess again; 3/8" longer at least.
So, short of spending hundreds on tools and instructional vids to teach my self actual fret work; how can I cut & dress it?


Thanks in advance,
Peter (who does, in fact, now realize he misspelled the subject line)

Title: Re: Fret advise
Post by: lbpesq on April 21, 2021, 11:06:06 PM

I snipped it close and then used files to get it flush and smooth.   I really like the Zer0 Glide nuts.

Bill, tgo

Title: Re: Fret advise
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 21, 2021, 11:49:24 PM

What did you snip with, Bill; and what grit files?

Peter

Title: Re: Fret advise
Post by: peoplechipper on April 21, 2021, 11:54:07 PM

I'd use an end cutter and fairly fine files, a 2 cut maybe...Tony

Title: Re: Fret advise
Post by: lbpesq on April 22, 2021, 07:45:43 AM

I used a fret cutter from Stewmac and med-fine to fine files, then polished with super fine paper.  I use a micro mesh set that goes to 3000 grit.

Bill, tgo

Title: Re: Fret advise
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 22, 2021, 10:12:30 AM

A guy on another of the guitar fora I frequent has offered to send me a spare crowning file, and a quick Google showed me not only Stew-Mac's fret-end nipper for $38, but one from a place called Bitterroot (new one on me) for $16.  A few days & I'll be set!

Thanks, all
Peter

Title: Re: Fret advice
Post by: lbpesq on April 22, 2021, 12:10:56 PM

Peter, you shouldn't need to use a crowning file on the Zer0 Glide nut.  Never heard of Bitterroot before.  Good source!    Anther good source for guitar tools and parts is  Philadelphia Luthier Tools.

Bill, tgo

Title: Re: Fret advice
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 22, 2021, 03:09:53 PM

Just planning to smooth off the cut & round the corners of the ends very slightly.  I'm hip to PLS (someday I'm going to  have them make an Epi-loge TRC for my Sheraton; I don't think an Epiphone-original model should have a TRC that says "Gibson" - be proud of what you are, guitar!).
Bitterroot has much better prices than S-M on most stuff, but their inventory is extremely limited; e.g. they have fret nippers but not fret hammers.

Peter

Title: Re: Fret advice
Post by: lbpesq on April 22, 2021, 04:18:56 PM

Here's the fret end dressing file I use. Reasonably priced, even from stewmac.

Bill, tgo

https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/fret-end-dressing-file.html (https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-tools-and-supplies/types-of-tools/files/fret-end-dressing-file.html)

Title: Re: Fret advice
Post by: cozmik_cowboy on April 22, 2021, 08:27:25 PM

Yeah, that's cheap for them - but the one I'm getting is at The Best Of All Possible Prices.

Peter