I finished this guitar a few weeks ago and have had it stored in a spare room in my house along with all the other CBG's I've made.  I went in to gaze at my hard work and check the tuning when I found the frets felt sharp along the edge of the fret board.  Now I know for a fact that these were smooth when I finished the guitar (I'm very OCD over things like that).

While I was checking I found that the CBG with a Pecan fret board had also done the same thing (not quite as bad).  The CBG's with Brazilian Cherry, Jatoba, and Walnut Fret boards were ok.

Guess I'm going to have to re-file the fret to get rid of the problem.  I have not been clipping the lower edge of my frets before installing them but I think I may try that on my next build.  Or maybe I will add a solid wood edge.

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  • I have had the same issue.  I usually notice it in the winter, with our Ohio low humidity.  Using a nibbler to snip the back of the fret wire makes it easier to smooth them out.

  • Maybe using unseasoned wood? :(
    • Nope, not on this one, this is old stock.  Kiln dried lumber from Depot.

  • It's humidity - the timber has dried out and shrunk since it's been fretted.

    • Yep, that's what I figured too John.  I'm glad I saw this was an issue before I sold/gifted any of these.  I would hate to have this happen to a customer.  Maybe I need to check the moisture content of the wood while I'm making it?  On this build I used oak that was lying around my shop for years.  Right now the weather here in Texas is very nice so the shop and the house are about the same temp.  Windows open in both places.  But we do get an occasional thunderstorm.

      • You need to have your timber stored at the right humidity (45-55%) and temperature for several weeks if not months in advance. I have a cheap digital weatherstation where I do all my final assembly, with a remote sensor  in the workshop. When I got it I was surprised (and alarmed)  at how much difference there was in humidity..and it changed the way I stored wood immediately.

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