Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Maddog on April 25, 2013 at 2:25am

Orbital sander, smooths it right down. You may need to raise the saddle a smidge also if it's that close, get the fret down first and try it.

 

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on April 25, 2013 at 2:27am

I don't believe I would bash it Craig, have you tapped it to see if it's seated? Also check the fret cut to make sure it's deep enough and straight.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on April 25, 2013 at 2:38am

It's seated just a tiny tiny bit off. If I was keeping the guit I'd live with it. Gonna try sanding it down. It's really just barely almost imperceptibly off. But I don't want to screw it up, lol!

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on April 25, 2013 at 2:41am

Should work fine sanding it down, I've done it and you can't tell it's been done.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on April 25, 2013 at 2:45am

Sweet. Thanks!!!! These little problems, fixes are where I'm really learning.

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on April 25, 2013 at 2:47am

Oh, a little heads up Criag. depending on the grit paper you use the sander takes the fret down pretty quick so don't get too aggresive. Watch the fretboard and keep an eye on the shavings coming from the fretwire.

 

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Permalink Reply by Maddog on April 25, 2013 at 2:49am

I also put masking tape on the first couple frets up and down the fretboard on either side of the high fret so I know if I happen to nick them.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on April 25, 2013 at 2:55am

:-)

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Permalink Reply by Mr.C on April 25, 2013 at 2:08pm

Hulk says bash
Then file if you have to
Over all level a problem glue some 240 grit on a 12 long flat board to level the board then dress the frets

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Permalink Reply by Bad Finger (Eric) on April 26, 2013 at 2:12am

Take a piece of hardwood and cut a narrow groove on a narrow side.  Then put a piece of sand paper over a good fret with the grit facing UP.  Now run that groove back and forth over the sand paper so you make a fret shaped groove in the hardwood.

Once that is done you can wrap the sand paper around the block grit facing out and use the new groove to take height off the high fret without making it flat.  Tape off the fingerboard unless you want to spot sand that from your scratches.

It is fast and easy and doesn't cost $35 like a fret file.  About any scrap of maple or oak will do the job really well.

For multiple high frets I use my diamond honing stone used for sharpening knives.  About a half dozen passes of the 6" stone across the fretboard knocks everything down to the same level.

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Permalink Reply by Craig Mayhem on April 26, 2013 at 2:47am

Some good information in here! I take all of this stuff I learn on this site and put it in my building arsenal. I like the custom sanding idea, Ed!

I was too lazy to take off the strings so I used a tiny chainsaw sharpening file to get under there and file it down. Worked quite well. It only buzzes on the G when barring a chord (cause the downward pressure isn't as much as when individually fretting.). Not much at all - in fact very forgivable. 

I'll probably file it slightly more today to get it perfect.

It's a build for a charity auction. A girl a lot of us in the STL music scene know got breast and lung cancer at the same time so a bunch of bands are getting together and putting on a show. There is a big raffle and a bunch of businesses have donated as well as tattoo artists and whatnot. I am donating this guitar. So I want it to be perfect (for a given value of 'perfect' for a CBG). It's close! I love it and want to keep it. I hope whoever gets it loves it and I hope we raise a bunch of dough.

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Permalink Reply by Daddy D on April 26, 2013 at 8:12pm

Hey Craig, I am doing the same thing to raise money for a girl I know going to Haiti to save some lives. I know the pressure you feel. Try finishing it off with some 400 grit where you filed. I also donated to a guy here in town who got shot. Got $50 bucks for the easy stick in my photos. You may want to e-bay this guitar, which is what I am going to do with the Haiti guitar. I think you'll make more money for her that way. Plus, you can tell us CBG fans about it, and maybe we will bid.

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