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Live @1pm Today - Frets and Fretting!!

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mark bailey
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Let us have your best Fretting Q's pls - Don't fret - puns also welcome...

Measure twice, cut once...


   
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tv1
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Pros & cons of different fret materials (ie stainless steel vs nickel etc).

Pros & cons of different fret sizes (height & width).

Why it's important to get the frets properly level & crowned (and what happens if you don't).

When you know its time for a re-crown, or a re-fret.

And all your best tips on how to do a good fret job!!

Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk


   
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Rocknroller912
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Someone asked the question how thick should a fretboard be. The photo attached is remains of a FB I've recently removed from a 1978 Fender Stratocaster. The owner asked me to do a re fret and said " I think it might need a new FB as well".

It was so thin the previous re fret had sawed right through into the neck to seat the frets. Thicker than this might be needed.

image

 

Some people call me a tool, others are less complimentary. Tools being useful things.


   
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tv1
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The photo attached is remains of a FB I've recently removed from a 1978 Fender Stratocaster

I've seen paint thicker than that!!

Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk


   
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tv1
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Another great session today - thanks again @markbailey.  As well as always learning bits, I also finish the sessions re-enthused to get back out to my workshop to do some more bits (more on that in updates elsewhere!).

?

 

Just to show that you can buy tools from sources other than Stewmac, this is my fretting pressing thingy.

20200905 163511
20200905 163503

I think the arm (a drill press, allegedly) cost something like £5 from Aldi.  A neighbour with a lathe then made the little insert out of some scrap something-or-other that he had lying around, and then a little hole in the centre of that holds the fret caul insert.

 

(The fret caul insert that I did buy from StewMac ? )

Online guitar making courses – guitarmaking.co.uk


   
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Rocknroller912
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@tv1010101

The owner had varnished the back of the neck with ordinary polyurethane several years ago and he wanted it back to bare wood and re-sprayed. The varnish I had to scrape off was thicker then the FB. 

Some people call me a tool, others are less complimentary. Tools being useful things.


   
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Rocknroller912
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@tv1010101

There are quite a few UK suppliers, just need to have the patience to search for them.  Some only have limited supplies and it's often repair guys who have made their own tools then decide to sell them to off set the cost of setting up and production. 

Some people call me a tool, others are less complimentary. Tools being useful things.


   
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Deej
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Just come across this for those in Europe 

 

https://guitarsandwoods.com/fret-press-insert-caul-637496332.html?search=Fret%20press%20caul&description=true

I have too many guitars...said no one in the world..ever!


   
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Boo
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Just come across this for those in Europe

Yep, I think G&W is one of the best in Europe and those of us in the UK only have a few months left to order stuff with free shipping. After December, we will have to pay tariffs so it will be no better than ordering from StewMac. Well done England! 

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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Deej
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I have a few G&W items and they are very good. The wood radius blocks are great.

lets hope there is a trade deal with USA we may then be able to access stewac stuff....I’ll not hold my breath..

I have too many guitars...said no one in the world..ever!


   
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Boo
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lets hope there is a trade deal with USA we may then be able to access stewac stuff....I’ll not hold my breath..

If I’m honest, I would rather still trade with the EU than the US. As we approach December, all of the Leave lies will emerge and the whole house of cards will comes crashing down. If Biden wins in November, the US will not deal with the U.K. as they are not only welching on the deal signed with the EU,they are effectively tearing up the Good Friday Agreement with Ireland. Some very dangerous games are being played and gambling with peoples’ lives. The UK will end up stranded in limbo with no deals everywhere. I think it will see the breakup of the United Kingdom, Scotland will go first and will probably join the EU. I welcome this and I want to move to Scotland before their 2nd Indy Ref. I love Scotland and I think it has a lot to offer going into the future. The people are lovely and on the whole they are an inclusive, multicultural society; just how I like it. Whether they just gain independence or go on to join the EU, I still want to be a part of it and I will lovingly pay taxes into such a fantastic country. I have had it with England, Westminster and this horrendous Tory government. 

I don’t want a deal with the US, especially if that idiot lies his way into a second term. I have bought very little from America over the last four years, I am largely boycotting them until they get a proper leader. 

Sorry for the political rant but it’s how I feel, I want to be part of an inclusive country, not a miserable little exclusive England.

Sorry if this upsets anyone, I love my country and I am patriotic in my own way but I am definitely not a nationalist. I have friends in lots of countries around the world and that’s how the whole world should be. ?✌️ 

Make guitars, not war 🌍✌️🎸


   
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