Early 70's Stratocaster-tapping frets out sideways (and other challenges!)

[@ramsayward6582]

I've viewed plenty of re-fretting videos on KZbin. This is the first time I've seen this method of fret removal. It definitely makes sense. I honestly cannot imagine many guitar repairers/ Luthiers taking the time to use this method. Top quality work as always. Great channel. Thanks.

[@arnoldmmbb]

Great job the new lacquer looks perfect

[@acehandler1530]

I have done maybe 20 refrets in my long life and never tried banging them out like this! Brilliant - I'll be changing my technique for lacquered fretboards from today forward. Excellent easy-to-digest presentation. I have an all-natural Strat like this one (MIM body and MIUSA maple lacquered neck) that's my pride and joy. It's almost heart-breaking to watch the frets deteriorate slowly but inexorably as I play...Thank you 🙏

[@flameguitars5770]

Glad the video was helpful but really you only need to use this technique on 60's and 70's Fenders

[@acehandler1530]

Thanks. I have found that the fret-barbs chip out bits of fretboard whether lacquered or not. You 'bang-outv solution is the trick. 🍁

[@blackettco]

Great job as usual! Thank you so much for your videos, they are always such a joy to watch.

[@flameguitars5770]

Thanks for the encouragement. Glad you enjoy them

[@BCTCanadian]

Thank you for another wonderful video. May I ask; why not try to slide the frets out the other way, as in tapping from the treble side? You mentioned they were slid in from the bass side so I would think they would slide back out from there they came more easily then continuing them out on the treble side? Perhaps there’s a reason. All the best from Canada!

[@flameguitars5770]

Good point and well spotted! I think I mention earlier in the video that I would tap them out bass to treble and then did not do so. Just an oversight and my part.

[@Kevin.Hearty]

Excellent work as always.

[@flameguitars5770]

Thank you Kevin

[@Ray-um3if]

Hi David, we are not still in the hospital but wondering if you need that thumb looking at judging by the plaster. Excellent job, as always, those Strat necks are very labour intensive. I think Leo's idea with the bolt on necks, back in the 50's and 60's, was that the necks were so easy and cheap to replace that no one would bother re-fretting them. How things have changed since then.

[@deandee8082]

also, another good tip t get those frets to basically fall out is to use the truss rod in your favor.. open up those fret slots by cranking plenty of back bow into the neck and open those slots up.. flatten up neck, sand lacguer flat, prep slots accordingly, if you need to cut wider fret slots, add some back bow first, this way you can install the frets with slight back bow, when the neck is flattened out the slots really grab hold of those fret tangs and improve vibration transfer in a big way... experiment with this, no reason you cannot use the truss rod to clamp on the the fret tangs, lotta guys flatten everything up, use sloppy slots then glue.. use a slightly narrower slot for added grip and transfer, if its a new fret slot cut add slight back bow, cut slots, install frets, then when you go level the slots really grab hold of the tangs, you could then, install strings, then glue, no sense glug in frets unless the neck is in play position , proper action . . then glue while in position for obvious reasons .. or just slight narrower fret slots, a few five hundredths or so, get em real tight

[@lousekoya1803]

Thank you Sir for this great tutorial ! When choosing a fret slot sawt , do you go with a saw that has the same width as the fret tang and let the barbs to do their job or a you go little smaller ?

[@flameguitars5770]

Thank you. I have a number of fret slotting saws. If I am happy with the width of the slots I may use a slightly narrower saw just to clean out the slot.

[@0Imtheslime0]

Luthiers gotta love CBS necks. 2 tons of polyurethane.. They basically cocooned their guitars back then.

[@josephschmitt6075]

Can you do my 1975 tele custom, please? Haha.

[@Ray-um3if]

Hi David, haven’t watched this yet as we’ve been sitting in A and E for 8 hours but you might want to change the thumb nail of this video to read 70’s Stratocaster not Stratocastor. Lol

[@flameguitars5770]

Well, what an idiot I am! I must have looked at that a dozen times when adding text to the image. thanks Ray. I hope that you are still not in A&E as you read this!

[@supernoobsmith5718]

That's insane. Shame on Fender. When I first discovered that Fender painted over frets I decided I would never buy another guitar from a company that would do such a thing. And I haven't since. Even though I prefer rosewood, but it's a matter of principle.

[@deandee8082]

you need a much heavier drift, this will utilize your energy more efficiently and drive out the fret in a a few blows, much heavier drift, heavier hammer or dead blow, yea that "punch" is way to small for the job . .