How To Polish Frets In 10 Minutes

[@elephantfootrisers]

I bought my first serious guitar in 1972, a new Gibson SG Standard. Enclosed were instructions for putting on the strings - exactly the way you hate it. It's called a Luthiers knot and it's been around a while for a reason. I use them still. Don't need locking tuners, less weight on the neck. Removing the strings is easy if you know how. I like your method, too, but haven't tried it yet. To each his own!

[@DrJeebles]

Nice video, Dylan. I always appreciate your willingness and ability to be a real person while sharing your experience and knowledge about guitar. Your channel has been a great help to me the past few years. Keep it up!

[@stuartmiller7419]

It's a product endorsement. Nothing real about that, tbh.

[@mr.n0noob228]

Do these work on stainless steel frets ?

[@jimwoodard64]

I use Gorgomyte or the Music Nomad for the frets and Dunlop 65 for the boards. As far as the "knot", I've always done one over and the rest under, but I don't get a knot and never have a problem with string removal. I've had to take strings off when people used the knotting system, and I do NOT appreciate it at all. Matter of fact, when I got my Slash, there was a knot on it. I wanted to scream and it took me a lot of fine work because it was the small E string and I didn't want to scratch anything.

[@danielmiller2886]

Good tip about the steel wool. I hate trying to clean up afterwards with all the little particles.

[@jeromewagschal9485]

"People who think you have to tie a string for tuning stability...You are annoying" 😄😄😄😄 THANK YOU FOR SAYING THAT !! It is really annoying... I did a lot of repair and maintenance work on guitars in the last 4 decades and every time someone does that on a guitar I'm working on it annoys the hell out of me... I mean, if it works for some people good for them but I've always installed my strings without tying them up since 1982 and tuning stability has always been excellent...And I really bend strings a lot, and that was before locking tuners arrived bon the market... Anyway, great video...

[@eddiejr540]

I’ve been using the lizard spit fret polishing kit for a couple of years now…works great….love it!!!!

[@TrevorMouhan]

When I changed the strings after getting my PRS, the darn things were tied on like these were. It took me about 15 minutes to get my high E string off because it snapped near the tuner and I had to get creative with the removal. I'll NEVER tie my strings. I've always done it the way you showed in this video, and I've never had an issue. Great video!

[@kerrynance1777]

I like your stringing method, however, I always, always put that first wrap over the string and the rest go under. Never had the problem of getting ' em off, even while gigging. Been using Music Nomad F-one on the rosewood and Frine on the frets. Might be willing to try the Lizard Spit products. Rock on

[@johndaugherty4127]

When DYLAN talks tones, I listen!

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

OW MY EYEZ!

[@dr.j6747]

I made it a habit over years, to wash my hands in a de-greasing dish soap before playing, to reduce my natural skin oil. If they became sweaty during a gig, I will re-wash them. I also very seldom ever allow others to touch my guitars unless they do the same. No one will ever treat your guitar as well as you! So I seldom ever have a problem with "grim build-up". But I really appreciate this info for potential future use if and when needed. It's great to know. Thank you! I'll be watching more from you.

[@barry7920]

Well described - thanks for sharing 🙂

[@DabooksofEli]

Great content! Thank you sharing this knowledge!

[@J0HN01DATA]

Shined up quite nicely 👌

[@dastardlydave1455]

Lizard Spit makes good stuff. I'll have to get one of those kits.

[@Jon.simmons]

I love that lizard spit kit. Works great. I, too, hate strings that are tied on. I try and change to Klusen vintage tuners on everything I can.

[@derekclacton]

Got to love Dylan’s ‘This is what we do, I don’t care what you say’ approach! Opinions may differ but there’s no denying knowledge and experience. Not sure about the string cutting thing though - doesn’t do anything for me 🤔🤣

[@orryfishburne5326]

I want to try the Lizard Spit polish kit. Ive been a long time user of 12,000-15,000 grit sandpaper for polishing frets and always had good results, but the Lizard Spit has me intrigued. I like the added compound and fret protector.

[@waynebagley]

I am a mandolin player and I enjoy your instrument maintenance videos. I will try lizard spit products and I am over the moon to know that you do not have to do that whole tie knots routine. I will try it next string change on the Mandolin.

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

So, because of the obvious conflict in what Dylan said about "oily" vs "hydrated" while applying Lizard Spit, I had to look up the stuff, which tries to distinguish its Orange-oil based product from Lemon-oil based products. Lizard Spit doesn't actually claim it "hydrates". I think this is a cleaning and sealing issue, not a hydration issue. I will presume that to include sealing in hydration which is already there. If the product is hydroscopic, (which is not claimed) it would also attract moisture from the air. I agree Dylan on the whole as to what it does and doesn't do. If you have serious fret sprout your guitar probably needs 2 weeks in a 50% humidity environment. Or just file down the .2 mm fret spout and stop worrying about Unbound ebony is the worst for this, but I honestly just get my ebony boards away from heating ducts in winter and direct sunlight in summer.

[@activese]

Great, simple and straight forward method, but there is one question, are you referring the nut as an actual nut, like in classical nylon strings, or as when people do the one turn up and the others down? I do use one turn up or down, specially down when you do the next windings on top not downwards, for some G or D with issues if you do not fix the nut. But it seems that you do not need to do the lock thing on winding one up and the others down. Thanks.

[@Jeffy2n]

Okay, another point here to discuss. I do my string just about the same as you, except I overwrap the first turn and then go under through string and then wind it down. This is how I was taught with the reason given by my guitar teacher that the the first wrap will pull down across the through part of the string and help to lock it in place. I have done it that way for 50+ years with no real issues, tho I am sure your way is just as good.

[@hobo1958]

Seems like pulling the strings to stretch them 2 or 3 times as I'm tuning it seems to work better for me.

[@mikelundquist4596]

Thank you for acknowledging that knot tying strings on is extremely annoying. Unnecessary and frustrating.

[@bigdbearkiller5115]

steel wool isnt alowed in my shop.

[@Jim_Cox]

Someone I was watching earlier even cuts the strings down near the nut to prevent metal shavings from the snipping getting into the pickup magnets.

[@derekclacton]

I’d cut them half-way - makes it easier to coil them up together and recycle 👍

[@jadenreyna]

What’s a Myles Paul guitar? Never heard of it.

[@DylanTalksTone]

😂😂

[@Jeffy2n]

Dylan, I am not trying to start a fight here, but what is your thinking along the whole Underwrap vs Overwrap of the stop tail bar? I have been an Underwrap for many years, but recently, I say a 1956 sale brochure from Gibson showing there new stopbar tune-o-matic tailpiece and it was Overwrapped from Gibson. One could say that Gibson was just changing from the old style overwrap single stopbar, but does it really make any difference?

[@adamhill5563]

does polishing also level the frets?

[@nickspitzley8539]

No, just takes the very outer layer off. Not enough to do that

[@Dd13200]

I've been winding strings on my guitars exactly the way you do, for over 50 years. Never had the first problem.

[@normanbfifteen3468]

cover body with a towel...shake it off outside... I also use a hand vacuum as I go.

[@leftyo9589]

steel wool has its place in life, but its no where near a guitar, or a gun!

[@davidmini3606]

I wind the same way I just go bottom to top for a less sharp break angle

[@MariaBethaniaCabrera]

Given your vast knowledge and experience, I'd like to hear your opinion on dummy coils for hum canceling/reduction on a guitar with single coils. I looked it up in your channel but I couldn't find any evidence that you even mention them at all, ever (by the way, your channel is my favorite place to go for guitar tech advice). Maybe I didn't look hard enough? Or aren't they worth of consideration? 😏🤣 I tried wiring one dummy coil in a strat with strat sized P-90s but it sucked the tone to a point that I didn't even consider it as a compromise. The hum was gone though. 😮 Just for reference: I soldered one end of the dummy coil to the hot coming from the switch and the other end to ground. Tried it before replacing the wire that carries that hot signal to the volume pot for the dummy coil but it didn't do anything. I hope you get to read my comment and consider posting a video about that subject. Thanks.

[@b5blu392]

Oil seals the rosewood. It also does hydrate it. East Indian is very porous and dry unlike Brazilian or pau ferro. Cocobolo are all naturally very oily woods. In every other walk of life east Indian rosewood gets some type of finish. What you’re saying is half true.

[@Ottophil]

Oil and water don’t mix. How can oil make something wetter

[@bjthebrain968]

​@@Ottophil the average ideal EMC in a given fretboard is around 6-7%. Which doesn't sound like a lot of moisture, but thats kinda the point. Too much more and it'll swell. Too much less and it'll get weak and brittle. Like David said, oil seals wood. It's not so much that oiling "hydrates" it, but that it traps the moisture needed to stay healthy as well as prevents natural oils from escaping. It helps to keep the moisture content (EMC) within its relative tolerance range. Enough moisture trapped in to keep it from becoming brittle and enough locked out to prevent the swelling. The best alternative real world application I can think of where this practice isn't challenged (because we know and can see it works!) is applying thompsons water seal to decking.

[@bigdbearkiller5115]

all hail stainless steel frets

[@fulviosanna]

My advice if using steel wool would be to cover the pickups poles with some paper tape, the one used to mask while painting. It's quick and no steel particles will stick on the magnets.

[@Andrew_182]

@Joe Thanks Hes not always right, but he's also not wrong here either. You can do things to make it safer to use steel wool, yes. Or you can just as (actually more) easily use something like micro mesh or what hes using which means there is no risks to mitigate and you don't have to deal with cleaning up the mess after using wool either. Like he said in the video, you're not wrong for doing it how you prefer. He's not wrong in anything he said about it either.

[@fulviosanna]

​@Joe Thanks Thanks Mr.Thanks😄 Even though I have to say that some problems could come from metal being stuck under the frets while polishing... that's probably why Dylan doesn't use steel wool. I don't use steel wool either..I use a product called Sidol who's used to make door's brass handles (and other metals) shine.It works perfectly on the frets and is cheap.My frets are always shiny and smooth.Greetings from Sardinia, Italy!

[@DylanTalksTone]

I have done it that way… but I have still had issues so I just avoid it altogether lol

[@Seastone84]

@Joe Thanks Past performance does not guarantee future results Bud. ,,, wait for it...EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT..."then imagine Karl Denson playing saxophone inside your tiny ear hole."

[@_Yep_Yep_]

While i dont think DTT would appreciate doubling the work for a minor distinction, it would be groovy to see someone freshen up a maple neck and properly oil it so the ten bazillion strat/tele owners know the one difference.

[@richardjones2811]

Mask up the board and use Autosol

[@Joey.Darkwoods-Studio]

I use Eagle One's Nevr Dull to polish the strings. And for the G, B and E string I wind the string up instead of down. That slightly breaks that angle and helps with tuning.

[@richszmal1653]

Watching people tying knots or looping strings back threw drives me INSANE!!

[@I.M.Guitar-Nerd]

Using Micro Mesh pads here, no rouge or polishing compound needed.

[@nickm.9474]

1,000,000 percent correct about that dumb not tying!! I freaking hate that technique!! Also. You could at least loosen the strings before cutting. Haha

[@leegollin4417]

I will never ever ever string my guitar that way. The stupid way comes from most luthiers and Gibson because it's the best. You just dont have the technique. I used to string and setup over 20 guitars a day and never cried about the top wrap. It's just more stable and requires less winds around the post and less string stretching/deslacking.

[@futurewolfjackson1628]

lol i lock them like you hate but that is how i was taught and ive done it for 20 years...yeah i hate changing strings you need needlenose.

[@ScottfromBaltimore]

So much debunking. I use orange oil from a big sprey bottle. I put a ton on and let it soak in (minutes or hours) if the board looks dry (then wipe it down). It mostly makes it darker and shinier, which I like.

[@martinlee6694]

I wonder .You rideing that bicycle .🙃

[@dbb124]

Steel wool

[@steveDC51]

Cut the strings away from the pickups- bits of metal from wound strings can stick to the pickup magnets.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Side cutters don’t actually produce pieces … they just pinch.

[@dbb124]

Hah, you should have tightened the strings more before clipping

[@Smart-Alex]

Not sure why you’re rolling your eyes, it was only a suggestion after giving you a compliment. I thought the comments were for having a dialog/making suggestions/asking questions? I have a Slash LP and the neck is dark as night and plays great - take it or leave it man, no reason to make fun of people.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Lol. People have been going bong me a hard time on this for years. If you want to believe it’s about your comment… you are welcome to

[@tacdoc8736]

He’s an overly sensitive dude who loves to argue for the sake of it, even with his own current (and past) subscribers, often when he’s objectively wrong. He would have a lot more subscribers if he weren’t so emotionally antagonistic. He doesn’t get how most of the more popular YT guitar channels foster community loyalty by just being nice. Granted, I guess any comment, good or bad, is good for Adsense, but there’s a difference in watching randomly because it’s in our recommended feed & watching every video because we value the content & find the person likable.

[@DylanTalksTone]

I appreciate you Tac Doc. You can imagine the challenge of trying to make content I enjoy making… as far as being wrong… I don’t mind it. Learning every day is important. The problem with a myth busting type channel is that it opens me up to this type of comment. I’m trying to get away from this sort of content. I actually hate it. I’d rather explore new products and more fun stuff.

[@Smart-Alex]

@@DylanTalksTone I literally suggested that your fret board looked a little dry and suggested oiling it. Antagonist? I have the same Les Paul guitar from sweetwater and was sharing my experience. It came dry to me and a little oil darkened and it felt better on the fingertips. Roll your eyes in disgust alone in your room, not to your audience. Honestly, I don’t know why I comment anymore. It’s pointless.

[@DylanTalksTone]

Interesting. Yeah I have seen many comments of this type over the years about “fretboard hydration” … I roll my eyes as a reaction to stupid myths that exist in general… as you would. I cannot control the following two things 1. What myths you (or anyone hold dear) 2. Your (or anyone’s) sensitivity or conviction to a myth being called out. If I have an opinion, ESPECIALLY one backed by facts, I will share it. The problem is, people take what is a hobby too seriously. This is not a religion. I am not attacking you as a person when I roll my eyes because I think a myth is stupid. If you take it personally… I cannot control that. Truth is, I don’t care if we disagree! I’d have a beer w you, play some guitar, and be friends with just about anyone. Guitar players need to calm down and enjoy the hobby. It’s called PLAYING….

[@AndreaAustoni]

Keep steel wool away from my guitars, thank you very much. It sheds crap all over the place. It's garbage. We have much better materials today.

[@gregoaks4413]

no steel wool due to tiny slivers in skin

[@briank6789]

Haven't even finished the video but I gotta say...fret nibs are the worst. THE WORST!

[@michaelbevins2405]

looks cheap.like a u s a guitar.

[@martinlee6694]

I wonder .You rideing that bicycle .🙃

[@DylanTalksTone]

Not much this winter, but it’s about to get a bunch of miles.