J Edwards Guitars Fractal Fret Press vs A Chinese Knockoff

[@Jedwardsguitars]

Thanks for picking up a tool and giving it a review! ❤ Some notes: Each tool comes with the kit for Jaws 1+2 use. It is recommended to use the tool in an arbor press. Shipping is included in the US. The tool can be used on any fretted instrument as long as the minimum fret is 1.5”. Cheers!

[@DanielBobke]

Where do you get the adapter for the StewMac Jaws tools?

[@fepatton]

I’m sold! Placed my order.

[@Jedwardsguitars]

@@DanielBobkeif you have already purchased a tool, send me an email and I’ll send you the kit. Otherwise it comes with every tool.

[@DanielBobke]

@Jedwardsguitars Thanks very much

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

thanks again for mine JW! (see my comment for details)

[@progguitarist27]

That J Edward’s fret press is such a great idea! I wonder how it would work on a multiscale fret board…

[@HighlineGuitars]

Brilliantly.

[@ted8437]

You filmed the Fractal in action, but only showed the mangled fret after you said it was pressed in by the chinese one. I'd be interested to see how the fret got to be that way and how the two actually differ in action.

[@hollandguitars7086]

Obviously the cheap one is so loose that it doesn't just push down but side ways also looking at that warped fret!

[@meadish]

I know nothing about this tool, but I have bought enough "luthier tools" from China to know that what Chris describes here is true for the vast majority. There are a few exceptions, but in my experience 8 times out of 10 you'll be disappointed in the Chinese tool and it will be barely usable at best. This has been true for the following things I have bought from China: 1 - fret crowning files (I have tried 3 - none of them were useful, i should have saved the money and bought from Crimson Guitars or StewMac) 2 - nut slotting files - 1 set made to look like Hosco files but crooked and the wrong dimensions for electric guitars 3 - understring fret leveling file - looks like StewMac but not straight, so completely useless. 4 - wooden neck shims - again, copied from StewMac's tapered shims, but the Chinese ones have no taper Usable items - Brass fret caul set - Copy of StewMac Jaws fret press using a clamp - obviously inferior quality, but it did work for fretting 2 necks - Fret leveling beam (but you can make one from a home depot water leveling beam, so no particular point in ordering one from China.

[@RickMolloy]

The JEdwards original is so good. I make compound radius boards and it's a huge timesaver - thanks for making this video Chris

[@HighlineGuitars]

Link for the J Edwards Fractal Fret Press is in the description.

[@MashaT22]

You are a man of your word! Way to buy the real one after realizing it was a knockoff. . . and then make an entire video detailing why the J Edwards is superior. Seems like the cost is justified if the company has to custom make everything down to the screws. You’ve also given solid advance about what to use as an alternative if someone can’t pay $240 upfront. Also, you’re SO close to 100k!! Congrats in advance!!

[@Jedwardsguitars]

Thank you! While I do make, lap and assemble everything else, the fasteners I do not. I do have specific screws made to my spec though! I did look at buying a screw machine briefly. Each tool is very meticulously hand fitted and assembled. I found early on the tool really only works to my satisfaction if it’s very tight.

[@michaelmenkesOZSKIB]

I picked up the J Edwards press a few months ago because I'd been fighting the radiused cauls from StewMac way way too much, especially on clipped tangs for bound necks. I always do a bound neck. I've only used it for one job, but it was a multiscale guitar which is an ideal application. The frets are longer and the effective radius changes constantly. I use mine in a drill press in exactly the same manner. The best part, aside from consistent results, is you can really feel the fret seating properly, so you know not to push too hard.

[@Jedwardsguitars]

Yes! Each press is the same resistance which really helps consistency. Thanks again for your support.

[@vintageswiss9096]

I only know what a fractal clamp is because of the guy from Mythbusters. Super cool seeing the idea used on a guitar.

[@scottakam]

It's a cool idea. If I hadn't already invested in the StewMac cauls or built more guitars, I would definitely get it.

[@sgt.grinch3299]

I knew you would do a comparison video. Thanks Chris.

[@tarsiousmunalembohol]

This should do fan fret fairly easy.

[@bsharp55]

That looks like it's based on the fractal vice which was patented in 1913, well before Mandelbrot coined the term fractal. I come from a computer science background where fractal math is used in graphics and cryptography.

[@JimFeeley]

So close to 100K!

[@JWoodcock]

I bet the Chinese "engineers" probably didn't even order one of the legit ones to base their design off of 😂

[@szczepanskipj]

Very likely, they are good in copying but lacking precision and invention, however they learn. We'll see.

[@johngrant5749]

I would imagine they didn’t at that price!!

[@jarexxsuvexx8212]

Looks like a very simple tool to copy and dont believe you need direct access to do so. Way overpriced too but cant blame manufacturer for wanting to make some serious profit.

[@matthewdrake9699]

No they prob just looked at a photo

[@johnyblamounth9142]

Nice review💪🏼👍🏼👏🏼

[@zeusapollo8688]

I know your test guitar is flawed somehow but i really like that one

[@dalgguitars]

Very cool tool.

[@brunolevasseur]

Thx a lot to warn us. 👍👍👍🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️🙋‍♂️ Greetings from France.

[@felipelotas5609]

For the price it should include all the accesories to be used with the Stewmac Jaws 1&2 clamps. I guess Stewmac wouldnt like the idea and they´re just thinking out their own version of the tool. I´ll wait for the whole package.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Read the pinned comment.

[@lionfeather]

Wonders if a drill press can be used with this tool.

[@Jedwardsguitars]

Yes! That is actually how I prefer to use it and recommend that as well.

[@sunn_bass]

Bargain tools are rarely a bargain. Most of the time they either: 1. Wear out too soon. 2. Don't work as intended 3. Don't work efficiently and require more time 4. or are simply junk I don't like wasting money and I surely don't like wasting time if the tool is not efficient. I don't need added frustration in my life

[@waynehughes8297]

In all fairness here, did you tighten the bolts up like they were on the American one??

[@HighlineGuitars]

No.

[@angeldelvax7219]

Very useful. I didn't know a fractal version existed! I'm not a professional builder. Only working on my second ever guitar, and only as a hobby. Unfortunately, I can't afford that much for the tool. That said, I wouldn't buy something like this on aliexpress anyway. I just don't trust those copies enough. I can't even afford the tool with separate heads for each radius. But I can 3D print heads like that to fit on a normal clamp. It's a LOT cheaper than the fractal tool clone, and it's custom designed for exactly that specific guitar I'm working on ;) No, it won't last for dozens of guitars. Might not even last for 2 or 3 guitars. But then, it's 50 cents to print a new one, and the materials are far less likely to do any damage, even when something does go wrong. For a professional luthier probably not as useful, but for a hobbyist who just builds a guitar because they like to it's the perfect solution ;) And no, I'm not going to try and 3D print the fractal version. That needs the tolerances and the sturdiness you can only get from properly machined metal parts.

[@timziegler3765]

I still hammer my frets but I get the press maybe better but I never buy Chia Amazon tools.That press head looks cool Thanks Chirs

[@scillyautomatic]

Cool tool!

[@sammzzzzz]

I'm genuinely curious, what is the benefit of a fret press like this over a hammer? hammers are fast, do every radius, and are basically free in comparison.

[@HighlineGuitars]

Hammers ding the frets.

[@Jedwardsguitars]

There’s a ton. Let it be known I still use hammers and fixed cauls. This is just a tool in a tool chest and I love tools. Pressing is low impact and gives your feedback to know when things are seated. A great use case is when doing vintage refrets with fragile lacquer or veneer fingerboards. Pressing also holds the fret down whereas a hammer strike could spring back. It’s all about control. Great question!

[@scottakam]

I started with a hammer. It works ok but I quickly moved to an arbor press with a caul. If you press a lot of frets, you can probably do a good job with a hammer. I think the press is even more important for the hobbyist than the pro.

[@ed713ca]

Time. And you gotta go easy with a hammer. But it's fine. Just don't rush.

[@dieterjosef]

The difference in quality is obvious.

[@86OEd]

👍👍👍

[@ForestCinema]

I was just wondering if someone makes a fractal fret press hah

[@Jedwardsguitars]

That was me last year! I thought of it and was like “surely someone makes this”. I was ready to plop down hundreds right then and there. I searched long and hard and found nothing.

[@ForestCinema]

@@Jedwardsguitarsit’s a rare use-case where those fractal designs actually make a lot of sense. Glad somebody makes a good one

[@matthewdrake9699]

A Chedwards tool! 🤦‍♂️.. the genuine tool looks fantastic, looks like a worthy investment for luthiers..

[@fepatton]

“Inspired by” - well at least they acknowledge what it’s copying! 😂

[@BackWoodsBillyCraftBeerReviews]

All the Chinese company has to do is purchase one Then reverse engineering... They most likely built their version off pictures of the original plus online specifications... Cheers 🍻 🥃🥃 🎸 🎵🎶🎶🎶

[@dieterjosef]

As you can see it is not enough. You have to understand what is important, what specifics have to be there for the tool to be useful, and you have to know how to achieve a good quality in a low volume. Yes, a lot of people will buy the cheap knock-off because they think it is the same when you use it you will learn about the difference. The bad thing is that a lot of the folks will think the better version will also not work properly.

[@Jedwardsguitars]

@@dieterjosefI’ve already seen multiple posts of ,“I’ve used one of those articulating cauls before. They don’t work well”. It’s wild how many knock offs there are yet all seem to miss at least one critical point.

[@szczepanskipj]

It's possible Chinese guy will make ver. 2.0 and then the inventor will reduce the price. Seems to be good for customer, however in long run when everything will be manufactured in China I'm not sure if it's good for us.

[@thormelsted]

It's not good for the customer. When inventions are stolen and sold for a fraction of the price, two things happen. The thief profits off other people's inventions, and the thief takes away the incentive for the inventor to make or market products. That ultimately harms progress. The concept of time-limited patents exists to fight this, because it can ensure only the inventor can profit off their invention, enough to keep inventing more stuff, which ultimately benefits consumers way more than cheap knockoffs that don't even work as well (and therefore can harm the reputation of the original invention). The race to the bottom is already a major problem worldwide (in many ways), we don't need to foster it by buying copies from IP thieves.

[@petew.1418]

It amazes me, how in the car community, people will happily pay extra for the quality part and avoid the cheap knockoffs, but the guitar community has so many doing the opposite.

[@xHighPotencyx]

@@petew.1418 I would be careful about painting such broad strokes. There are plenty of people in both communities (and probably pretty much all hobbies and communities) that aren't willing to pay the premium for a premium product.

[@leondantas]

The Chinese makers will improve over time, than the Edwards will reduce it's price

[@HighlineGuitars]

Or tariffs will end the Chinese makers.

[@bobibobik5903]

@@HighlineGuitars Same going on with US makers; check out new regulations for US-made items from the US for Europe; I guess the world had enough of that supermacy, ala ''made in with pride''. And I apologize to all good and honest, hard-working Amricans. But to pay for a simple device so much, plus it's not an original idea. I mean... I expect more from your YTC, maybe that is why I reacted like this.

[@faelquerque]

I guess you didn't get the idea behing the Chinese knockoff, it's only for true temperament frets! 😂😂😂

[@bobibobik5903]

Yes, when Chinese do it it ain't OK, but when someone from the US rips hard work from people from Europe or elsewhere, then all is cool. I don't see any KZbin videos about it from a popular US KZbinr.

[@trance9158]

What

[@karldettling5981]

The frets just need to be pressed down hard on the fret board. And then be leveled. What's the big deal here?

[@HighlineGuitars]

No big deal.