Tech tips from ChickenboneJohn. How to install frets and use a fret rocker.

Here's a brief guide to how I install frets on my guitars, and how to check them with a fret rocker to help avoid fret rattles and buzzes. The fret rocker is a simple but invaluable addition to every guitar maker's tool cupboard. Checking the whole fretboard for straightness with a steel straightedge is essential, but using a fret rocker enables you to identify individual frets that may be causing a problem. Great for new builds, and essential for repair work and diagnosing fretwork problems.
Fret rockers available from:
www.chickenbon...

[@dgperforms1]

Ok Chickenbone John....i just pulled the trigger on your 3 string humbucker kit. Lots of kits out there, but, i LOVE your videos, personality and value that you provide. This kit will be my very first build

[@doggylv]

Good info, thank you ChickenboneJohn

[@doodlespachesco7306]

Thanks for the video 😎

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

Hi John! Once I see that you're able to correct the high frets just by tapping a little more with the hammer, I now see I've been making a mistake by putting a little drop of Superglue in the ends of the fret slots as I install the frets (as it has been suggested to me to do). Obviously, the dried Superglue will never allow the high frets to be corrected with the hammer. Which means you have to resort to the fret file to correct the problem. No more Superglue for me. Thanks, John. THAT helps.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

You can use superglue to secure the frets if you feel you need the extra holding power, but I would suggest wicking it into the fret ends after the frets area properly pressed in and levelled.

[@mulekickhandmadeguitars8465]

@@ChickenboneJohn Yes, thank you, John. That's how I'll do it from now on. Your tutorial video is very helpful.

[@freedomination2]

What I would like to know is, what you did next? Did you spot level or did you use a beam on the whole neck?

[@chickenbonejohn714]

No, generally I get the frets in level without having to file or stone the frets.

[@7884golfguru]

I’m a new fan bro I’m going to make my first cbg ,fingers and toes crossed Lol

[@skinnyweb]

Hi +chickenbonejohn. Strangely enough, this video went up day after I fretted one of you kits. Bad timing but went fine and I'm pretty pleased with my first guitar neck. I have a question about neck profile. I decided to keep as much timber as possible as, without a truss rod, I'm concerned about neck stability. So I've carved it to retain the blank's full thickness (24mm excluding fretboard) at thickest point. This feels fine in the hand so I think I'll stick with it for now. However, was wondering, what sort of profile do you use and how thin have you found is stable for this "mahogany type" neck? Thanks.

[@ChickenboneJohn]

+Mark Allen I keep my necks pretty deep, but always put a fully rounded profile on them, sometimes a parabola shape, sometimes more of a vintage "vee' shape, but the key to keeping the neck stable under string tension is a decent depth. You can take off a few mm in the thickness - I sometimes use 22mm thick blanks.

[@skinnyweb]

+ChickenboneJohn thanks for reply. Glad to know my instinct on this wasn't far off. Kept the carve as simple as possible as is my first. Shaved off 45deg flat bevel from bottom edges, then rounded over the edges. Gave me a sort of deep "D" profile. Found it a doddle to keep straight and symmetrical that way. Thanks again.

[@caysonbrixton5015]

you all prolly dont care but does any of you know a method to get back into an Instagram account?? I stupidly forgot the account password. I would love any help you can give me

[@kashtoncory5942]

@Cayson Brixton instablaster =)

[@caysonbrixton5015]

@Kashton Cory I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site thru google and Im trying it out now. I see it takes quite some time so I will get back to you later when my account password hopefully is recovered.

[@tedwrink]

A big help thank you

[@7884golfguru]

Thanks bro from down under,how do you fix the frets that are to low

[@Ucceah]

dont you use a leveling beam or similar tool? a couple of gentle passes with a (used) dead smooth file, made the world of a diffference on a neck, i "fretted" by notching the side edges, and wrapping a stainless TIG wire around it. (took me 4 tries to get the first one right. lol)

[@ChickenboneJohn]

If the frets go in properly and accurately, I find you don't need to file them level.

[@stakwalderbak5331]

I'm going through the selection of fretboard timber at the moment. I have a selection of sawn and sanded (not finish sanded) hardwood (gidgee and desert mulgawood) fretboard blanks. Most of them are reasonably flat showing a fraction of a millimetre 'daylight' along the length. There are a few with 1/2 mm or more even bowing along the length. Here's the question. Should I be aiming for perfection with no daylight or should I accept that variations over time will occur especially as the fretboard will be attached to a neck which will in all likelihood move over time? I can easily press the fretboards flat with one finger on a flat surface Should I put a weight on the unacceptable fretboards (bow facing down) on the machined surface of one of my workshop machines in an attempt to flatten the fretboards or should I attempt some other method such as planing and sanding (I have a drum sander and a planer/thicknesser) with consequent loss of thickness? Should I simply reject them and use them for knife handle blanks for example. They cost me $20 (about 11 Quid each) so it is not a biggie to reject them. The fretboards are about 6mm+ thick with bows from 1/2mm to 1mm along the length. What do you think the practical minimum fretboard thickness should be? I really appreciate your videos by the way

[@johnwormald7178]

I wouldn't worry about this - glue the fretboard on to the neck and then true everything up.

[@philbrownred6500]

What do you do if you get to the middle or the end and have a low fret? Do you have to start all over?

[@chickenbonejohn714]

It's very rare to get a low fret, far more common to have fret that's high due to not being pressed in hard enough. With a low fret, you need to level the frets with a file or levelling beam, and then you need to re-crown the frets and polish them.

[@thefox8778]

John is jumbo frets best for cigar box guitar

[@theemeraldfox7779]

CHICKENBONE!!!!!! Ha.i love it mate

[@patwelch8187]

Who marked the frets ???? How. ??? Bad vid.

[@chickenbonejohn714]

Apologies for making a bad video. This is a video about installing frets and using a fret rocker, NOT how to slot a fretboard. If you want to know how I slotted the fretboard..here it is. kzbin.info/www/bejne/p4jSlGRrZr2th5Y

[@Knotshaw]

Who didn't say please ???? Who didn't say thank you ??? Bad comment.

[@nickwilkins9299]

The video is about installing frets, not about cutting fret slots [for which John has some great tips and tools in other videos he's taken the time to make and share] ...