Tips for Good Fret Jobs

[@Guitar_Builder]

I'm getting into building guitars, I'm watched your video on stainless frets on acoustics many years ago, I'm glad you're still here. I found you again somehow and i'm glad i did, still looking for production acoustics with stainless frets :)

[@utube321piotr]

I just have to commend you for a masterful and completely thought out and skillful job. Nearly an hour of watching and I completely understand your approach. Will have to see all of your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@Bryankimsey]

Thank you!

[@terrywebb5380]

So nice that you retain maximum fret height with your method of fret installation. It is painful to see a significant amount of fret material being hogged off as if was unavoidable and usual when levelling frets. It’s interesting to see that levelling frets can be achieved by different methods. Some get the neck completely straight and use a long levelling beam and some like yourself simulate string tension and use a short file to follow the curve of a neck which relief will create when instrument is stringed to pitch. Some go one step further and try to level frets with strings on at playing pitch which must be very fiddly. It’s a shame that Evo gold fret wire is not being manufactured any more. Hope it is made available again. Thanks very more for such a great posting on fret installation. Your contributions to guitar maintenance and restoration are gold dust.

[@Bryankimsey]

Thanks!!!

[@TheDirtBikeChannel]

Great video brother....missed your playing though!!!!

[@Bryankimsey]

I was working. I'd get fired for playing on the job. :)

[@michaelmullen8373]

I learn so much watching your videos. I am not a luthier but I do like working with wood and just going to class with professor Kimsey is really great! You mentioned that you like fingerboard divots. Can you please explain why? Thanks.

[@Bryankimsey]

I don't MIND them. For me, they give a little bit of the feel of taller frets w/out having taller frets- nice "bite" for the string. I like the mojo they offer, too. They're just part of the guitar's history and I don't like to erase that.

[@jw9947]

24 inch diameter. 12 inch radius

[@Bryankimsey]

We already got that solved. :) I've got a lot going on and my brain locked up.

[@maxwalmsley]

Hey Bryan. I have a question about cleaning up super glue that has squeezed out during pressing in the fret when using Jaws or hammering in. I wipe away as best I can but still end up having to use a chisel to try and remove that thin line of glue (or worse) that has not wiped away. Then there is a danger of damaging the board.

[@Bryankimsey]

I dunno... I just push the paper towel in there hard and do it. You might try pushing the towel with a spatula to really get it close to the fret. At the end of the day you might have to just live with a tiny glimmer of glue showing at the fret. It's just a cosmetic thing. Doesn't affect playing, function, or anything else... it's just a cosmetic thing that we've built up in our heads. It's like a glue glimmer on the saddle. I don't really care. To me, it's nice to know "Okay.... this saddle's glued in". Or squeeze out on braces.... "Okay, well they used enough glue". Are you using #20 or thicker glue? Not the thin #10 stuff, right?

[@maxwalmsley]

@@Bryankimsey I think you’re totally right about the cosmetic thing. It’s so easy to get hung up on perfection when it comes to looks. I need to get some thicker glue and see if that makes the clean up easier. Thanks for the reply! I have another question but I’ll save that for another time :)

[@Guitar_Builder]

Any tips on pulling frets without chipout? I know some wood are harder im wondering if hydrating the guitar will help.

[@Bryankimsey]

Some are just "chippier" than others. I like to get the pullers under the fret and then push down against the board and sort of walk the pullers across. Make sure you're heating the frets with a soldering iron, too. But BE CAREFUL of burning any binding. It's just a bunch of experience and learning from screw-ups. Some people like to oil the heck out of the fret area but I've never done that.

[@jasondonovan-oo3dx]

I have a 2022 D18 standard. I want to order a new Saddle. What should I order? Bone or Tusq? And from where,? I do have a knk mini in it

[@Bryankimsey]

Whatever you order you're gonna have to fit it. I'd use bone, from www.stewmac.com kzbin.info/www/bejne/nae6eGyFf7iaj6c

[@jasondonovan-oo3dx]

Thanks I'll try stewmack

[@cugir321]

Have you had major problems when you just install 8 or so stainless frets in a neck...every luthiar I talk to goes ballistic when I tell them I did it. (They always like to say how much more trouble stainless is which I think is bull crap...you just use a dremel and a leveling file)

[@Bryankimsey]

I don't use stainless much any more because it can cause a "zing" and some people are sensitive to that. As far as mixing, though, no problem. One of my personal D-18 GE's ran 7 SS and the rest nickel. The "hard to work" thing is WAY overblown. See: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r4m4i6CIorZjaZI