Fret Crowning File Technique

The fret crowning file is a unique luthier tool that guitar luthiers use to reshape the tops of each fret after leveling. Having the right fret crowning file technique is the key to getting the most accurate and best possible results. Improving your technique can help you produce guitars with more perfect fretwork, better play-ability, more comfort, as well as refinement and beauty. In this video I share a short tutorial with some of my personal tips and techniques to help you improve your fretwork and build better guitars.
Fret File Used in the video (My personal favorite!)
stewmac.sjv.io/Yg33Bm
The Luthier's Guide To Fret Crowning Files
theartoflutherie.com/fret-cro...
Guitar fretwork Mastery Online course:
theartoflutherie.com/guitar-f...
When the fretwork is perfect, the player is free to focus on the sound and responsiveness of the guitar. We want our guitars to be the guitarist’s favorite guitar. Mastering the fretwork, (of which the fret crowning file technique is a key part) is a must for any high-quality hand made guitar or even high-quality guitar repairs.
In this video we cover:
• The importance of the Fret work
• Fret Crowning Files
• Fret Crowning File Technique Tips, Tricks and methods
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[@GerryBlue]

Very relaxing video, ASMR of lutherie, thanks

[@juniorkong9587]

Hi Tom! Thanks for sending me the vid. Fret finishing is perpetual. Looks like you've been working out. Thanks again. Keith

[@juniorkong9587]

Those type of files well any file benefits greatly from an old school file card between frets, chainsaw teeth, etc... BTW I can appreciate what you said at 8:15. Any luthier can understand luthier/player even more so.

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Hey thanks Keith, Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@TylrVncnt]

Great vid!

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Thanks Ty!

[@keithclark2136]

I HAVE THIS SAME TOOL FOR 5YRS STILL LIKE NEW. GUITAR CENTER RECOMMEND THIS FOR MY FRETLESS BASS. I MAY BE A LITTLE SLOW YEA I GET IT NOW WONT HAPPEN AGAIN.

[@shipwreckedonapopulatedisland]

I see other videos saying the aim is to leave a thin line of the of the texter on top of the fret, are you taking all the texter off?

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

I remove all the blue lines with the crowning file. I feel it makes for much more perfect intonation. it does take more skill not to take too much, though. If you think about it, leaving a flat spot on the top of the frets pushes the point where the string leaves the fret closer to the bridge, making the string sound slightly sharp. I want the crown of the fret to be perfectly aligned with the center of the fret so that the point of contact is just right. Leaving a flat spot on the top is more acceptable on electric guitars it seems, but in my experience on classical and acoustic guitars, most players want perfect intonation and a smother feel of the accurately crowned fret tops. It's not a wrote or wrong thing, it's a matter of preference, you know?

[@leeg7106]

Question: So I just subscribed. Your video populated on my feed; Perhaps bc I’ve been looking up a lot of do it your self videos lately...But would this technique be appropriate if I wanted to level my frets? Right now, one of my guitars, uneven and flat, worn areas are showing on many of the frets. I don’t think I need to have it completely redone, and as practice before I make that choice, would like to try leveling the frets. Perhaps there is already a video you have on this, I’m a new subscriber however. Thanks for your time!

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Hi Lee, great to meet you! This technique of fret crowning is part of the process you'll need to know, however you will first need to level the frets ot make the tops of them all even. When you do the leveling process it will level flat spots on many of the frets which will then need to be re-crowned (or rounded over) to make the intonation more accurate and give the frets a better feel that players are used to. I don't have any videos here on youtube about the other aspects of this type of fret work, but I do have a highly detailed online course you can check out, it's super cheap and will be more than worth it in the time and frustration it will save you. Here's a link in case you want to check it out: theartoflutherie.com/guitar-fretwork-mastery-part-1/

[@leeg7106]

The Art Of Lutherie - Guitar Making ...Ok, great, thanks for responding!!

[@michaeladamcaira9174]

I used to use a 3 corner file,but I've been using the stewmac Zfile,it's much faster and easier

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

That Z file looks great! I mentioned here in my Luthier's Guide To Fret Crowning Files: theartoflutherie.com/fret-crowning-files/ but I haven't gotten to try it yet. Love the concept of it, makes a lot of sense. Thanks for your comment and for the recommendation!

[@williamjahn7514]

Not saying you are not doing this right , however why not just move in one stroke across the frets instead of back and forth. I find it results in more control and a more even crown. I still use a 3 cornered file and roll it .

[@TheArtOfLutherie]

Hi William, it's true that each person will have their own technique and that's a good thing. For me, the amount of material removed from the leveling process can be different for different parts of the fret. Because of that, I need to address each specific area of the fret differently and that's why can't go all the way across in one stroke. Hope that makes sense.

[@wedrivebynight]

That's how most people do it. That's how i do it but this guy gets good results with how he's comfortable doing it.

[@timcastle165]

You stated that you started with a 150 grit, but when you changed to the other grit you never said what grit that was. Great video except for that part.

[@jaybbuilder]

Tim Castle If you go to his amazon link in the description the file he uses has 150 grit side and a 300 grit side.. Hope that helps.