Fun fret levelling

lethargytartare · #1 08-13-2010, 04:20 PM

Wanted to share my latest headache.

Project bass for a buddy, didn't really NEED the frets re-leveled, but I wanted to get everything nice and tight. Strings off, frets leveled, crowned, check levels, all good. String it up. 3rd fret is high. ***. Checked it with a rocker, and it's high. Strings off, check the fret -- it's not loose. Give it a light run with the file, recrown, polish, check -- all good. String it up -- fret's high...same little bugger...

It really doesn't look like it has popped up out of the slot, or that there's anything wrong with the board there...it's infuriating to be sure!

If anyone has had something like this happen, I'd be interested in hearing details. I'm resigned to sanding it down by itself a wee bit, but I really want to figure out exactly what's going on...

emblymouse · #2 08-13-2010, 04:42 PM

I'm not any help, but I can sympathize.

I did my 1st level and polish 2 days ago, and after repeating the process twice still came out with a buzz from a high fret. At that point I just backed away slowly rather than over do anything. I am hesitant to go after that one fret with the mantra of 'even and uniform motions all up and down the neck' burned into my head.

The loose fret concept did not occur to me, I'll have to check for that. It's way up high where I rarely go, but solving this would be an achievement!

Meatrus · #3 08-13-2010, 05:36 PM

I recently fretted my first neck too. Fortunately (not sure if it was luck or not) I didnt get any buzzing and obtained a nice low action. The reason I mention this is I'm just wondering how you levelled them, did you use the now standard (so it seems) method of marking the tops with a marker? I did this, and it ensures they are all level, meaning there shouldnt be much trial and error. I'm not trying to pretend I'm in any way talented at fret work, just this method seemed quite easy.

lethargytartare · #4 08-13-2010, 07:13 PM

It's not even my first fretwork project -- so at least I wasn't going at it willy-nilly. And, yes, I use the marker technique. What kills me is that I was so focused on that fret the second time, so I'm sure it was fine before restringing.

I'm actually rethinking any sanding of that fret...I may try tapping it in a bit and gluing it to see if it's snug to the touch, but still humping up a bit when the neck is under tension...

lethargytartare · #5 08-13-2010, 07:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by emblymouse

I'm not any help, but I can sympathize.

I did my 1st level and polish 2 days ago, and after repeating the process twice still came out with a buzz from a high fret. At that point I just backed away slowly rather than over do anything. I am hesitant to go after that one fret with the mantra of 'even and uniform motions all up and down the neck' burned into my head.

The loose fret concept did not occur to me, I'll have to check for that. It's way up high where I rarely go, but solving this would be an achievement!

I have one guitar where the previous owner had the high frets (21-24) noticeably lower than the rest -- so when I leveled that guitar, I never even hit those frets -- it was odd, but at that spot, it doesn't cause any issues. May have been addressing some ramp up.

Where does your buzzing start -- and is it just one fret, or several?

My teacher emphasized the need to assess the frets before any filing -- fine loose ones, ones that had popped up...great advice, and I'm still kinda sloppy in sticking to it hahaha