one lifted fret repair

Swift713 · #1 11-30-2009, 10:46 PM

I have an 8 string Krappy Guitars touch-style guitar which met with a little accident a while back. It suffered some cosmetic damage but the worst thing is that one of the frets (the 4th) has lifted out a bit on the high side of the neck. Essentially I can't play below the 4th fret on the highest string. How can I best push the fret back into position? What tool is best for this? A hammer and a block? Some kind of clamp or pliers? Or should I pull the fret and replace it?

sloasdaylight · #2 11-30-2009, 11:14 PM

A rubber mallet used softly should probably act as a stop-gap until you can get a new fret in there by some one who knows what they're doing. If you know what you're doing then I'd just go and replace the fret.

ChristopherWood · #3 11-30-2009, 11:34 PM

If you replace the fret with a new one you'll probably have to level and re-crown the new fret because odds are that you wont get a new fret with exactly the same size/height. Even if you do know the fretwire size,,, if you've had a fret job on this in the past, you'll run into problems there too. And if the wood has expanded where the fret lifted, you may have to do all of this anyway if you can press the original fret back in.

I would clamp it or use a fret press and a bit of CA glue to re-seat the original fret. Or if you needed a re-fret, this would be the time to do it. You could try this type of job yourself and see how it goes but it really sounds like a job for someone with experience if you want the bass back in good functioning condition.

T-Bird · #4 12-01-2009, 01:45 AM

Hi.

If the fretboard and the slot are cut accurately enough, about the only things that makes a fret pop out is incorrect fret radius, or a physical damage, just like in Your case.

No band aid solution is going to work IME. Remove, re-radius, and replace would be the easiest way if the fret and the slot are still salvageable, otherwise a new fret and some minor fretwork is the way to go.

Replacing one fret shouldn't be more than an hours bench fee.

Regards
Sam

mongo2 · #5 12-01-2009, 06:58 AM

I'd try tapping the fret down first...it's free.

I've successfully reseated frets using a 3-4" length of 1/2-3/4" diameter wooden dowel as a drift and a small deadblow hammer.

Swift713 · #6 12-01-2009, 07:27 AM

Thanks all, I'll try to tap it back into place. The fret must be bent because the board is flat so it may need a new one. If it doesn't work I'll take it to a pro.
It actually sailed out a window 2 1/2 stories to the driveway on a rainy night so all in all it fared quite well.

Pilgrim · #7 12-01-2009, 09:52 AM

I've succeeded with a drop of superglue and a firm press back into place. Be VERY sparing with the super glue - you don't want it getting smeared on the fretboard.

mongo2 · #8 12-01-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pilgrim

I've succeeded with a drop of superglue and a firm press back into place. Be VERY sparing with the super glue - you don't want it getting smeared on the fretboard.

Yep, that's my standard "Plan B" if tapping the fret back in doesn't hold.

bassteban · #9 12-01-2009, 10:00 AM

My Jazz had a high fret when I got it(the last/20th); I took it to a luthier who casually grabbed a hammer & tapped it down. It wasn't incredibly high to begin with, and had not to my knowledge suffered any damage. It has not given me any trouble since- it's been a good 4-5 years. I'd also try gently but firmly tapping it back down.

mongo2 · #10 12-01-2009, 10:06 AM

Almost forgot, if the fret is bent our of shape it may be necessary to remove it and reshape it before reseating it. I've done fretwork for decades so I'd do it myself but if you've never done any fretwork, you may want to tech to do it.