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  #1  
Old 08-20-2008, 04:25 PM
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please help with my rebellious fret!

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hi guys and girls

i got myself a 1971 guild just recently and it's the instrument of my dreams. there's only one irritating aspect and that is my 18th fret is popping out a little under the E and A string (plainly visible) so i'm getting a bit of a buzz as a result.
I've read in other threads about "tapping the fret back in with a hammer", but that is just far to general of terminology for me to go ahead and do it. so i was hoping one of you all could give me some more detailed advice on how to gently guide my fret back in.
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Old 08-20-2008, 06:01 PM
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another thing that i've considered is filing the troublesome fret down a bit. what do you guys think?
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Old 08-20-2008, 11:21 PM
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After a somewhat unfortunate encounter with a mic stand, I once tapped a fret that kept wanting to escape back in with a small hammer and it has stayed put ever since. Give it a shot as opposed to filing. Cover the fret with a few strips of masking tape or whatever to protect the fret and tap away (go lightly, Bob Vila...you're not building a dang house). If it stays put, job well done. If it jumps back out, it's time to replace that pesky wandering fret!
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Old 08-21-2008, 12:53 AM
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thanks. i knew there was more to it than just "tapping with a hammer"!
  #5  
Old 08-21-2008, 03:31 AM
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Dan Erlwine also sees nothing wrong with a bit of superglue to keep it down (see his book).
  #6  
Old 08-21-2008, 10:43 AM
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I agree with scrodzilla, you don't want to file that fret.

Be really careful when you tap that fret down though, mellowgerman.

Tapping the fret can definitely fix the problem, don't get me wrong.

But, if you tap it too hard, it can end up being lower than all the other frets, thus perpetuating more buzz.

Conversely, if you don't tap it firmly enough (or you tap the fret with the neck resting on a spongy or springy surface) and it doesn't seat, the spurs of the fret could possibly damage/widen the fret slot just enough so that the fret won't stick in by itself.

Sorry, don't mean to scare you here.

If tapping the fret doesn't work (or you are at all apprehensive about tapping in the fret) I would strongly recommend getting Dan Erlewine's book Fret Work Step-by-Step (good call GeoffByrne). It's a pretty short read, and you could even just use it as a reference. That book will give you really detailed accounts of the various ways to fix problems like this, and it will also point out how to avoid potential pitfalls.

If you don't end up getting the book, you might want to at least read the free info about tapping in frets on stewmac.com.

Good luck, let us know how it turns out!
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  #7  
Old 08-24-2008, 04:52 PM
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I am under the impression you should use a FRET HAMMER. My old bass teacher had one it had a very hard rubber/plastic head that supposed to be softer than the actual metal. Correct me if I'm mistaken.
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