Fret bending devices

tjclem · #1 11-16-2005, 10:05 AM

I have come to the conclusion that I want one. Anybody building them? Anybody have the stew-mac one? I am building my first fretted neck without one and am not pleased with the results. I am going to continue on with it just for the practice though. Any other cheaper alternatives for the fretting tools sold by stew-mac?

Mon Rominee · #2 11-16-2005, 10:12 AM

I can't really think of anything cheaper than the purpose-built pliers offered by Stew Mac that won't mar the fret, or crush the tang.

Mon.

budman · #3 11-16-2005, 10:46 AM

Here's mine. The fretwire feeds through a hole in the bottom and the tang rides in a groove in the radiusing block. Works perfectly, built from scrap, didn't cost a dime.

DavidRavenMoon · #4 11-16-2005, 10:59 AM

I use the Stew Mac FretBender. It's a bit pricey, but it sure makes life easier! I bought mine about 10 years ago.

budman · #5 11-16-2005, 11:04 AM

David, besides me, you & Hambone how many other folks who hang out here have birthdays on November 20th? This is getting a little freaky.

DavidRavenMoon · #6 11-16-2005, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman

David, besides me, you & Hambone how many other folks who hang out here have birthdays on November 20th? This is getting a little freaky.

Hey! Happy Birthday Bud! (early)

What year were you born?

There is a statistical thing that goes something like if you are a room with 30 people, at least 1 will have the same birthday, as far as day of the month.

I can't say I've meet that many myself!

BTW, you make some fine looking basses. I've been out of it for a while, but I'm looking to start building again... now I just need a work shop!

(ahh, apartment living...)

budman · #7 11-16-2005, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavidRavenMoon

Hey! Happy Birthday Bud! (early)

What year were you born?

There is a statistical thing that goes something like if you are a room with 30 people, at least 1 will have the same birthday, as far as day of the month.

I can't say I've meet that many myself!

BTW, you make some fine looking basses. I've been out of it for a while, but I'm looking to start building again... now I just need a work shop!

(ahh, apartment living...)

HBD to you too. I was born in '63.

Get them powertools fired and lets see some photos.

DavidRavenMoon · #8 11-16-2005, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman

HBD to you too. I was born in '63.

Get them powertools fired and lets see some photos.

Ah... '57 here!

Photos I have...

Two set neck basses... #2 and 3 of 4. The bass on the left is my main axe, and also my platform for experimentation.... hence the ever changing pickups... my next project is to wind some pickups to replace the EMGs. They will be low impedance.

A through neck fretless

An eight string:

And a guitar:

Some more stuff I don't have pics of...

Hambone · #9 11-16-2005, 02:26 PM

Happy, Happy, Happy BDay to you guys too!

I was born in '58 - nothing special about 47, just another year older without that "wiser" part muddying up the fun!

Hambone · #10 11-16-2005, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mon Rominee

I can't really think of anything cheaper than the purpose-built pliers offered by Stew Mac that won't mar the fret, or crush the tang.

Mon.

You KNOW that I've got something for this don't you?...

I'll post a pic later when I get home.

DavidRavenMoon · #11 11-16-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hambone

Happy, Happy, Happy BDay to you guys too!

I was born in '58 - nothing special about 47, just another year older without that "wiser" part muddying up the fun!

Happy birthday to you too!

We should all get together and make a November 20th bass... (I already called my model the Scorpio)

Phil Mailloux · #12 11-16-2005, 03:09 PM

Have a look at this link for a homebuilt stewmac fret bender copy.

http://projectguitar.ibforums.com/in...hl=fret+bender

PilbaraBass · #13 11-16-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by budman

David, besides me, you & Hambone how many other folks who hang out here have birthdays on November 20th? This is getting a little freaky.

November 20th = Bass Builder Day

budman · #14 11-16-2005, 03:44 PM

You've got to be freakin' kidding me! I just clicked on the link for the lastest supporting member "KayCee" over on the left side of the screen and his birthday is November 20th!

Hambone · #15 11-16-2005, 08:25 PM

Here's my little gizmo...It's a design taken from a "wiping shoe" style tubing bender. It's made of Sintra - a 1/2" thick expanded rigid PVC foam board. There's a grooved around the edge and a hole drilled in the center of the groove down towards the center of the disc. I bend my fretwire 90º and stick it in the hole, then bring the shoe around and press the fretwire into the slot all the way around. The disc is 7" in diameter. No magic in that number, I just kept going back to the bandsaw and chopping more off until I could get the wire to stay in a tight enough radius after it sprang back. I use fairly tight fretboard radii anyway so I've got to keep it close.

JSPguitars · #16 11-16-2005, 09:19 PM

FWIW--

http://cgi.ebay.com/LUTHIER-GUITAR-F...QQcmdZViewItem

I bought one of these cuz I'm not sure how to make my own......yet.
cost is much less than the stewmac and it works great!

PilbaraBass · #17 11-16-2005, 10:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hambone

You KNOW that I've got something for this don't you?...

I'll post a pic later when I get home.

you ARE the quintessential king of DIY!