"Rough" Fret Cleanup

[Bass-aholic]

Not really sure how to describe this. I have a Squire P-Bass Neck that has what feel like unfinished frets on the edges of the neck (it has snagged my hand a few times) and I am curious if it is something I can "file" down to make it smoother.

All the years modifying cheap guitars, I have never screwed around with the necks at all so I am not really sure where to start, or if it is even worth it.

Suggestions?

 

[Turnaround]

Not really sure how to describe this. I have a Squire P-Bass Neck that has what feel like unfinished frets on the edges of the neck (it has snagged my hand a few times) and I am curious if it is something I can "file" down to make it smoother.

All the years modifying cheap guitars, I have never screwed around with the necks at all so I am not really sure where to start, or if it is even worth it.

Suggestions?

Have a look through this thread - lots of good info there.
All about Fret Sprout

 

[bobdabilder]

Yes, the ends of the frets can be filed. Be cautious and use a very fine file.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

The ends of the frets can be brought even with the board but after that you’ll probably want to round them off and possibly polish at least the ends or they will still feel rough. It should all be covered in the thread Turnaround linked above.

 

[C Stone]

Sometimes they can be "snaggy" but not protruding a whole bunch as in the tang not sticking out past the boards edge, when they are just a little "rough" I use an emory board lengthwise along the necks edge and start with very light pressure and you'll be surprised how quick and easy it can sometimes be to smooth 'em.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

One caveat: do the work in the winter when the neck dries out. If you do it in more humid weather, the frets can "re-sprout" again when the neck dries out and shrinks a little.

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Not really sure how to describe this. I have a Squire P-Bass Neck that has what feel like unfinished frets on the edges of the neck (it has snagged my hand a few times) and I am curious if it is something I can "file" down to make it smoother.

All the years modifying cheap guitars, I have never screwed around with the necks at all so I am not really sure where to start, or if it is even worth it.

Suggestions?

TOTALLY worth it!

Best to do in "dead of winter" as implied above, when humidity is lowest.

When rounding the ends though, careful not to file-off top of frets under G/E by accident. That will cause buzzing, due to low/high frets.

 

[Andy R]

Best to do in "dead of winter" as implied above, when humidity is lowest.

Not around here, it’s not.....

 

[Turnaround]

Not around here, it’s not.....

You should fill out your profile so we know where "here" is.

 

[Turnaround]

One caveat: do the work in the winter when the neck dries out. If you do it in more humid weather, the frets can "re-sprout" again when the neck dries out and shrinks a little.

So if it's not the dead of winter, just suffer through until it is.

Or address it now to stop cutting your fingers and do it again in the dead of winter if the problem recurs. I know which way I would go.

 

[byacey]

Optionally, leather work gloves, if you want to wait until the dead of winter.

 

[Matt Liebenau]

How about the really, really sick of winter?