Under String Fret Level

[stingray69]

Just a quick question to anyone who's used an under string fret level (or jig) before. I recently purchased a Stew Mac under-string fret level bar. Although I've done many fret level jobs on my instrument over the past 4-5 years, I've never used this kind of under string level technique before.

Although I think I understand the process. Leave the neck under full string tension, dial out the relief & get the neck as straight as possible while under string tension, then fret level with the bar. Remove strings to recrown & polish frets.

My dilema/question is regarding string gauges - I like to bounce sometimes between standard (medium) gauge & a light gauge of strings. Would I be better suited to fret level with the bass wearing the medium gauge strings or the light gauge?

I'm trying to visualize the pro's/cons in my mind before I do anything and I'm wondering - am I overthinking this? Under thinking it? Will it matter much?

Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Turnaround]

I don't think it will make any difference what string gauge you use. Tune up, straighten the neck to as close to zero relief as you can and level away.

FWIW I've done a lot of fret leveling this way.

 

[stingray69]

I don't think it will make any difference what string gauge you use. Tune up, straighten the neck to as close to zero relief as you can and level away.

FWIW I've done a lot of fret leveling this way.

Thank you for the advice!

 

[p12bassnut]

I've done this several times. Works like a champ. Key is to get neck as level as possible. Be carful not to over grind the frets. Take your time ! graduate to a finer grit paper as you progress. don't put too much pressure on the leveler as you move back and forth or you'll run the risk of changing the flatness of the neck. In other words let the weight of the bar and just a small addition of even pressure as you move in smooth back and forth movements evenly across the board.

 

[60bass]

I have one of the short under string bars. I use it in cases where I have just a few frets that are slightly high and don't need to do a whole neck. It works decently as long as you don't overdo it. The thing to remember about any kind of fretwork is when leveling and recrowning is to go slowly and check your progress often. It's always easy to remove material, but if you go too low you can't put material back. Let the weight of the leveler do the work.

 

[stingray69]

I have one of the short under string bars. I use it in cases where I have just a few frets that are slightly high and don't need to do a whole neck. It works decently as long as you don't overdo it. The thing to remember about any kind of fretwork is when leveling and recrowning is to go slowly and check your progress often. It's always easy to remove material, but if you go too low you can't put material back. Let the weight of the leveler do the work.

I've done quite a few fret levels over the last 4-5 yrs and quite comfortable with the procedure. Just never used of these under string leveling bars before.

Interestingly though, the StewMac demo for the under-string bar shows the guitar being held in a playing position, while one of the short bars is being used on it. Albeit, he seems to keep a hand on the back of the neck while doing so.

I would think (in theory) this could cause some unintentional flex of the neck - especially if it's a very thin neck.

In any case - I opted to level mine under-string style, but with the instrument laying flat with solid support on the back side of the neck. Turned out nice.