Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
|
|
|
Fed up of the shop, I want to do my own fret work
|
You are logged in as Guest
|
|
Users viewing this topic: none
|
|
Login  | |
|
   
ashod
Posts: 227
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
|
 Fed up of the shop, I want to do my ...
|
|
|
Hey guys,
as some of you know, I bought a new guitar a month ago.
I had some problems with it, took it back to the shop, they just made me a new saddle wich made the playing a bit harder without correcting the buzzing problems here and there.
I wasked another shop how much they would take to do the fret work or refret it.
100€ to do the fret work.
300€ to refret.
I'm thinking of doing it myself, not to save money, since I have to buy the material, but to be sure it's done like I want it to be.
And so, here's my question :
I've checked the internet for what tools to use to do the fret work, and it seems the Diamond Fret File is what I need.
I found this : http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Shaping_and_crowning/Diamond_Fret_Files/Diamond_Fret_File.html
I'm wondering if there are any differences for the tools used in the fret work for electric guitars or flamenco? Because there are different sizes, and I'm not sure wich one to get to do an effective work.
Any advice would be welcome, but again, I really want to try and do it myself. And if I screw up, i'll pay a luthier to do it then.
Thank you
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 2 2011 21:46:55
 |
|
rodpacheco
Posts: 80
Joined: Apr. 19 2010
From: Mexico
|
|
RE: Fed up of the shop, I want to do... (in reply to ashod)
|
|
|
Hey ashod,
Well, Mr. Shelton is right! As for the tools, there's another file, that I think gives more control. I would advice a high grit(above 300), since it takes less material. But it is a tricky job. Keep reading articles from STEMAC, and check out the different files, and their fret-rocker, the frets are checked in groups of 3, etc. The tools mostly work for electric guitar, bass or classical or flamenco, I think you only should pay attention to the size of your frets, so you can get the file that fits that particular countour, for example, wide , medium or narrow fretwire.
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Shaping_and_crowning/Diamond_Fret_Files/Offset_Diamond_Fret_File.html
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_supplies/Leveling/Fret_Rocker.html
Rodrigo Pacheco @ Delirio Hand-made Guitars
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 2 2011 22:45:03
|
|
ashod
Posts: 227
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
|
|
RE: Fed up of the shop, I want to do... (in reply to ashod)
|
|
|
Rodrigo, Stephen and Jeff, thanks for your valuable input.
Rodrigo : I will measure to see what suits me best for the files, like you said.
Stephen : It doesn't bother to pay 300 euros to refret a guitar and get a perfect job done.
But the shop where I bought the guitar, which is one of the best in Paris, has 2 master luthiers there, the father (65 years old), and the son (35 years old). (They actually come only one day a week).
The problem is, they're classical guitar luthiers. And even though when we spoke, they understood the importance of having a low setup for a flamenco guitar, they just told me that highering the saddle was the way to go.
I'm guessing they did this so they don't have to do the fret work for free (since I bought the Hermanos sanchis from them only a month ago and have 1 year warranty).
The other guitar maker I visited looked more like a businessman to me. He said 100€ for adjusting the frets. But in my case, I should just refret and pay 300€, because the frets look strange to him.... So all he wants is screw me around.
That's when I decided to do things myself. I just can't trust people who're just interested by the money....
(BTW, I read your blog a few weeks back, I liked your adventures in Texas!  )
Jeff : Yes, the info I found says I have to level the frets along the fretboard first. I do have a few questions :
The info I found says I need a 12inch radius wood or metal piece to do the work. I'm guessing this doesn't apply to flamenco or classical guitars, since the fretboard is plane? What tool would you recommend to do this work?
And 2nd question : My guitar, which is brand new, has peculiar frets. The frets height is higher at bass Mi string and tapers down lower and closer to the board when we get to the bottom Mi string.
How can I do the get all the frets planar and parallel to the fretboard? I know it's the leveling part, but how do I work it so only the higher fret parts are flattened to the already very low level of the lower end of the frets?
Please tell me if I'm not clear so I post pictures.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 3 2011 7:00:40
|
|
True blue
Posts: 1
Joined: Mar. 14 2011
|
|
RE: Fed up of the shop, I want to do... (in reply to ashod)
|
|
|
Hey there, new here but just felt like I would chime in with my two cents. I'm by no means an expert, so if I'm off key please correct me.
http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Luthier/Technique/Guitar/Frets/D35Refret/D35refret1.html
frank ford's website on re-fretting, done on martin but same principles apply.
I hope to god you've already found this website if your serriously considering doing your own fretwork. Really, there's tons more information there on all sorts of repair technique.
There's also a nice 10 page article based on a live lecture/demonstration he gave at the GAL convention. You can order the back issue from the Gal website fora few bucks and it's pretty comprehensive and should answer most of your questions.
AMERICAN LUTHERIE #50
Summer 1997
"How Frank Frets by Frank Ford"
BRB5 p.60 AL#50
You don't need to spend a bunch of money on gimmicky stew mac tools to do a refret.
What you really need is:
- a couple of mill pattern bastard files that have been been ground off on the edge.
- roll of tape, hide glue, sand paper, a bit of steel wool
- any old 24 inch rigid art store ruler (if your getting really neurotic about it you can check it against a plane of glass)
- a flat plane body
- a modified soldering iron
- ball peen hammer and a small piece of steel a small lead weight
- some fret nippers/pullers
-odds and ends calipers, feeler gauges)
-most of the above could be scavenged for under 50 dollars, total.
The other question is it worth it to you? you could f**k up your guitar, fretting is not a skill you're gonna learn overnight, there's lots of things that can go wrong and if your at the point of asking "what files do I need to do this right" it more then likely will. There's alot of subtlety going on between the nut the bridge, the frets the relief in the neck, just working on the frets might not fix your problem.
Best of luck, do diligence.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 3 2011 9:43:46
|
|
ashod
Posts: 227
Joined: Jan. 11 2006
|
|
RE: Fed up of the shop, I want to do... (in reply to ashod)
|
|
|
Hey mezzo, thanks for the contact. I'll give him a call to know when he is in Paris and if I can show him the guitar.
True blue, thanks for your input.
I'm well aware of all the links between the nut, saddle, frets and fretboard.
I'm not a luthier, and haven't build anything. But I read, question professionals and understand what they're saying.
I just never tried to file anything else then a few saddle and nuts.
Since I have my cheap guitar that is actually fretless, it will be a good practice to refret it and do all the steps.
Maybe it will teach me I'm not good at it. Maybe I'll understand enough to decide and pay a pro. Or maybe I'll get the courage to work on my new guitar.
But I have to try to know. I don't think I'll find a luthier who will put as much effort as me to get the guitar perfect, just because it's not his guitar and he makes it for money. When you have to do something everyday, I'm sure you know alot more about and work better and faster, but for a no name guitarist with a mere 1500 euros guitar, the pro won't work his ass off to get it perfect.
I'm pretty sure there are still honest people who are perfecionist, but the people I met were just interested by money...
That is why i'm willing to buy and work it myself. Again, I may come back on what I said, but I have to try it first.
|
|
|
|
REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE |
Date Apr. 3 2011 10:05:14
|
|
 New Messages |
 No New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/ New Messages |
 Hot Topic w/o New Messages |
 Locked w/ New Messages |
 Locked w/o New Messages |
|
Post New Thread
Reply to Message
Post New Poll
Submit Vote
Delete My Own Post
Delete My Own Thread
Rate Posts
|
|
|
Forum Software powered by ASP Playground Advanced Edition 2.0.5
Copyright © 2000 - 2003 ASPPlayground.NET |
0.078125 secs.
|
Printable Version
