Sanding guitar frets?
Discussion
Over the last few weeks both my Fender Telecaster and Epiphone Les Paul have been snapping the high E string (0.10 gauge) Which is odd as i very rarely snap strings.
Always snaps during a bend, at around the 9th fret.
However only snapping them on these two guitars (must of snapped around 10 in a few weeks!!
Ive now noticed after around an hours play a notch is forming in the string.
It looks like the frets are surprisingly worn flat at the top of the fret, and a sharp edge either side which must be damaging the string.
I guess the correct answer is probably to get them serviced. However is it possible to remove the bad edge myself? Or best to leave to the pro’s?
Bizare that both started doing this at the same time, the Fender is 18 month old and Epiphone only 6 month, so surprised how warn they are.
I guess i do probably play a few hours a day and a fair amount of bends.
Always snaps during a bend, at around the 9th fret.
However only snapping them on these two guitars (must of snapped around 10 in a few weeks!!
Ive now noticed after around an hours play a notch is forming in the string.
It looks like the frets are surprisingly worn flat at the top of the fret, and a sharp edge either side which must be damaging the string.
I guess the correct answer is probably to get them serviced. However is it possible to remove the bad edge myself? Or best to leave to the pro’s?
Bizare that both started doing this at the same time, the Fender is 18 month old and Epiphone only 6 month, so surprised how warn they are.
I guess i do probably play a few hours a day and a fair amount of bends.
The technical term is crowning - reprofiling the frets so that they are properly shaped. There are loads of videos on You Tube showing how to do it and I am tempted to have a go on one of my less expensive guitars but it does require a few specialist tools and there is a significant 
up potential, especially with my ham fisted approach to tool use.
I recently started watching the videos from Crimson Guitars mostly because the owner Ben is quite entertaining but also I love the workshop backdrop with more tools than any sane luthier could ever want - and he makes and sells the tools as well.
It is one of those proper guitarist things to have done; adjusting the truss rod and doing a full fret level but it requires far more expense and time than I currently have available so in your position I would pay someone to do it. They may also find another reason for the strings breaking.
And if you bought the guitars new then a bit of TLC at this point would not go amiss. The wood will have settled down and this would be a good time to make sure the action, intonation and profile are all sorted.
up potential, especially with my ham fisted approach to tool use.I recently started watching the videos from Crimson Guitars mostly because the owner Ben is quite entertaining but also I love the workshop backdrop with more tools than any sane luthier could ever want - and he makes and sells the tools as well.
It is one of those proper guitarist things to have done; adjusting the truss rod and doing a full fret level but it requires far more expense and time than I currently have available so in your position I would pay someone to do it. They may also find another reason for the strings breaking.
And if you bought the guitars new then a bit of TLC at this point would not go amiss. The wood will have settled down and this would be a good time to make sure the action, intonation and profile are all sorted.
It never ceases to amaze me how incapable the average guitarist is at doing the simplest maintenance. My advice is to learn to do it yourself and save a fortune, there are thousands of hours of videos on YouTube showing you how - although I agree that Ben at Crimson is your best bet.
Someone on another forum recently said, taking your guitar to a music shop for a set up is like taking your car back to the dealer and asking them to adjust the seat.
Someone on another forum recently said, taking your guitar to a music shop for a set up is like taking your car back to the dealer and asking them to adjust the seat.
Where are you storing the guitars when they're not being played?
I've got a couple of beaten up guitars in the shed that I play every so often. It has an oil filled radiator in there during the day and nothing overnight.
During Winter it's less humid and colder, and a radiator dries the air out even more so what can happen is the neck and fretboard contract a bit, the frets themselves then push out a little. This could be fixed by bringing them inside and adding a humidifier or I can just file the frets edges down. You'll need to get some electrical tape and a small file. Tape up the fretboard around the 8th to 10th fret horizontally, and vertically right up to the edge of the fret. Small file, gentle strokes, just take the protruding edge off. A magnifying glass will give you a different view on it.
Alternatively, play in A instead
I've got a couple of beaten up guitars in the shed that I play every so often. It has an oil filled radiator in there during the day and nothing overnight.
During Winter it's less humid and colder, and a radiator dries the air out even more so what can happen is the neck and fretboard contract a bit, the frets themselves then push out a little. This could be fixed by bringing them inside and adding a humidifier or I can just file the frets edges down. You'll need to get some electrical tape and a small file. Tape up the fretboard around the 8th to 10th fret horizontally, and vertically right up to the edge of the fret. Small file, gentle strokes, just take the protruding edge off. A magnifying glass will give you a different view on it.
Alternatively, play in A instead
Edited by andy-xr on Monday 22 January 11:48
Thanks guys, Well i bought a crowning file and yesterday gave all the frets on the Epiphone a light filing, then polished up with 0000 wire wool and some Meguiars metal polish.
And a new set of Power Slinkeys (11’s).
So far no breakages, so will give it a few more days to see if ive fixed this one before attacking my Fender!!
I tried to take a photo of the bad frets, but it doesnt really come out, essentially the top of the frets are flat with a sharpish edge both sides.
Guitars are all kept on stands in my lounge.
And a new set of Power Slinkeys (11’s).
So far no breakages, so will give it a few more days to see if ive fixed this one before attacking my Fender!!
I tried to take a photo of the bad frets, but it doesnt really come out, essentially the top of the frets are flat with a sharpish edge both sides.
Guitars are all kept on stands in my lounge.
Fret looks flatter round the G/D string??
How often are you changing your strings?? They look pretty tired!?!
I'd be super careful about filing just one fret as it potentially has snowball issues with other frets heights?
I've always masked of the fretboard when doing this to stop accidental damage!
How often are you changing your strings?? They look pretty tired!?!
I'd be super careful about filing just one fret as it potentially has snowball issues with other frets heights?
I've always masked of the fretboard when doing this to stop accidental damage!
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