Fret-Tapering

[Whitmore Willy]

As I am about to try my hand for the first time at fret leveling, I have a question.

Does anyone know about or heard of "fret roll off" above the 12th fret?

I have researched fret leveling both here and other resources. I have seen fret roll off mentioned a couple of times

but, no specifics.

Any suggestions or information would be appreciated.

 

 

Edit: I have changed the name of the post from fret roll off to fret tapering as I believe RobinTheHood has

given me the correct "term".

[MarxBros]

As I am about to try my hand for the first time at fret leveling' date=' I have a question.

Does anyone know about or heard of "fret roll off" above the 12th fret?

I have researched fret leveling both here and other resources. I have seen fret roll off mentioned a couple of times

but, no specifics.

Any suggestions or information would be appreciated.[/quote'] Suggestion?

 

I hope you try this on a guitar you don't care about. Get some POS and try and improve it's frets first before even attempting to work on a guitar of any real value. There's little room for error, other than more material removal, then more material removal.....soon you'll have a fretless wonder.

[RobinTheHood]

Willy, are you talking about fret-tapering from the 12th to the 21st (22nd, 24th)? I dont have any working knowledge of this technique, but I know that some people graduate the upper reg frets to get lower action and eliminate fret buzzing. Each fret wold be slightly lower than the previous from the 12th up. I dont know the specifics or technicalities of it, but I do know that I wouldnt attempt it for the first time on a guitar with a lot of personal value.

[TWANG]

I wouldn't do it at all.

 

TWANG

[Whitmore Willy]

Thanks guys.

 

RobinTheHood....Yes, I have heard it referred to as fret-tapering. I probably should have added that in my first post.

 

Marx and Twang.... I agree 100%....but...

I am doing this strictly for the sake of learning.

I have purchased an inexpensive guitar strictly to practice on. I wouldn't think of doing it on my L.P. Standard.

At least, not untill I have had much more practice. I plan on taking my time. ( I promise) If, in a worst case

senario, I screw it up I will be giving myself a crash course in refretting. (LOL) but I hope not. I"m hoping to save that for another time. Thanks for the concern.

 

Willy

[Emetry]

I'm not too familiar with the process, but from what I've read, keep a steady hand and have a good "sticky" surface to work on. I'd recommend those no-slip cabinet liners.

 

Best of luck dude.

[Whitmore Willy]

Thanks Emetry,

 

I have set up a secure work area. It includes a secure work surface and a neck caul.

I have been reading up on this for the last couple of months and am looking forward to the project. As I

have gone along I have purchased (or made) the tools I believe I will need.

I have worked with my hands all my life. (mostly in metal, wood and stone). The doctors have told me I

can no longer do heavy lifting. (doctors suck) Soooooo, this seemed kind of interesting.

I don't expect to make a living at working on guitars but it might be a constuctive way to pass some time. (aside from playing)

[Dave]

Whitmore Willy, this is one pictorial that outlines the procedure. As long as you have an understanding of the process, the skills and a tool to set the neck flat using the truss rod, and a feel for the mechanics of the procedure, it's not exactly rocket science. I like the magic marker method. I think it allows you to remove the minimum material to achieve the result.

 

If you feel that you have to buy all the tools necessary to do a one time fret level, you will spend the price of a Plek job. If you have several guitars to do, it might be worth it to buy the tools. I did mine for almost nothing and got great action as a result. You can make the tools you need if you are handy with a grinder and other shop tools.

 

http://www.guitar-mod.com/rg_fretlevel.html

[Whitmore Willy]

Dave,

 

Bingo! Thanks Dave. That is exactly the information I was looking for.

I am a "one thing at a time" kind of guy so I don't think I will be trying the tapering "fallaway" first time out of

the box. (if ever, at all)

I do believe, however, in gathering all the information I can before going into any project. This is only additional

information I wanted to get a clearer understanding of for future referrence. When I reviewed "Goldie gets a fret

dressing" (and many other articles), I have noticed that most fret leveling jobs do not include the fret tapering.

TWANG also warned me not to do it. I just wanted a better understanding of what was involved and how it is done.

 

Thanks again one and all.

 

Willy