Sherrys and their frets!

[4nd3h]

I don't post here often/at all - sorry to make one of my first posts a question thread!

 

I've got a beautiful Epiphone Sheraton II in Natural - 2006 Samick, Korean made.

 

The one issue I have with this guitar is its frets. I'm not sure what to call this issue so I'll describe it. Basically the sides of the frets are lifting up out of the fretboard enough for my strings to get caught underneath the edges!

 

I can't post pictures at the moment because I left my guitar at school (I needed it two days in a row and was lazy enough to leave it there) but I'll try later.

 

Does anybody else have this issue with their Sheratons of this factory/year? Or even their other guitars?

 

Also, does anybody know anything I can do to fix it myself? I'm thinking I COULD tap it in with some sort of hammer - something softer than the frets?

 

 

Thanks a lot in advance,

Andy.

 

Edit: This 'lifting' is found at the sides of the frets - I don't know if the WHOLE fret is coming out.

[teegar]

Yes, you can tap them back in with a small hammer, the best is an actual fret hammer. But you need to be careful, the neck needs to be well supported right under where you're tapping/hammering. Even then, if they sprang up once, they can or maybe will again. Some luthiers recommend some superglue in the slot to help hold the fret down, but since you've got fingerboard binding this would not be something to try yourself. Your fingerboard may have dried out and shrunk a little, allowing the fret tangs to loosen and the fret to pop up. Really, the best bet is to take it to a decent luthier, who could probably fix it quickly and without too much cost. But if you're feeling lucky, tap the edges down and see how it holds. Read up on the web about hammering frets for some tips on technique. Good luck!

[Anthony_JB]

Are they LIFTING OUT or STICKING OUT?

 

I wanna say that it's your fingerboard drying out and shrinking because of the weather. How's the weather like in Ontario? Or in your house even. Could have something to do with it. If that's the case oil up the fret board and trying and bring it to a proper humidity. That could take weeks though.

 

ALSO: If you're gonna tap them back in, heed Teegar's advice about supporting the neck properly. Use a rubber mallet and a good amount of support. Hate to see a DIY fret job turn into something tragic. Happened to me when I installed a set of tuners on my Casino.

[carverman]

Does anybody else have this issue with their Sheratons of this factory/year? Or even their other guitars?

 

Also' date=' does anybody know anything I can do to fix it myself? I'm thinking I COULD tap it in with some sort of hammer - something softer than the frets?

 

 

Thanks a lot in advance,

Andy.

 

Edit: This 'lifting' is found at the sides of the frets - I don't know if the WHOLE fret is coming out.[/quote']

 

This can happen with fret boards that are seasoned in asian climates and shipped to North America

to a different humidity and climate, but perhaps the complete fret is not actually lifting

but some fingerboard shrinkage has occured exposing the edge of the fret and the

binding?

In the factory the fret and the binding should have been filed at a bevel to cover the edge of the fret to avoid catching the string.

 

I had a couple like this on Samick Emperor II that would "catch" the high e string on certain frets at first..very annoying.

 

I just used some super glue and carefully clamped the fret down slightly..using a towel and

soft jawed clamp in order not to mar the neck. After letting the glue set for a few

hours, carefully file any remaining fret edge on the bevel.

 

I've used a Stew-Mac brass-plastic tip fret hammer on occasion to seat

a fret...but the trick with fret hammers is not to over do it.

Successive tapping can actually loosen the seated fret barb in the wood.

Then the only recourse is superglue and clamping the fret.

[snookelputz]

You should also check to make sure the problem isn't excessive wear of the fretboard itself, exposing the fret where the wood has worn away. This can happen if you play a LOT, press super hard on frets when playing or if the wood used in your particular fretboard was softer than usual. Not a common problem, by any means, but you need to be sure you aren't trying to hammer frets into wood that isn't there anymore.

[4nd3h]

Thanks for the input guys.

 

I don't think this is a fretboard issue because I keep my board nice and oiled.

 

I'm going to try to tap in my frets. Is a rubber mallet and proper neck support good enough?

 

 

 

 

Also, carverman... this is quite masochistic of me to ask because I could never afford it anyways, but is that Elitist Broadway of yours still for sale?

 

 

Andy

[carverman]

 

Also' date=' carverman... this is quite masochistic of me to ask because I could never afford it anyways, but is that Elitist Broadway of yours still for sale?

Andy[/quote']

 

I've changed my mind about selling it. Thanks for asking.

 

I'll keep it for now, as I doubt I will ever find one again in my lifetime up

here where I am. I did that with my '66 Epi Triumph, and I've regretted it since.

Right now, Joe Pass more to my liking as I've always been partial to an ES-175,

and the JP seems to be closer to that.