Polish, Level or Replace.
First things first, Hale Guitar Studio is officially 1 year old. Our web site opened on 18th August 2019 and the last 12 months have been so enjoyable.
In recognition of this, August 2020 sees the development of our online shop to include a range of strings, cleaners, pics and paraphernalia. The range will be added to over the coming months so let us know if you have any special requests or one off purchase needs. We very much see ourselves as here to support local guitarists so it would be our pleasure supply you with all things guitar related.
Keep checking our shop to see what's available.
On to the Main Event
As a celloist, I can appreciate the value of frets on a guitar. They allow accurate pitch at any given point on the fretboard. They enable the smooth change of a note with string bending and the up and down vibrato we love rather than forward and back.
Trouble is, they wear. Whether you like a firm grip or a soft touch, eventually frets need some care and attention. Question is, when and to what degree. In this post I will be talking options as well as signs that make one or another, a sensible choice.
Polish - Appearance or feel?
There is nothing like shiny frets to give a guitar that prestige look. Over time and with general use they become dull, corroded or scratched. This doesn't only effect the look. A polished fret will feel smoother under the string, making them last longer and improving how they feel under your fingers. Polishing is just a matter of using incremental abrasives and a polishing compound. Whilst at it, give your fretboard a clean and, if it's rosewood or similar, treat it to some fretboard oil. It really is one of those wow moments when you see your fretwork, post scrub up.
Level - Not all dimples are cute.
Take a look at your frets, particularly under the G and B strings and around the first few frets. Is there any pitting? As steel strings are pressed against largely nickel frets, they wear away the surface and leave dimples. This only becomes a problem if either it feels uneven or causes fret buzz as the string comes into contact with the next fret. The other reason you might consider this is when you want lower action but are experiencing fret buzz, usually higher up the neck. Levelling frets involves grinding the top with abrasives and a levelling beam. This leaves a flat top so the frets then need to be filed to achieve a curved crown. That helps note accuracy as you move up the fretboard. All of this work will require a thorough fret polish to get back to that new fret feel.
Replace - A fresh start
Once frets get below 0.7mm high it can be difficult to get a good crown. Then might be time to consider starting again with a new set. This will also open up the option of a range of fret sizes and shapes. Removing frets needs to be done with care to minimise any damage to the fretboard. When replacing them, binding might require a little reshaping of the fret. Once in, they will need to be levelled, crowned and polished, resulting in a completely refreshed fretboard.
If you are in any doubt, a free report from Hale Guitar Studio will make sure you are clear on the condition of your guitar, give you recommendations and explain what any of them would achieve so that you can make an informed decision. What is more, all of the work is backed by a full satisfaction guarantee or you wont pay. Our prices are very reasonable too.
So no need to fret. Get in touch today and we will do the rest.
Keep Riffing
Chris
Yorumlar