Hah, somebody had an opinion...

I have some small dents in a couple of the older used cheap guitars I have in the lower 3-4 frets that dont make for any playability issues.
Besides the dents, if your frets are worn down that low, it will be obvious visually and by feel.
I tried to compensate for a warped neck by leveling - it was an epic fail.
BUT, the frets on both sides outside of the valley of the warped section were cut down real low.
Though it was a fail, it was obvious to identify the situation in hindsight, and a good learning experience.

This was the guitar of a client's deceased Brother. He asked that I retain the original frets at all costs...

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the first 2 of Don's pics show some wear and dents but plenty of height / meat left.
the 3rd pic of the first fret shows what looks like some deep valleys but i cant tell that well, especially since the first pics contradict it.


This was the guitar of a client's deceased Brother. He asked that retain the original frets at all costs...

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that is pushing the envelope; but thats what the client requested.
see how flat a lot of those filed frets became by filing down far enough to level down to the dents?
Don's case appears to be much less severe and well within a serviceable range.
 
the first 2 of Don's pics show some wear and dents but plenty of height / meat left.
the 3rd pic of the first fret shows what looks like some deep valleys but i cant tell that well, especially since the first pics contradict it.



that is pushing the envelope; but thats what the client requested.
see how flat a lot of those filed frets became by filing down far enough to level down to the dents?
Don's case appears to be much less severe and well within a serviceable range.

Agreed....no biggie to do Don's Stratocaster.

On this one, I filed them all flat and then crowned. I had to deepen tge notches in the nut and machine the barrels flat on the bottom, but action turned out perfect.
 
Well that sounds like a plan, no hurry. It also seems like an opportunity to acquire a few more tools. I have the long sanding beams but no other fret tools. What should I look at to get ready ?

I like the little crowning files. I buy them on E-Bay.
 
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