First fret job

Don O

Don O

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just finished my first fret job. It’s not top notch, but a nice first attempt. Leveled them with 600 grit on a beam, then crowned and polished them. Installed a new loaded pick guard to wrap up the job.

The CS DS Strat is back on line.

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Don. what did you use for crowning????

I notice a slight flat-topped profile to the frets. This isn't bad, but I find the guitar feels 'slicker' when the frets have a very pronounced crown.
 
I used the #2 file from this set I bought. I know I left some flat, as being my first job, I wanted to start off slow and not take too much material off on my first pass. This is a 1988 guitar that I have had for 20 years and it has had some work done by previous owners, such as swapped out pickguard and pups, and the dogsh#t opinion that somebody was pissed.

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JohnnyGoo said:
Love what is wrote under the pickguard lol. Worth the price of admission right there.
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Yep, I posted that last month. I had this for 20 years and never removed the pick guard. When I did, I just laughed :ROFLMAO: Some one was obviously pissed at this guitar. I just addded the copper and the reference to this Custom Shop guitar run from the Dream Factory book, which is the history of the custom shop.
 
Don O said:
I used the #2 file from this set I bought. I know I left some flat, as being my first job, I wanted to start off slow and not take too much material off on my first pass. This is a 1988 guitar that I have had for 20 years and it has had some work done by previous owners, such as swapped out pickguard and pups, and the dogsh#t opinion that somebody was pissed.

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Excellent choice in files~!!!

Tip - Cut a piece of #1000 wet or dry paper about 1" wide and the length of the file and use this to polish the top of the frets...while adding a gentle radius to the flat tops.
 
I bought 2 Stew Mac fret erasers, one 400 grit and one 1200 grit for polishing. I’ll try the paper trick on my next job. I’ve got some 2000 grit from some car paint work.
 
Don O said:
Yep. I have 2 set neck Strats and 1 set neck Tele. I like the look and feel of them. Bought them about 20 years ago. Would buy more if I could find them at a reasonable price, but they are scarce.
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Agreed..I built my Von Herndon Tele's 3 piece maple/mahogany/maple bodies and set mahogany necks...GREAT feel compared to the bolt on necks.
 
1988 makes it 30 years (time goes quick) . My main Strat is 21 (1998) and is just starting to need a fret job. It terrifies me to do it, but that's my usual motivation to do it right. I'm going to wait until I can't avoid it. It's my no. 1 white Strat with a maple neck. All my older guitars are gone. This one has had a many mods over the years.
 
Robert Herndon said:
How's it play, Don???
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It has always had low action, I did not change any settings other than removing a little fret height. I did try to adjust the truss a little, but it did not want to budge. I never moved it in the 20 years I’ve had it, so I left it alone with a little neck relief.

So with the low action and an ebony board, it plays great and a shape that fits my hands, which is why I bought it in the first place. The biggest change is the new pups, WOW. 10 different voicings as each pot is a push pull. The pups are described in the pic. I’m still experimenting with the tones.

I have been reading a book titled “The Dream Factory” which documents the history of the Fender Custom Shop, it’s a great read. So I came across this other pic long after I bought the new loaded pick guard assembly. I now know what the guitar came with from the factory, Lace Sensor pups. I briefly contemplated returning it to factory original (car genes) but said, nah.

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Don O said:
It has always had low action, I did not change any settings other than removing a little fret height. I did try to adjust the truss a little, but it did not want to budge. I never moved it in the 20 years I’ve had it, so I left it alone with a little neck relief.

So with the low action and an ebony board, it plays great and a shape that fits my hands, which is why I bought it in the first place. The biggest change is the new pups, WOW. 10 different voicings as each pot is a push pull. The pups are described in the pic. I’m still experimenting with the tones.

I have been reading a book titled “The Dream Factory” which documents the history of the Fender Custom Shop, it’s a great read. So I came across this other pic long after I bought the new loaded pick guard assembly. I now know what the guitar came with from the factory, Lace Sensor pups. I briefly contemplated returning it to factory original (car genes) but said, nah.

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Awesome!
 
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