One Fret is High... OCD Alert

syscokid

syscokid

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No, I did not say my one friend is high. And as far as I know, my one high fret hasn't found my bong. Anyways... on my 2002 SG Special Faded with the Moons, that I rescued from a Fratboy about 6 months ago, I just discovered the 4th fret is a wee bit high. But only on the outer strings, and each E string has a slight buzz off the 4th fret when I'm holding down the strings at the 3rd fret. A very short straight edge, like a fret rocker will rock over that 4th fret on the outer section of the fret but not in the middle.

I can see gaps in those relative areas:
High 4th Fret (1).JPG

On the treble side, I can slide a .006 feeler gauge in that gap:
High 4th Fret (2).JPG

I don't see anything unusual at the tang on the treble side:
High 4th Fret (3).JPG

On the Bass side, I can slide a .008 feeler gauge in that gap:
High 4th Fret (4).JPG

I'm not sure if I want to, or it's worth the trouble to correct this. But if I did... How would any of you Masters go about it?
 
I am not sure where you are measuring there, but if all the other frets are the same level and one fret is higher than the rest, you can get away with sanding the one offending fret. In general, you must bring the higher frets down to the level of the lowest fret when doing a level (since you can't raise a fret without replacing it)
 
RVA said:
I am not sure where you are measuring there, but if all the other frets are the same level and one fret is higher than the rest, you can get away with sanding the one offending fret. In general, you must bring the higher frets down to the level of the lowest fret when doing a level (since you can't raise a fret without replacing it)
Click to expand...
I'm measuring the tiny gap thats between the bottom of the fret and the fretboard. There's no gap in the middle where the D and G strings are. It looks like that one particular fret is lifting at the outer ends, or it never was properly radiused during installation. The center section of that fret is fine, but the outer areas where the high E and low E sit are too high.
 
Does the fret move? I mean is it high because the wood has swollen (which it appears to have in at least one picture), or because the fret has lifted? If the fret has lifted and will move, don't file it. Get some superglue in there and clamp it down. If it is high but solid, then yes, it is safe to file.
 
fret work is a skill.... not everyone has it.
there are members here who are very skilled, and others not so.
If you have proper luthier's tools, and some experience, you can get this
"proud fret" to go back down in its slot and behave.

Clampette, Jed! ....but I'd get a pro.

I can do a lot of things on a guitar, but if I had a proud fret I'd take her to
a luthier. I have a great luthier, who does all the things I am too afraid or
too sensible to tackle myself. You can see that it's out of its slot in your
excellent photo. It's worth it to me to pay for SKILLED fret work.

If I wanted to learn how to do fret work, I'd buy a pawn shop guitar
and learn on that. I wouldn't experiment on my prized Gibson (or Martin)
or Fender. Luthier camp's first motto: PRACTICE ON SCRAP

IMHO one of the cool things about buying a used guitar is that you usually
get a good enough price to be able to afford to spend a bit more to put that
guitar right. Figure out why the guy sold it, and fix that. Then play music.
 
DonP said:
Does the fret move? I mean is it high because the wood has swollen (which it appears to have in at least one picture), or because the fret has lifted? If the fret has lifted and will move, don't file it. Get some superglue in there and clamp it down. If it is high but solid, then yes, it is safe to file.
Click to expand...
I just checked this. I used a 1/2" thick by 4" wooden dowel on top of the fret to push down while holding the bottom of the neck with my other hand. With a lot force, I can see both gaps closing while I do each side of the fret individually. Not sure how to properly clamp the fret back down without making some custom radius cauls that apply even pressure without damaging the fret or neck wood.

Here's a cheapy system for $100:

s-l1600.jpg

... so I can use it once or twice... :rolleyes2:
 
That's a lot of dollars. If you can carve a piece of wood to the right radius, you can use that with a simple woodworking clamp.
 
I do have a router with a table and a jigsaw, and I might attempt that. I don't have the confidence that I'll be successful, though. In a couple hours I'm going to the local guitar shop. The owner does repair work, too. I'll pick his brain and get some estimates of cost.
 
Back from my visit at the guitar shop. Guess what? The owner, Joe, said to use superglue and clamp it down for at least a minute! I said: "But Joe... I'm afraid I', going to F this up. How much would you charge to do it?" Joe said: "$20... but lets whack it and see if the fret holds." Me: "OK". He then pulls out a fret setter punch like this:

s-l1600.jpg

Gave each end of the offending fret a whack and observed if the fret moved... which it did. We both noticed that after each whack that there would be some crud shooting out between the fret and fretboard! Then he got his bottle of superglue with a fine point applicator > injected into one of the gaps > used the fret setter again to apply a lot of pressure on the lifted area of the fret while bracing the headstock with his shoulder for about a minute. I would have thought that this was the wrong way to do it, but he was more than comfortable using this method. Anyways... it F'n worked... :yesway:.

It took him a total of 5 minutes from the time I first handed him the guitar till the time he released his human clamping pressure technique. He then spent another 5 minutes noodling on the guitar... started doing all these crazy jazz-comping chords. Which I tried in vain to interrupt him by saying: "WTF... You are not allowed to play those fi-fi jazz chords on an SG!" He kept this up for another minute, then starts doing this crazy progressive rock tapping sh!t. I'm like: "OK, that's better... here's your $20." Education with entertainment... gotta love it... :dood:
 
That is great! And now I get to buy another tool - a fret setter! Thanks, very helpful info!
 
Bocc69 said:
Good news, kid!



The force is getting strong, with this one!
Click to expand...
Well I do like tools, but I am just an apprentice at best. I felt odd responding since sysco asked for masters, but I wanted to help. I have since learned a thing or two about diagnosing fret problems.
 
RVA said:
I felt odd responding since sysco asked for masters, but I wanted to help...
Click to expand...
I thought here at TTR we are all masters... :wink:

Another tip that I find useful is the neck support that was used. Stable and solid:
dscn1769.jpg

I would never hammer on something like this, which is what I currently have:
2017-05-20 07.33.50.jpg

Also, Joe (Repairman) said the fret could be sanded or filed down further if needed.
 
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Look what I made with my grinder today. I ordered one too!

20170520_192218_zps8nbyhz3h.jpg
 
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