Thoughtless 7 Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 I have an Epi LP 7 string and the frets are pretty much flat on top now. Would i be able to just recrown them, or would i have to replace them all? They don't seem to have warn down that much apart from the tops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclej Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 I have an Epi LP 7 string and the frets are pretty much flat on top now. Would i be able to just recrown them, or would i have to replace them all? They don't seem to have warn down that much apart from the tops. assuming that the frets are level along the entire length of the neck you shouldn't have any problem re-crowning them. a crowning file from stewmac will do the job nicely. when done properly the crowning file won't take any more material off of the top of the fret so they won't be lowered any more than they already are are. be sure to use masking tape on each side of each fret to protect the wood from the occasional slip of the file. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thoughtless 7 Posted March 11, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Good idea about the masking tape! I am going to get a 3-in-1 fret file. Will that do the job just as good? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 You will probably NOT have to replace the frets. But you will have to do a complete fret job. Only a crowning isn’t enough. . Have a look at the tutorial section, or more precise here: http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/tutorial9.htm and you will find all info you need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclej Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 thoughtless..some of the guys here do their crowning with a flat file like the three in one you're talking about but i've never tried it. i can only imagine that you'd have to be pretty precise and careful with it. the file that i use already has a radius built into it..they're two sided..one for medium and one for large frets and are extremely easy to use. with a flat file you have to be good enough to make something flat into something round and you have to be able to do it consistently..mabe i'm just lazy but i do like my crowning file. sweedish luthier..when you say that crowning isn't enough and that you'll have to do a "complete" job what do you mean? i'm not arguing, just trying to learn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southpa Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 (edited) If the tops of the frets are flat from wear alone (some guitars come with flat fret tops), then an overall levelling should be done. Those worn frets will obviously be lower than their seldom-touched neighbors. If there is not enough height left because of wear, or it would take too much off the other frets to get level with the worn ones, then replacing the worn fret and levelling it to the others is a better idea. For crowning, I use a triangular file all the time. After making sure the fret heights are level, I mark the tops of the frets with a felt marker. The file is used in a curving motion from the bottom of the fret almost to the crown. This motion is repeated along the length of the fret, both sides, while avoiding actually touching the top of the fret. The end result should show a very thin line of marker ink down the center of each crowned fret. Edited March 11, 2006 by Southpa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SwedishLuthier Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 I also started out with a triangular file. It works fine too, but I prefer my diamond coated crowning files, because it is way faster. If you decide to use a triangular file, please be sure that you grind away the sharp corners of the file and make them really smooth or you will make a big mess out of the fretboard. An alternative is to use metal fretboard protectors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brian d Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 Uncle J, I think the 3-in-1 fret file is a crowning file with three interchangable burrs (one for each crown size) - not to be confused with a 3 corner (triangular) file. A specialised crowning file can help the inexperienced (like me) to get a nice round fret crown, but has the disadvantage that you can't see the top of the levelled fret (that you don't want to reduce at all) so you have to stop and look much more often. With a triangular file you just have to look - not stop - to see that you're not removing the top line of felt tip marker as Southpa described. Whatever works for you. Regards, Brian Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclej Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 thanks for the clarification brian..i did think he was talking about a triangle file. i also mark the frets with a marker and for the same reasons. sounds like we're all on the same page here..make sure the frets are level and then choose your weapon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Racer X Posted March 11, 2006 Report Share Posted March 11, 2006 thoughtless, in case you have it, Dan Erlewine disscusses all this in his book, Guitar Player Repair Guide. And if you DON'T have it, I reccommend it. It will pay for itself, over and over again. I'd be lost without it. Mine is so marked up, now, with Post-Its, and highlighter markers. Almost like a comfortable, old pair of jeans, now! lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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