Just got a new neck, but frets are sharp...what do I do?

SinnerBoy61 · July 21st, 2006, 02:31 PM

Just got a new allparts neck that's really nice, but the frets are sharp on the sides...

what must I do to correct this?

Thanks
SB

bagpipe · July 21st, 2006, 02:44 PM

I had the same problem on the Allparts neck which I got. I took it to my tech and he filed them down while he was doing a set-up on my guitar. I guess you could do it yourself if you knew what you were doing and had the right tools.

Mark Davis · July 21st, 2006, 02:46 PM

Take a hot shower leave the neck on the bathroom counter be sure it doesnt get wet. The humidity created by the hot water should cause the wood to swell back up to where it was before it dried out from not being humid enough.

Might take a few showers before it works. LOL

eryque · July 21st, 2006, 03:13 PM

Mark, I like the way you think! But I think that the wood will shrink back when he's not in the shower, won't it?

Unless the frets really stick out, you may find that filing that close to the wood is tough to do without damaging it. You might have better luck with sandpaper and a sanding block. 3M 320 grit from the auto supply store will do you nicely. If there's a lot of fret to remove, use 220, then 320 and maybe 600 to smooth the ends.

If the guitar wasn't finished already you should be ready to seal and finish. If it was, then you might have to touch up the finish. If you're lucky you'll just need to wet sand a little bit and polish.

shakedancer · July 21st, 2006, 03:19 PM

In your case, I would have a tech do it.

Mark Davis · July 21st, 2006, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eryque

Mark, I like the way you think! But I think that the wood will shrink back when he's not in the shower, won't it?

Unless the frets really stick out, you may find that filing that close to the wood is tough to do without damaging it. You might have better luck with sandpaper and a sanding block. 3M 320 grit from the auto supply store will do you nicely. If there's a lot of fret to remove, use 220, then 320 and maybe 600 to smooth the ends.

If the guitar wasn't finished already you should be ready to seal and finish. If it was, then you might have to touch up the finish. If you're lucky you'll just need to wet sand a little bit and polish.

The last Strat I got used was like that sharp edges. I just left it on a stand in the bathroom and after 2 days of being in there it was fixed. Still feels fine 3 months later. If I left it out in the sun all day it might dry back up and expose the sharp edges but so far its stayed fixed inside my air conditioned apt.

0le FUZZY · July 21st, 2006, 03:58 PM

I yewz a rubber block sander with a fine paper (400 or finer) and go up and down the neck at a +/- 45 degree angle tew the fret ends.

MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click)

SMORE !!(click)

Please visit my page

SinnerBoy61 · July 21st, 2006, 05:01 PM

Thanks all for the replies. Good advice mark, but I'd like to get them filed down some so they're smooth, and more player friendly. I really think that's what they need.. It's just on the sides of the neck, and I think I have a good file sitting around, so that may be in order.

Thanks guys

Nvr2Many · July 21st, 2006, 06:04 PM

I had the same problem, and it is due to dry wood. You have 2 options:

Take the neck to a belt sander and have at it (LOL) or the method I used which as to buy a small sanding stone. To be safe I put masking tape between the frets so as not to scuff anything. Then using the block I touched up the sharp ends. Same method Fuzzy is recommending, I just happend to have the sanding stone because I use it to tune snow skis.

chickenpicker · July 21st, 2006, 06:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SinnerBoy61

Just got a new allparts neck that's really nice, but the frets are sharp on the sides...

what must I do to correct this?

Thanks
SB

If it's a new neck, then fixing faults is not your problem. I'd complain.

Rob DiStefano · July 21st, 2006, 07:20 PM

In the best of all worlds, dress the fret ends with a safe edged fret dressing file, followed by an abrassive buffing from 600 grit through maybe 2400 grit. Or just do what OF suggests.

All AP unfinished Fender Japan necks will require fret end dressing. Your neck supplier should take care of that for you, gratis.

teleman65 · July 22nd, 2006, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chickenpicker

If it's a new neck, then fixing faults is not your problem. I'd complain.

I agree with chickenpicker. If you're paying US$ 250+ for a neck you should not have to deal with sharp frets. That's just sloppy.

Rob DiStefano · July 22nd, 2006, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teleman65

I agree with chickenpicker. If you're paying US$ 250+ for a neck you should not have to deal with sharp frets. That's just sloppy.

If the neck is finished, absolutely yes.

If the neck is unfinished, I think it's acceptable to not have fret end dressing in order to keep pricing as low as possible. Dressing fret ends is well within the realm of most players, and something that should be learned - just like doing a setup.

SinnerBoy61 · July 23rd, 2006, 02:30 AM

Yes, the neck was unfinished, and in fact, I got it through an allparts dealer, for about 96 bucks...I ain't complainin..haha

chickenpicker · July 23rd, 2006, 06:01 AM

Do companies like Allparts offer necks in a range of completeness then? I didn't know.

If that's the case, it's your job to get it finished, but for $96 I wouldn't complain either.

shakedancer · July 23rd, 2006, 09:06 AM

After you get them filed, always leave it in the case when not in use and you will not have that problem again.

Rob DiStefano · July 23rd, 2006, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shakedancer

After you get them filed, always leave it in the case when not in use and you will not have that problem again.

... along with a humidification film canister.

Chris Browne · July 23rd, 2006, 10:57 AM

I managed to cure a case of fret sprout with two slices of bread. On the advice of a guitar tech, I put one piece of bread in my case, closed it up and left it overnight, until the bread dried out. I repeated this, and those two pieces of bread contained enough moisture to fix my problem.

I was told to do this before resorting to files etc.

jwells393 · July 23rd, 2006, 12:40 PM

I live in a pretty dry climate. Sooner or later every guitar I own may need the ends of the frets filed depending on where the neck originated. The frets on the Allparts neck were probably flush with the wood originally.

chickenpicker · July 23rd, 2006, 03:06 PM

Didn't Fuzzy conduct an experiment on curing fret-sprout recently, involving a swimming pool?

sidneystreet · July 23rd, 2006, 07:01 PM

Just file and/or sand them now while they are sticking out, and you'll likely never have to deal with them again.

Otherwise, every time your guitar dries out from the weather, or travel etc. you are going to be battling this.

July 21st, 2006, 02:31 PM	#1 (permalink)
SinnerBoy61 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere too far away Posts: 617 29 Photos	Just got a new neck, but frets are sharp...what do I do? Just got a new allparts neck that's really nice, but the frets are sharp on the sides... what must I do to correct this? Thanks SB

July 21st, 2006, 02:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
bagpipe Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 235	I had the same problem on the Allparts neck which I got. I took it to my tech and he filed them down while he was doing a set-up on my guitar. I guess you could do it yourself if you knew what you were doing and had the right tools. __________________ "Assistant to the Travelling Secretary"

July 21st, 2006, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
Mark Davis Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bakersfield Ca. Age: 58 Posts: 12,745	Take a hot shower leave the neck on the bathroom counter be sure it doesnt get wet. The humidity created by the hot water should cause the wood to swell back up to where it was before it dried out from not being humid enough. Might take a few showers before it works. LOL __________________ I'm so blind my seeing eye dog needs glasses.

July 21st, 2006, 03:13 PM	#4 (permalink)
eryque Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: albany, ny [not chicago] Posts: 7,090 44 Photos	Mark, I like the way you think! But I think that the wood will shrink back when he's not in the shower, won't it? Unless the frets really stick out, you may find that filing that close to the wood is tough to do without damaging it. You might have better luck with sandpaper and a sanding block. 3M 320 grit from the auto supply store will do you nicely. If there's a lot of fret to remove, use 220, then 320 and maybe 600 to smooth the ends. If the guitar wasn't finished already you should be ready to seal and finish. If it was, then you might have to touch up the finish. If you're lucky you'll just need to wet sand a little bit and polish. __________________ my blog: eryque.blogspot.com Updated 9.17.08! Subscribe_____________________

July 21st, 2006, 03:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
shakedancer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Boston Posts: 1,634	In your case, I would have a tech do it. __________________ "If you don't like the Blues, you got to have a Hole in your Soul." Luther Allison JOE

July 21st, 2006, 03:58 PM	#7 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	I yewz a rubber block sander with a fine paper (400 or finer) and go up and down the neck at a +/- 45 degree angle tew the fret ends. MY KIND OF MUSIC !(click) SMORE !!(click) Please visit my page

July 21st, 2006, 05:01 PM	#8 (permalink)
SinnerBoy61 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere too far away Posts: 617 29 Photos	Thanks all for the replies. Good advice mark, but I'd like to get them filed down some so they're smooth, and more player friendly. I really think that's what they need.. It's just on the sides of the neck, and I think I have a good file sitting around, so that may be in order. Thanks guys

July 21st, 2006, 06:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
Nvr2Many TDPRI Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Waxhaw NC Posts: 89	I had the same problem, and it is due to dry wood. You have 2 options: Take the neck to a belt sander and have at it (LOL) or the method I used which as to buy a small sanding stone. To be safe I put masking tape between the frets so as not to scuff anything. Then using the block I touched up the sharp ends. Same method Fuzzy is recommending, I just happend to have the sanding stone because I use it to tune snow skis. __________________ It don't mean a thang if it ain't got that twang!

July 21st, 2006, 07:20 PM	#11 (permalink)
Rob DiStefano Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Park Ridge, NJ Age: 62 Posts: 4,755	In the best of all worlds, dress the fret ends with a safe edged fret dressing file, followed by an abrassive buffing from 600 grit through maybe 2400 grit. Or just do what OF suggests. All AP unfinished Fender Japan necks will require fret end dressing. Your neck supplier should take care of that for you, gratis.

July 23rd, 2006, 02:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
SinnerBoy61 Tele-Holic Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Somewhere too far away Posts: 617 29 Photos	Yes, the neck was unfinished, and in fact, I got it through an allparts dealer, for about 96 bucks...I ain't complainin..haha

July 23rd, 2006, 06:01 AM	#15 (permalink)
chickenpicker Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,060 14 Photos	Do companies like Allparts offer necks in a range of completeness then? I didn't know. If that's the case, it's your job to get it finished, but for $96 I wouldn't complain either.

July 23rd, 2006, 09:06 AM	#16 (permalink)
shakedancer Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: north of Boston Posts: 1,634	After you get them filed, always leave it in the case when not in use and you will not have that problem again. __________________ "If you don't like the Blues, you got to have a Hole in your Soul." Luther Allison JOE

July 23rd, 2006, 10:57 AM	#18 (permalink)
Chris Browne TDPRI Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: New Brunswick, Canada Posts: 99	I managed to cure a case of fret sprout with two slices of bread. On the advice of a guitar tech, I put one piece of bread in my case, closed it up and left it overnight, until the bread dried out. I repeated this, and those two pieces of bread contained enough moisture to fix my problem. I was told to do this before resorting to files etc.

July 23rd, 2006, 12:40 PM	#19 (permalink)
jwells393 Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Albuquerque, USA Age: 64 Posts: 12,211 101 Photos	I live in a pretty dry climate. Sooner or later every guitar I own may need the ends of the frets filed depending on where the neck originated. The frets on the Allparts neck were probably flush with the wood originally. __________________ Jack's Disclaimer: When I say something.... always ask yourself ..... "What the hell does he know?" _ Guys - learn to disable the flash on your digital cameras.

July 23rd, 2006, 03:06 PM	#20 (permalink)
chickenpicker Friend of Leo's Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: UK Posts: 3,060 14 Photos	Didn't Fuzzy conduct an experiment on curing fret-sprout recently, involving a swimming pool?

July 23rd, 2006, 07:01 PM	#21 (permalink)
sidneystreet Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,238	Just file and/or sand them now while they are sticking out, and you'll likely never have to deal with them again. Otherwise, every time your guitar dries out from the weather, or travel etc. you are going to be battling this.