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Thomas-Ginex Fret Refinishing Kit
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Reviews
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Views
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Date of last review
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2
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4820
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Fri March 7, 2008
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Recommended By
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Average Price
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Average Rating
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100% of reviewers
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None indicated
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10.0
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Description:
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Thomas-Ginex Fret Refinishing Kit
REVIEW
I received this T-G Kit as a loaner for this review from TDPRI member "magicguitar", and the object was to look over the hardware, read the documentation, and to use the kit to "refinish" the frets on a brand new Squier '51.
As a preface to my review, I find it important to relate the T-G Kit printed instructions introduction - "This Thomas-Ginex Fret Refinishing Kit when used in accordance with the instructions, is designed to improve the general condition of the frets of your guitar by leveling (making all frets equal in height as possible) and peaking (shaping the tops of the frets to their original rounded condition). It will eliminate rattling and buzzing due to frets of uneven height caused by normal string wear usually found on instruments used for any extended period. It is not intended to be used to improve instruments which have been previously over filed or in any way abnormally adjusted or abused."
Inside the T-G Kit is a plate of aluminum that measures 4" x 3.375" x .063", approximately nine 4.5" x 3.5" sheets of cloth backed abrasive in 320, 500 and something finer (perhaps 800) grits, a .063" thick L shaped piece of aluminum with coarse toothing on the inside L edge (the toothing is covered in black shrink wrap), a piece of heavyish paper labeled "FIRST FRET PROTECTIVE STRIP", and a printed page of step by step instructions with words and pictures.
The brand new S'51 guitar, with solid maple Tele neck, was setup with 10-46 D'Addario's in a low action, with about .008" of neck relief. There is some fret rattle throughout the fingerboard, which is perfectly acceptable with a low 1/16" to 3/32" 12th fret action, and buzzing on all strings when fretted at the 1st fret, buzzing on the 3rd 4th and 5th strings when fretted at the 11th and 12th frets.
In the T-G Kit instructions, there is no mention of removing or setting neck relief. This indicates that fingerboard flatness isn't of concern when the T-G K does its "fret refinishing". The T-G Kit instructions do not specify that the fretboard should be masked off - it is, however, implied - "Mask off with heavy paper or wide tape any pickups or surfaces that may be subject to scoring." Normally, I don't mask off a non-maple board and ALWAYS mask off a maple board. For this particular review, I didn't mask off this maple fingerboard since it's only sealed and not clear coated and I have other plans for this neck.
I loosened the strings, inserted the fingerboard paper protector and L string raising tool, retuned to concert pitch (A440).
I used the 320 grit cloth under the plate and proceeded to run the plate up and down the frets using a light but even hand pressure (note: I didn't color the fret tops - that was not in the kit instructions). After this is accomplished the frets are to be considered "leveled", with all frets having some degree of flattened top.
Next up I flipped over the plate so that the two ridges faced down towards the frets and using the 500 grit I repeated the process as before - the ridges bump over each fret edge, adding roundness to the edges. I repeated this process using the third and finest grit cloth.
I removed the L string retainer and tuned back to concert A440 pitch, plugged into an amp and played each string at every fret. The 1st, 11th and 12th fret buzzing was there, but to a much lesser degree. If I reworked the entire T-G process again I'd probably chase out the buzz.
MY COMMENTS
This is NOT a true fret leveling "kit". It could never address fret divots or real guitar usage flat spots. It will work best on new, or near new, frets that are SLIGHTLY out of level, say a thousandth of an inch or so, at most. This IS a fret finishing kit in that it will shine up the frets to some degree, but it may never fully level OR crown the frets.
I don't recommend leveling under string tension as it adds a variable that's not needed. It's easier and faster to level frets when the fingerboard has been leveled using the truss rod alone to compensate. A simple eight buck 18" plastic drafting T-square can easily be made into a fingerboard level - a handy tool you'll use often.
There is no mention of neck support. When you apply pressure to the leveling plate, an unsupported neck will bend. This alone can and will cause leveling issues.
The leveling plate is only 4" long. It's very wide - far too wide for the types of common fretboard radii (7.25" through 16"). A proper level for fret leveling guitars and basses needs to be at least 6", 9" is best and sometimes 12" and 18" levelers are needed. The leveling surface needs to be 1/2" to 3/4" wide. It helps if a level has some weight so that the level's weight alone applies very uniform leveling pressure to all frets.
There is no mention of coloring the fret tops with a permanent marker pen, to visually chart the leveling progress.
The T-G method of "crowning" the fret tops is NOT true fret top crowning. Instead, the T-G rounding method is just that, a way to SLIGHTLY round the fret edges. This is normally a step that's done AFTER true fret top crowning has been accomplished. In most instances, in order to properly recrown a fret it takes a file (flat, or burr) to create the full fret edge roundness while leaving a marginally tiny flat top ridge. The last process in fret top crowning is to buff the frets with abrasives that run from 600 through 2400 grits, then a polish from 3200 through 12000 grits. Also, rounding over the fret edges with a straight ridge on a radiused fret can lead to a very uneven rounding unless you really know what you are doing - that's why it's best to accomplish fret edge rounding (after the frets have been properly crowned) with abrasive paper wrapped about one's fingers or use a round edged neoprene rubber block.
IN SUMMARY
I do not recommend the T-G Fret Refinishing Kit for leveling and crowning frets. I would recommend the T-G Kit for "refinishing frets" only - read again the T-G Kit instructions preface. It would be cheaper and easier to buy abrasive paper/cloth and use a small to large block plane as the leveling tool. Instead of leveling under string tension, level after the fingerboard's been leveled, using a T-square fingerboard level. Since the T-G Kit doesn't actually crown fret tops, using the abrasive and one's fingers works just as well to accomplish fret edge rounding - and it's a safer process.
T-G Kit Reviewer - Rob DiStefano
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Keywords:
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fret level crown
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