Filing fret ends

[86kubicki]

The neck of my Fender MIJ P-bass has shrunk a bit and the fret ends have started to protrude from either side of the fretboard. Is there any specific method or tool for filing these fret ends?

[jingle_jangle]

You bet, Steve, and it's foolproof, too, for those of us who tend to grab the wrong end of a hammer:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Fretting_su ... _File.html

It's a fret beveling file; I use the longer length one. The shorter one is pretty useless--not heavy enough and too short to span enough length of neck. Of course, the drawback is the price ($61.00) for the occasional user. It's got a nice heft and weight to prevent chattering, and it's made of Delrin, so it won't mar the neck's finish.

It rides along the side of the fretboard and only cuts the file ends themselves, at a nice 45° to the edge. Then, you've got to use a standard small mill file to clean up the sharp fret edges.

[kiramdear]

[leftybass]

I was just talking about this very thing this weekend, on a Fender as well. Gotta get my file....

[86kubicki]

Thanks for the info Paul! As I only need to fix this one bass, I may see if my local guitar shop can do it for a reasonable price (it doesn't seem like it would be expensive). Normally I would just buy the file, but $61, plus shipping, plus currency conversion, plus possible brokerage fees.....

[jimk]

So that's where my missing specs got off to. Been looking for them.
JimK

[scotty]

Paul,Is this another name for a Fret stone? after installing My trapeze i was getting a weird noise that was like a resonating on the G (i may add it was only heard slightly when playing acoustic) I decided it needed a full set up and was advised that i had a minor back bow about a mm or so.Also the frets were different levels and needed a fret stone to level them off.Ive just been told that it sounds wonderful now.

[jingle_jangle]

Scotty, a fret stone is the same as a whet stone--it's a very fine carborundum stone that's used like a sanding block on the frets, stroking in the direction of the neck and bridging several frets at once to level off the high areas. It's quite old-school, however. I use radiused blocks with self-adhesive sandpaper, after I've used a special fret file to pick out the high spots.

[scotty]

Thanks P.

[jingle_jangle]

Thanks P.

OK S.