This post is about what is fret leveling. If the guitar frets are not level, it is one of the causes of guitar fret buzz. Fret leveling is the process of filing the higher frets to even it thereby eliminating guitar fret buzz. It requires some tools as well as some materials to perform such task.
Fret leveling, Crowning, and Polishing is crucial for a guitar to sound and feel right. Crowning means restoring the top arch of the fret after it is being filed. Properly crowned frets will make a guitar sound with more sustain. Polishing the frets will make a guitar more playable.
Doing things yourself especially on your guitar will give you a lot of rewards. Self-satisfaction is one, and you save money.
This tool is for dressing the ends of the fret wires. This can also be used to file high frets, and as well as to preserve the crown of the fret wire. This is much more durable than traditional sandpaper. Constructed with a thin cushion between the cloth back and the abrasive crystals, the Micro-Mesh sanding belts are more effective than regular sandpaper because the cushion allows the crystals to align evenly and prevents random scratches in your work.
The Micro-Mesh crystals do not load up or generate heat the way traditional sandpaper do. File a groove at the end of the stick, so it fits over the fret wire like a crowning file.
An essential tool to protect the fretboard while working on the frets. It protects the fretboard from any damage while working on the fret wires.
Love this so much. This product is so handy to polish fret wires and clean the fretboard as well. It can be used for maintaining the cleanliness of the fretboard and fret wires.
The Procedure
Before starting to do Fret Dressing, place the fretboard protector in position. The high spots can be checked using the fret rocker. Position the fret rocker on top of three frets. Move the fret rocker from side to side ( like a rocking chair). If it rocks then, the middle fret is high. Color the high spots with a red Pentel pen or any marker so you will know which surface are filed later on( the surface not filed still red).
Check for the level. If some frets are still high, color the high fret wires and file the high frets again. When it is leveled polish fret wire with Fret Dressing Stick and start from coarse grit to the finest grit.
Then polish it with Gorgomyte, you’ll love it. Gorgomyte can also be used as maintenance polisher on your frets and fret board. It will clean the fret board from gunks and will remove the fret wire varnish and makes the fret wires gleaming more so if you have stainless steel frets.
This process is how to fix guitar fret buzz if the frets are not level.
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Interesting stuff. I love music too. I’ve been playing guitar for a while now but I’ve never learn about fret leveling. I think the guitar shop offer doing this for me a few times. It is a lot more helpful doing it yourself though. Thanks so much for sharing your knowledge about this.
Hi Lien,
Doing setups on your guitar personally is very rewarding. You save money plus it is always a pleasure to give your guitars TLC. Fret leveling is not as hard as it seems.
Thanks for the comments,
Den.
I can relate to what you’re saying . My friend long ago found a bass guitar in his basement , basically in pieces , and I carefully put it back together . I didn’t realize I was turning the Allen Key the wrong direction at the end of the neck and actually pushed the fret board apart. After some time I managed to “adjust” it right and glued it in place . Your article is great and well written .
Hi,
Adjusting the truss rod is a little tricky at times. You should know what you are doing. I have seen a lot of necks became useless because of improper truss rod adjustment.
Thanks for the comments,
Den