• From: kentucky
  • Registered: 2008-03-06
  • Posts: 304

Topic: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

i have been tinkering around for months slowly buying some tools and learning how to do various kinds of work on guitars beyond normal setup jobs and today my order for fret dressing tools came in.

i have a PRS custom 22 that I bought in 1996 that had some bad divots in multiple places on the neck....it was in desperate need of a dressing...

so i did my research and watched a bunch of videos, bought the right tools and dug in today and did it with outstanding results. my buddy thought i was insane doing my first fret dressing job on a guitar like the PRS...but i told him i liked the high pressure of the situation....lol

anyway, the frets look brand new and no divots....plays and feels better than ever.....it was one of the most gratifying experiences I've had working on something. may not be a big deal to some but it was a scary thing for me to do even though i wanted to learn badly.......so right now I'm a happy camper!!!!!

i wish i had some before and after pics but alas i dont....i honestly didnt think it would turn out this good so i didnt take any pics...lol

masque's Website

  • From: York, PA
  • Registered: 2010-08-27
  • Posts: 1,749

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

Its nice being able to work on your own equipment.  Even a job such as re-rigging a pedal board can give one a feeling of elation and confidence.  I scalloped a fretboard about 2 years ago and felt the same way.  Thanks to the internet, everyone has a good foundation of knowledge to start with in order to do the job right, the first time..  Maybe you could offer to rework the frets on some of your friends guitars for a couple bucks and buy more tools to do more work.  It could be the start of a rewarding side project.  -S

3 Reply by Devan (edited by Devan 2011-01-29 01:15:27)

  • Devan
  • Devan
  • BONAMETAL
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

Yay!  A few months ago I bought a diamon fret file from StewMac, plus a fret leveller and other tools and began working in my own guitar frets.

I started on a couple of throwaway cheapies to see how I went, then progressed to my 'everyday' Strat.  Still not the neatest looking work, but I am definitely getting better at it, and the guitars are now a million times better to play.

Oh - dont forget to tape up the pickups either!  big_smile

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

Thats awesome.  I have a 2001 Strat that has never had any fret work done and turns out to be my favorite guitar of all time.  Now the flat spots are so bad that I get really weird intonation issues when I do single note leads.  I've been playing other guitar because of it, and when I do use this one I find that I do a LOT of vibrato to mask the fact that the note is doing some wobbling sound anyway.  Your story is something I've thought about doing my self for a long time now, I hope I don't need a refret because they are in really bad shape.

AD3THREE's Website

  • Devan
  • Devan
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  • From: Darwin, Australia
  • Registered: 2010-04-13
  • Posts: 1,304

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

AD3THREE - if your frets are not too low, the fret crowning file from Stew Mac will round them off nicely with a bit of elbow grease and care.  From memory the file was around $80, but it will probably last a very long time and do a lot of guitars.

Practice on an old beater Squire or something, like I did, until you get the hang of it.  Then you can get really nice rounded frets - more importantly LEVEL frets.

Tip: Get the little fret rocker thingy too, for around $20.  These two bits of kit are brilliant for levelling out uneven frets.  My everyday Strat had a 'hump' from the 14th to 20th fret that was causing buzz.  About 1 hour with these tools and it plays nicely now.

JBLP Gold Top #129 - redubbed "#1 in Oz"
  • From: kentucky
  • Registered: 2008-03-06
  • Posts: 304

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

AD3THREE wrote:

Thats awesome.  I have a 2001 Strat that has never had any fret work done and turns out to be my favorite guitar of all time.  Now the flat spots are so bad that I get really weird intonation issues when I do single note leads.  I've been playing other guitar because of it, and when I do use this one I find that I do a LOT of vibrato to mask the fact that the note is doing some wobbling sound anyway.  Your story is something I've thought about doing my self for a long time now, I hope I don't need a refret because they are in really bad shape.


thanks man I appreciate it.....my advice would be to save up your money and buy the right tools....i am in no way affiliated with stew mac but their tools are awesome and made to do the work right.....the stuff can be a little overpriced but it's just easier for me to buy stuff specifically made to work on guitars than to go to lowe's and rig up my own tools.

once you have the right tools then it all comes down to patience......dont try to do the work too quickly......make sure you do ALL of the prep work to protect your fretboard and pickups......then sand a little and check it......sand some more and check it....you will be surprised at how quickly it goes.

one of the coolest tools i purchased that made the job look more professional and get things back to normal was the crowning file i bought....it was about $35 but in my opinion a guy like cant do this job without one......once you have sanded and leveled out the divots and issues this file re-crowns the fret super quick and makes it look great.

i dont think you have waited too long....just based on the fact that I was afraid i had waited too long on my PRS as I had two or three frets that had what I considered to be deep divots.....but they all came out just fine and the frets are still very nice.....the guitar still plays great and to me actually plays better.......so if you are thinking about doing this i say jump in and learn how to do it...you will love it!!

masque's Website

  • Registered: 2010-03-20
  • Posts: 536

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

masque wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

Thats awesome.  I have a 2001 Strat that has never had any fret work done and turns out to be my favorite guitar of all time.  Now the flat spots are so bad that I get really weird intonation issues when I do single note leads.  I've been playing other guitar because of it, and when I do use this one I find that I do a LOT of vibrato to mask the fact that the note is doing some wobbling sound anyway.  Your story is something I've thought about doing my self for a long time now, I hope I don't need a refret because they are in really bad shape.


thanks man I appreciate it.....my advice would be to save up your money and buy the right tools....i am in no way affiliated with stew mac but their tools are awesome and made to do the work right.....the stuff can be a little overpriced but it's just easier for me to buy stuff specifically made to work on guitars than to go to lowe's and rig up my own tools.

once you have the right tools then it all comes down to patience......dont try to do the work too quickly......make sure you do ALL of the prep work to protect your fretboard and pickups......then sand a little and check it......sand some more and check it....you will be surprised at how quickly it goes.

one of the coolest tools i purchased that made the job look more professional and get things back to normal was the crowning file i bought....it was about $35 but in my opinion a guy like cant do this job without one......once you have sanded and leveled out the divots and issues this file re-crowns the fret super quick and makes it look great.

i dont think you have waited too long....just based on the fact that I was afraid i had waited too long on my PRS as I had two or three frets that had what I considered to be deep divots.....but they all came out just fine and the frets are still very nice.....the guitar still plays great and to me actually plays better.......so if you are thinking about doing this i say jump in and learn how to do it...you will love it!!


Well done- you are braver than I am!

I have to ask.....did you use masquing tape to protect the frets?!




(I'll get my coat...!)

"Who wants an orange whip? Orange whip? Orange whip? Three orange whips...."

JB LP Goldtop No. 290- Aged...rather like me.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

I'm going to try it some time, I've done all the work on my guitars for a few years except that (I never get it done and put it off)  So this is a logical step.

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: kentucky
  • Registered: 2008-03-06
  • Posts: 304

Re: well i did it....my first fret dressing job

jakey wrote:
masque wrote:
AD3THREE wrote:

Thats awesome.  I have a 2001 Strat that has never had any fret work done and turns out to be my favorite guitar of all time.  Now the flat spots are so bad that I get really weird intonation issues when I do single note leads.  I've been playing other guitar because of it, and when I do use this one I find that I do a LOT of vibrato to mask the fact that the note is doing some wobbling sound anyway.  Your story is something I've thought about doing my self for a long time now, I hope I don't need a refret because they are in really bad shape.


thanks man I appreciate it.....my advice would be to save up your money and buy the right tools....i am in no way affiliated with stew mac but their tools are awesome and made to do the work right.....the stuff can be a little overpriced but it's just easier for me to buy stuff specifically made to work on guitars than to go to lowe's and rig up my own tools.

once you have the right tools then it all comes down to patience......dont try to do the work too quickly......make sure you do ALL of the prep work to protect your fretboard and pickups......then sand a little and check it......sand some more and check it....you will be surprised at how quickly it goes.

one of the coolest tools i purchased that made the job look more professional and get things back to normal was the crowning file i bought....it was about $35 but in my opinion a guy like cant do this job without one......once you have sanded and leveled out the divots and issues this file re-crowns the fret super quick and makes it look great.

i dont think you have waited too long....just based on the fact that I was afraid i had waited too long on my PRS as I had two or three frets that had what I considered to be deep divots.....but they all came out just fine and the frets are still very nice.....the guitar still plays great and to me actually plays better.......so if you are thinking about doing this i say jump in and learn how to do it...you will love it!!


Well done- you are braver than I am!

I have to ask.....did you use masquing tape to protect the frets?!




(I'll get my coat...!)


YES....i absolutely used masking tape with a very light adhesive quality to it....like a painter's masking tape.  it's a must part of the process to protect your guitar.

masque's Website