Fret leveling - do it yourself

[pickngrin]

Is there a method of putting relief back in the neck when the strings are off, without using an expensive jig?

I've heard that you can prop up the headstock and lay sandbags or even a sack of flour onto the guitar to simulate string tension. Can anyone tell me exactly where to lay the sandbags without damaging the guitar and still being able to access the frets? Will a spruce top withstand the weight?

Any advice appreciated.   

[swainsong]

I'm just building my first guitar but I've learned this much so far: neck relief and fret levelling is best left to a luthier. But if you're willing to take a chance causing more damage and frustration than you're already experiencing by experimenting on your own axe  here are a few hinters.

1)Your neck must be set to the relief you want by adjusting the truss rod before you do any fret work.
2)String tension must be released before you adjust the truss rod (my mentor intentionally designs his guitars so the truss rod can only be accessed with the strings removed).
3)After levelling the frets your nut, and possibly saddle too, will likely have to be modified to return the action to what you want, and the fret ends might need a quick dressing and polish.
4)The bag of flour, or double ought buckshot etc, is used underneath the neck for support and to absorb the shock when you're hammering in frets, not to place on top of your beloved instrument.

Hope this helps. And while I'm all for do-it-yourselfers (which is one reason I'm taking the course on how to build your own) I suggest you do some research before tackling such a delicate job. Fred Ford is a good place to start - http://www.frets.com/FRETSPages/Musician/GenSetup/Frets/frets01.html – and Stew/Mac has a great tutorial on the subject as well as the tools required for such tasks. Think of it as an investment rather than an expense.

[pickngrin]

Thanks for all the input swainsong.


Anyone else know how to simulate string tension without using a jig? I was guessing at laying the weight on the body but it seems to make more sense to prop the neck at the heel end and hang weight on the headstock.

[unclrob]

Until you know what your doing DON'T do it.See if you can spend some time with a trusted tech who might help you learn how to do it or my be willing to supervise you while you do.Fret dressing isn't as easy as all the site's say.
I've never used the technics your talking about.40 years latter each guitar and the players playing technic all come into job.Please find someone to work with you.

[jimmyd]

Lift up and support the neck from the end of the head stock . Place 6 lbs on each shoulder which approximates the pressure from a strung instrument and allows access to the fret board.

[pickngrin]

Aha! jimmyd that's what I was looking for. Thanks a lot buddy.   

[jimmyd]

I should add that unclrob is giving you very good advise. If you can't find someone to work with you through the process then you risk turning a fret leveling/dressing job into a complete refret to correct the damage. Please consider reading and understanding the info in at least two good  books/articles with complete detailed procedures for fret work if you try to go it alone. There is a lot more to it than unstringing and weighting the shoulders to simulate string tension.

[pickngrin]

Jimmy, I'm not going to do it now but I will be doing it in the future but not on a high $$$ guitar. I did just complete a leveling job on my 70s Japanese import but only from the 14th fret....up. The 14th fret hump had begin to cause a buzz and I took them down to the same height as the 12th & 13th fret. Thankfully, no jig was need for that.

I'm learning as I go but I have the Stew-Mac tools and I certainly do read and understand these procedures before proceeding.

[jimmyd]

Jimmy, I'm not going to do it now but I will be doing it in the future but not on a high $$$ guitar. I did just complete a leveling job on my 70s Japanese import but only from the 14th fret....up. The 14th fret hump had begin to cause a buzz and I took them down to the same height as the 12th & 13th fret. Thankfully, no jig was need for that.

I'm learning as I go but I have the Stew-Mac tools and I certainly do read and understand these procedures before proceeding.

Now yer talkin !  I was just worried about handing out some bad advise. Sounds like you are doing the right thing. I like working on those hundred dollar specials to see if I can get them playable again. Please keep us posted on your repair projects. We'll leave the Larrivee's to unclrob.

[pickngrin]

Oh yes Jimmy, unclerob impressed me a while back when he correctly diagnosed my parlor that had  sharp fret ends with "shrinking binding". Other helpful folks were thinking that the guitar was drying out but I'd kept it humidified properly. I don't know how he knew what was going on but he nailed it and it was an easy do-it-yourself fix. He's a real asset to the forum.

[unclrob]

Keep me posted too.



My secret to knowing about the binding is handling somewhere around 10,000 guitars plus ebony just DOESN'T srink that much unless there something fishy going on.I also wear 375 magnafing glasses,we call them mu superman's.Not x-ray vision but still cool.I also left a piece of the same type binding near a heat source with some finish on it to see what would happen.I use to watch Mr Wizard.

[stuco]

 

Don't do this yourself unless you don't care if you screw it up.  I ruined a beautiful fender 52' tele neck trying to level/dress my own frets.