Idiot Proof Fret Crowning
Posted: Mon Jan 04, 2016 6:23 pm
I seem to have a problem crowning my frets precisely in the middle. No matter how careful I am, they seem to lean toward the nut or saddle. Even though I make sure that every cut I make in the fretboard is at the precise measurement, I install the frets so that they're seated properly, and I level the frets, crowning is a problem for me, and it adversely effects the intonation from fret to fret. If anyone ever needed an idiot proof crowning took, it's me.
If you were to test the intonation by harmonics or open compared with the 12th fret, you would think that it's as perfect as it can be, but I found slight variations as I worked my way up the neck. The first time I tested each fret, most were on the flat side by a few cents. I have perfect pitch so I could hear each nasty note. So, I recrowned the frets and found that I over corrected them, making each note slightly sharp. I've recrowned the frets 4 times now and I still had a problem with the notes being slightly sharp. I have a traditional fret crowning file, which is cut steel. I decided that maybe a diamond fret file would be easier to use. As I was pricing them, I ran across the Thomas Ginex High Speed Fret Crowing Tool.
At first glance the Thomas Ginex seemed counter intuitive, because you run the tool the length of the fretboard, against the frets. After thinking about it for a little while, it dawned on me that it would work, because you run the tool both directions, up and down the fretboard. I decided to order it and give it a try. I got it in the mail today, so I pulled out my 00 to test it. Its made of nice heavy metal. It has 4 "humps", which run over the frets in both directions.
WOW! It took me much longer to prep the guitar than to crown the frets. I masked off the wood and put some paper on both sides of the board to protect the top against the dust. One of the things that impressed me about the tool is that you don't file along the frets, so you have less chance of slipping and marring the top of the guitar. Crowning and polishing took me a total of about 3 minutes. I used the enclosed 400 grit crocus cloth, then the finer cloth for polishing. I applied even pressure, then ran the tool up and down the board about 25 times with each cloth. I dusted her off, tightened the strings and tested each fret.
The intonation on each fret is spot on, or maybe 1/2 cent off. I honestly doubt that it could be better. The Thomas Ginex High Speed Fret Crowning Tool worked like a charm. I'm definitely an idiot and I found an idiot proof way of crowning the frets. On the plus side, it runs about $16 on Ebay, which is much cheaper than a diamond fret file. They sell refills for the crocus cloth, but you can buy letter sized crocus cloth in a variety of grits and cut it yourself to save money.
I thought I'd let you guys know whether this thing works. It works great and I highly recommend it.
If you were to test the intonation by harmonics or open compared with the 12th fret, you would think that it's as perfect as it can be, but I found slight variations as I worked my way up the neck. The first time I tested each fret, most were on the flat side by a few cents. I have perfect pitch so I could hear each nasty note. So, I recrowned the frets and found that I over corrected them, making each note slightly sharp. I've recrowned the frets 4 times now and I still had a problem with the notes being slightly sharp. I have a traditional fret crowning file, which is cut steel. I decided that maybe a diamond fret file would be easier to use. As I was pricing them, I ran across the Thomas Ginex High Speed Fret Crowing Tool.
At first glance the Thomas Ginex seemed counter intuitive, because you run the tool the length of the fretboard, against the frets. After thinking about it for a little while, it dawned on me that it would work, because you run the tool both directions, up and down the fretboard. I decided to order it and give it a try. I got it in the mail today, so I pulled out my 00 to test it. Its made of nice heavy metal. It has 4 "humps", which run over the frets in both directions.
WOW! It took me much longer to prep the guitar than to crown the frets. I masked off the wood and put some paper on both sides of the board to protect the top against the dust. One of the things that impressed me about the tool is that you don't file along the frets, so you have less chance of slipping and marring the top of the guitar. Crowning and polishing took me a total of about 3 minutes. I used the enclosed 400 grit crocus cloth, then the finer cloth for polishing. I applied even pressure, then ran the tool up and down the board about 25 times with each cloth. I dusted her off, tightened the strings and tested each fret.
The intonation on each fret is spot on, or maybe 1/2 cent off. I honestly doubt that it could be better. The Thomas Ginex High Speed Fret Crowning Tool worked like a charm. I'm definitely an idiot and I found an idiot proof way of crowning the frets. On the plus side, it runs about $16 on Ebay, which is much cheaper than a diamond fret file. They sell refills for the crocus cloth, but you can buy letter sized crocus cloth in a variety of grits and cut it yourself to save money.
I thought I'd let you guys know whether this thing works. It works great and I highly recommend it.