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Perfectly dressed fret end.
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=50025
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Author:  bcombs510 [ Sat Dec 09, 2017 6:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Perfectly dressed fret end.

Ken Franklin wrote:
Hesh wrote:
Ken Franklin wrote:
Or you can just turn your nippers 90 degrees.


You most certainly can except for certain locations such as the glued down fret board extension where there is not room to have the nippers horizontal on conventionally built flat tops. Sometimes you have to have your nippers vertical and that's where filing the fangs away and playing orthodontist can aid in appearances, uniformity and in some cases feel too. Fangs suck. ;)


You must have different nippers than I do. No problem for me with glued fretboard extensions.


Which nippers do you have? I haven’t seen a pair that can be in the horizontal position while nipping fret ends on the extension. If you have a pic that would be great.


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Author:  Clinchriver [ Sun Dec 10, 2017 4:11 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Perfectly dressed fret end.

My latest fret end process. These are Jescar .057X.110 stainless steel lets just say BIG, 10 degree bevel, slight radius across and from top to bottom, then polish. The local shredders love these.

Author:  Hesh [ Sun Dec 10, 2017 7:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Perfectly dressed fret end.

Beautiful Clinch! [clap] [clap] [clap]

Author:  dberkowitz [ Thu Dec 28, 2017 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Perfectly dressed fret end.

Hesh wrote:
Fret ends at the professional levels of the trade are a bit of a signature thing and there is no "perfect" only different styles as J is pointing out.

Here are some criteria that I look for and again it's a personal thing with no written right or wrong however there are things that clearly are more functional than others, that's what I look for.

1). Preservation of as much of the valuable top of fret real estate as possible without..... being proud or sharp. Or, in other words, no radical bevel like f*ctories do....
2). Intentional!
3). No fangs.....
4). scratchless and refined.
5). This is huge and don't laugh, we see it all of the time especially on Luthier built guitars - NOT loose.....

Fret ends at their best are not noticed.... and not in any way an impediment to playing. Players only seem to notice them when there is a problem so don't create any problems..... Because after all guitars are tools for musicians....

I've never had anyone ask me for a specific style of ends but we have been asked plenty of times if we can nix the stinkin.... radical bevel and preserve valuable fret top surface.



Beveling is a matter of taste. I deliberately over bevel my fret ends by 1mm into the fingerboard to give it a little break that eases it against the hand.

Author:  Woodie G [ Thu Dec 28, 2017 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Perfectly dressed fret end.

I think you've given Gibson their ad copy for the Spring 2018 campaign:

"We deliberately over-bevel the bejesus out of our fret ends, because a break eases them against the hand."

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