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Lowest fret height after a redress?
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Author:  Colin North [ Sun Jun 09, 2019 6:02 am ]
Post subject:  Lowest fret height after a redress?

What's the lowest fret height you've gone to for a fret redress?
Got a butchered (in several ways) Gibson L30 in (client purchased cheap) requesting a fret dress (to make it more playable) and a general tidy up.
Fret height at the lower end of the FB is ~0.44mm (0.0173") rising to 0.56mm (0.022") at the 12th.
Has couple of small nicks in frets 2 and 6 so would need to lower fret plane to about 0.0140" at 1st fret.
Is this practical?
P.S. I do have a cant file.

Author:  Chris Pile [ Sun Jun 09, 2019 8:16 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Lowest fret height after a redress?

Lowest I've ever done on purpose is about .020.... On low stuff, it's really a pain to crown the frets. There is just no meat to work with, and no room to work the file. I end up radiusing the frets from both sides, and it takes about 3 times longer to get them looking good. I charge extra for it, too.

Author:  Ben-Had [ Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lowest fret height after a redress?

I try not to go below 0.030".

Author:  B. Howard [ Sun Jun 09, 2019 4:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lowest fret height after a redress?

This gets to be a bit of a player preference thing. Most players are good down to about .035", any lower and a good number will start to complain.

Another consideration is leaving enough fret crown to facilitate removal.... If the crowns are too thin they rip off of the tang which stays put. Anything less than .020 and this gets to be a problem.

Based on your numbers that Gibby needs new frets.

Author:  Colin North [ Sun Jun 09, 2019 5:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Lowest fret height after a redress?

Thanks folks. I didn't re-zero my depth guage correctly. Lowest fret was actually 0.024".
Fret job is done
Owner is a jazz player and this is an extra for occasional use at home, just wants me to tidy it up, so doesn't want a full refret.

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