Ben I just wanted to say that I watched all seven episodes of the series I am about to take on my first fret replacement and feel very confident in doing it thank you very much for all that you do I watch a lot of your videos and Luthierism (is on if that’s even a word )has come along way thanks again I am in New Jersey USA. If i ever get on that side of the pond i am gonna look u up😉 Dave
So pleased that this has helped. If you have any questions you can email shop@crimson.com or tune in to Ben's podcast Friday or Sunday. We try to make all the tutorial videos easily searchable. I am sure all will go well with the fret replacement. D
Thanks for letting us into your world...10 years ago you would have to attend a workshop or school to get this kind of knowledge...And probably have to travel to LA or NYC.. How lucky and spoiled we are!!! Stay GOLD!!!
This has got to be the best series of videos on this subject that I have come across! As I have 3 electrics, one acoustic and one bass in various stages of fret wear from pretty good to being in dire need of re-fretting and don't have the money to pay to get all the necessary work done this series of videos is invaluable to me! Thank you Ben!
I love the attention to detail and explanations too, it might not be exciting to some but it's necessary for someone like me wanting to learn the process thoroughly Ben, thanks
I wanted to thank you, after watching all seven parts of this, end to end, for doing this, and for taking the time to show so much detail. Very helpful. If I had all these tools, I'd feel like I could dive into some of this. The tools are honestly the highest hurdle to getting into fretting.
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Your welcome! I can't wait to see the finished product on the current build. That thing is wildly imaginative man. I'm tempted to skip through to the last video but I just can't. It's been a pleasure to watch your shop and channel grow.
Great great series. One point: checking for buzz strumming/plucking with your finger isn't the best way. Always use a hard pick. The dynamics of a fleshy finger does not reveal buzzes the same way a pick does. Many craigslist or guitar store finger tests have let me down over the years. Plucked with a pick and they leap out.
100% agree. It also helps to know the playing style of each persons ax we work on. Additionally, somewhere along the way, "years" players have somehow come to believe that they can magically have ridiculously low action and zero buzz, unamplified. It happens, by the sheer luck of the wood, neck angle and set-up dynamics, but that is not the norm. Expectations have to be managed in most people. And if you have an ax like that. DO NOT CHANGE IT!
Really enjoyed the series Ben. Been following your channel for a while now and your attention to detail is really exceptional. Hopefully it will inspire others to not just think about their guitar as a plank with strings. My guitars are not expensive, but I put a lot of time and in love into them, learning as I go. As long as you keep posting videos we'll keep watching :) Bravo sir :)
Bravo! Excellent series Mate! I loved how You stressed finesse throughout. Guitars are truly Temperamental, each has it's own personality. I think You have crystalized this thought process most eloquently! Well Done.
Well, I watched all of these in a row, really great job, the neck looked and sounded great when finished. Have a new Vibe Tele made in China, great neck but a really poor job on the frets so I will see if I learned anything here and will give it a go!
Hi Ben I've enjoyed this tutorial, you and your crew always do a excellent job. I am deeply interested in you're stains! I love the natural beauty and grains in all woods, I started building custom guitars for my self 4 years ago, I'm a professional player and got tired of not having the equipment I desired. I have built approximately 18 different guitars to date. I noticed you don't like using a precut rounded fret file, I too don't like them.However if you take 3000 grit polishing clothe and put it on to the surface of the fret file , it will give you the smoothest roundest fret tops you've ever seen, all my friends have started getting me to do this to there axes. They have played my personal guitars and think they are phenomenal in smoothness. It is important to use the correct size to fit the fret properly. And of course I tape my fret boards. Awesome production sir ! Keep them coming and know you have quite a few veiwers in the states. God bless you and family, crew
I'm embarrassed to say I've only just discovered your channel. I only live down the road in Bridport. I very much enjoy your work and obvious love for what you do. I've got plenty of videos to watch (bit too scared to try a refret just yet though!)
Love the series. I like the way you went into so much detail on all aspect of re-fretting. I would love to see a video on setting the intonation. Still a part I have trouble doing. It would be nice if it could also cover intonation for cigar box builds also. Thanks again for a great series will be waiting for the next one....
I must say at first I expected just listening to the voice a Gandalph type however what a pleasant suprise, I too would trust my guitars to you sir and that if you knew me is the best compliment I could give.
I'm not a luthier, just a player thinking about doing my own work on the worn frets on my 25 year old Yamaha SBG2100. This was a great series Ben, it's inspiring to see a true craftsman doing his stuff. How's that James getting on with his English?
Awesome fret job Ben. This will be an inspiration to my new guitar build. I have new Crimson Guitar tools and stains to hopefully make a great guitar. Thanks for the tutorial.
Wow that was amazing series...learned so much...main thing is never do a fret job myself 😂😂😂 Always wondered how a refret of a Gibson with bindings are done. Thank you. Very talented!!!
Dear Ben & Crimson Guitars! Thanks for this series of guitar videos - there're a lot of good information to get here! I have used some of it on the last guitar I set up and fret levelled - it turned out great! I have a question though, about the point where you, Ben, uses the feeler gauges to set the nut action at the 1st fret. What feeler gauges and measurement do you go for, when setting the nut action?? Is it kind of the same measurement on all strings or maybe an individual measurement? My reason for asking is because I have a guitar where I suspect that nut slots of being a little too high on some strings. I've measured using feeler gauges the way you did, but without really knowing what to shoot for at the nut action. It would be nice to hear what you aim for :-) The strings I suspect of being too high in the nut slots is right now causing some of the notes to go a little sharp, when pressing the strings down. Thanks - I hope to get a reply from you :-) KB.
Great series of videos and very informative. You shouldn't tune it up laid flat though as (believe it or not) gravity affects the tuning! If you don't believe me play a string with it laid flat and then move the guitar upright as it rings - you'll hear the change in pitch
Another great one Ben! Ben the tool-man Taylor.... ;-) And you didn't make me watch you Nib 42 individual fret ends! Edits rule! Keep up the great work! Live long & prosper; may the force be with you... Raney day, Out..
Fantastic tutorial Ben, I have exausted myself just in watching you. Now I have one question and it is this, The fall away from I think the 12th to the 22nd or 24th fret,...After you have done the fall away is there a measurement of height difference between the 12th and 22nd when a straight edge is placed on the flatted frets to the very last fret which you aim for? Sorry it's a bit long winded 'cause I dont know how else to put it. Thanks very much.
Ben, thank you for the video. As an aspiring hobbyist luthier, I get a lot of help from videos like this. Question: how well does a strip of aluminum, or several, work as a shim under the nut? Apart from the visible shiny bit, I have found it to work well, and the material is more readily available to me than mahogany veneer. Also, is a full coat of superglue on the nut better than just a small dot to hold it in place? How much is too much?
Hi Ben, Great series. I would have thought you would have been (or seemed) more nerve-wracked considering the history, etc. of the instrument! Nerves of steel! I was wondering, what is your preferred adhesive to use to secure a brass nut? I was thinking that an epoxy might be the best considering the different materials but epoxy is pretty thick and could be a problem if/when you needed to remove the nut in the future. What do you use? Thanks for the videos! -mike
I have to shim up a Floyd nut. I bought a 3mm piece of maple, i have to sand it a little bit. Should i glue it to the neck, or just with the Floyd screws is enough to hold everything? what's better? thanks!
Recently got hold of an Alsin Dane SG, with a composite fret board. I didn't like it at first but now I've learnt to tame it I'm in love with the SG. Any thoughts on composite fret boards?
How you going to get that nut out now ben if needs be ? with an already broken headstock..Anyway great lot of info shared and i thank you for sharing your years gained knowledge . Very kind of you to sir All the best from lancashire. Btw Take my comments with a pinch of salt.. ALAPWB
Great video , but would liked to have heard the size of the gauges you used to set up the nut and neck relief,as well as the points you pressed when you checked them, did you use factory specs or your own? and where could we find specs ? Do you have another video covering this topic in detail? Thank you.
I thought the idea was to flatten the fretboard when all the strings were removed....and that was it. What would cause you to readjust the truss rod with all the strings under tension?
Veneer may not necessarily have the properties of the neck does it? Even if the species is the same the variation from tree to tree (or even parts of the tree) may be so big that what matters is the properties.
It did worry me a bit seeing the neck bend when you put pressure on it, and Gibson SG's are renowned for neck breaks? How much do you charge for a refret?
If I wanted to sand back my Explorer but without taking off the serial number and the custom shop transfer, how would I do that? I don't want to change the colour, I just want to fix the terrible varnish job.
Aesthetics, tone, sentimental value .. I always keep the nut if its original. It works. Its cut and worn in perfectly to the artists preferred string size etc. Also the patina is impossible to reproduce and a new nut looks off on an old worn in guitar.
@@cgavin1 the aesthetics and sentimental value I definitely get, but I feel like he's changing the original nut anyway by shimming it and making the grooves deeper. I feel like a new nut could be better fitted than the old worn one, especially when the guitar was refretted anyway. But I'm sure he asked the guy if he wanted to go with original or new anyway, so it's not our call. I think if the material of the new nut was kept identical, any tonal difference would be negligible.
Rebuilding a really low budget Gibson Maestro and am getting set up for the refret (the original frets were exceedingly soft and misshapen) but I do not have a fret tang nipper. Was considering simply filing the tangs with a needle file as the binding I replaced on the fretboard is very thin (0.5mm ish). The replacement binding is wood (100 year old spruce scrounged from my 100 year old house), not plastic, so if there is any bump on the tang, it should embed itself into the wood. My question is concerning alternative methods of removing the tang tips efficiently without a fret tang nipper. Any suggestions?
pinantan001 I have done several re-fretts using files. You just have to take care to never bend or warp the fret with excessive pressure. I found a jig with a half round indentation to help hold the fret in place made it easier. Just be patient and it should work fine.
Am no telling ma granny how to suck eggs buddy but are the nut slots not too deep, should material not be removed from top of nut to allow string resonance? Enjoyed videos Regards willie
All 7 episodes were brilliant.. ITS KELLY JONES SG and to know that you made Robert Fripp a guitar proves you are one of the best there is
Ben I just wanted to say that I watched all seven episodes of the series I am about to take on my first fret replacement and feel very confident in doing it thank you very much for all that you do I watch a lot of your videos and Luthierism (is on if that’s even a word )has come along way thanks again I am in New Jersey USA. If i ever get on that side of the pond i am gonna look u up😉
Dave
So pleased that this has helped. If you have any questions you can email shop@crimson.com or tune in to Ben's podcast Friday or Sunday. We try to make all the tutorial videos easily searchable.
I am sure all will go well with the fret replacement. D
I love this kind of precision work. I found it fascinating, thank you!
Just watched all 7 videos and thanks, really interesting and informative and I love SGs and I'm a fan of the Stereophonics too.
Loved this series of videos from first minute to last. Thank you.
Thanks for letting us into your world...10 years ago you would have to attend a workshop or school to get this kind of knowledge...And probably have to travel to LA or NYC.. How lucky and spoiled we are!!! Stay GOLD!!!
This has got to be the best series of videos on this subject that I have come across! As I have 3 electrics, one acoustic and one bass in various stages of fret wear from pretty good to being in dire need of re-fretting and don't have the money to pay to get all the necessary work done this series of videos is invaluable to me! Thank you Ben!
i admire your passion and talent for teaching enormously Ben! joy to watch.
I love the attention to detail and explanations too, it might not be exciting to some but it's necessary for someone like me wanting to learn the process thoroughly Ben, thanks
I wanted to thank you, after watching all seven parts of this, end to end, for doing this, and for taking the time to show so much detail. Very helpful. If I had all these tools, I'd feel like I could dive into some of this. The tools are honestly the highest hurdle to getting into fretting.
This whole process was so soothing and informative to watch. Thank you sir
A great series! I also never seen a guitar strung like that. I'm going to try it also. thanks again
Excellent work friend. I absolutely love your depth of detail and enthusiasm. I'd say your one of the best on the tube. Keep the videos coming
thank you, I certainly will keep making videos, I enjoy it so damn much! B
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars Your welcome! I can't wait to see the finished product on the current build. That thing is wildly imaginative man. I'm tempted to skip through to the last video but I just can't. It's been a pleasure to watch your shop and channel grow.
Very very good job sir! I'm a guitarist and find watching these videos very satisfying. I'm sure jonesy loved your work on the SG
Great great series. One point: checking for buzz strumming/plucking with your finger isn't the best way. Always use a hard pick. The dynamics of a fleshy finger does not reveal buzzes the same way a pick does. Many craigslist or guitar store finger tests have let me down over the years. Plucked with a pick and they leap out.
100% agree. It also helps to know the playing style of each persons ax we work on. Additionally, somewhere along the way, "years" players have somehow come to believe that they can magically have ridiculously low action and zero buzz, unamplified. It happens, by the sheer luck of the wood, neck angle and set-up dynamics, but that is not the norm. Expectations have to be managed in most people. And if you have an ax like that. DO NOT CHANGE IT!
great series of videos showing the whole process, sat glued to my computer thoroughly enjoyed
Excellent and compelling viewing!! Especially as it was the Number 1 guitar of one of my favourite singer songwriter guitarists!!
Really enjoyed the series Ben. Been following your channel for a while now and your attention to detail is really exceptional.
Hopefully it will inspire others to not just think about their guitar as a plank with strings.
My guitars are not expensive, but I put a lot of time and in love into them, learning as I go.
As long as you keep posting videos we'll keep watching :)
Bravo sir :)
Enjoyed this series on the Stereophonics re-fret.Very informative.
Bravo! Excellent series Mate! I loved how You stressed finesse throughout. Guitars are truly Temperamental, each has it's own personality. I think You have crystalized this thought process most eloquently! Well Done.
would be nice to see Kelly receive the guitar to see what his reaction is to the new setup.
Thank you very much for these videos Ben.
Well, I watched all of these in a row, really great job, the neck looked and sounded great when finished. Have a new Vibe Tele made in China, great neck but a really poor job on the frets so I will see if I learned anything here and will give it a go!
Very enjoyable series. Thank you.
+gitksanamo thank you for your support!
I really enjoyed this series. You have such skills.
I really enjoyed this series - I looked forward to each new instalment every day this week. Thank you.
For once we share a common favourite band. I'd like to see Ben build a Kelly Jones signature ^^
Kinda wish the end would have been the presentation to Kelly Jones, but thank you for the very informative tuition!
Me too, sadly this such a tush it was done via private courier
@@CrimsonCustomGuitars But he loved it, right? 🙂
Great series of videos. Learned a few things about refreting and what to be aware of.
Keep up the great work!
Hi Ben I've enjoyed this tutorial, you and your crew always do a excellent job. I am deeply interested in you're stains! I love the natural beauty and grains in all woods, I started building custom guitars for my self 4 years ago, I'm a professional player and got tired of not having the equipment I desired. I have built approximately 18 different guitars to date. I noticed you don't like using a precut rounded fret file, I too don't like them.However if you take 3000 grit polishing clothe and put it on to the surface of the fret file , it will give you the smoothest roundest fret tops you've ever seen, all my friends have started getting me to do this to there axes. They have played my personal guitars and think they are phenomenal in smoothness. It is important to use the correct size to fit the fret properly. And of course I tape my fret boards. Awesome production sir ! Keep them coming and know you have quite a few veiwers in the states. God bless you and family, crew
@11:25 Ben: "No Buzzing"
@11:30 Fly: "Wanna bet?"
Great series Ben ... I learnt so much. Thank you!!
My pleasure, thanks for watching! B
I'm embarrassed to say I've only just discovered your channel. I only live down the road in Bridport. I very much enjoy your work and obvious love for what you do. I've got plenty of videos to watch (bit too scared to try a refret just yet though!)
Exceptional viewing. Thanks, Ben - It was greatly appreciated.
Learned a whole lot. Thank you!
Love the series. I like the way you went into so much detail on all aspect of re-fretting. I would love to see a video on setting the intonation. Still a part I have trouble doing. It would be nice if it could also cover intonation for cigar box builds also. Thanks again for a great series will be waiting for the next one....
I must say at first I expected just listening to the voice a Gandalph type however what a pleasant suprise, I too would trust my guitars to you sir and that if you knew me is the best compliment I could give.
This was a great, informative series. Thank you for putting this together!
My pleasures thank you for watching! B
Love the new intro, Ben.
What did he say how it played? A reaction would've been nice =)
I assume he liked it as he is possibly playing it here in this concert ruclips.net/video/JOrrurEMLEI/видео.html
I'm not a luthier, just a player thinking about doing my own work on the worn frets on my 25 year old Yamaha SBG2100. This was a great series Ben, it's inspiring to see a true craftsman doing his stuff. How's that James getting on with his English?
9:32 Wow, I've never seen or considered this technique before. This will make changing strings a breeze.
Great videos. Didn't expect to be here from watching Stereophonics videos but good stuff to know!
Awesome fret job Ben. This will be an inspiration to my new guitar build. I have new Crimson Guitar tools and stains to hopefully make a great guitar. Thanks for the tutorial.
Another brilliant series, thank you Ben. It would be good to hear some feedback from Mr Jones...
Show Kelly's reaction when he plays it for the first time. That is the ultimate test of a good or great fret job, the owner's satisfaction.
Wow that was amazing series...learned so much...main thing is never do a fret job myself 😂😂😂 Always wondered how a refret of a Gibson with bindings are done. Thank you. Very talented!!!
Most excellent series, Ben. Very informative and alway interesting to watch. Have you had any feedback from Kelly Jones re his #1 guitar?
Great series. You should have done a video of the handover to Kelly
Another great video. Thank you. Cheers
A fabulous series
You are a luthier legend
Slinky greens! love it. Great series, not sure if I'm more or less confidant on making a neck from scratch. Gave a lot of help hints though
I made a nut from purple heart for an old Tiesco bass SG shape seems to work ok .
Fascinating videos and lovely work Ben, what was Kelly's feedback when he got the guitar back?
Thanks Ben really enjoyed this mate
Dear Ben & Crimson Guitars!
Thanks for this series of guitar videos - there're a lot of good information to get here!
I have used some of it on the last guitar I set up and fret levelled - it turned out great!
I have a question though, about the point where you, Ben, uses the feeler gauges to set the nut action at the 1st fret.
What feeler gauges and measurement do you go for, when setting the nut action??
Is it kind of the same measurement on all strings or maybe an individual measurement?
My reason for asking is because I have a guitar where I suspect that nut slots of being a little too high on some strings.
I've measured using feeler gauges the way you did, but without really knowing what to shoot for at the nut action.
It would be nice to hear what you aim for :-)
The strings I suspect of being too high in the nut slots is right now causing some of the notes to go a little sharp, when pressing the strings down.
Thanks - I hope to get a reply from you :-)
KB.
Great series of videos and very informative. You shouldn't tune it up laid flat though as (believe it or not) gravity affects the tuning! If you don't believe me play a string with it laid flat and then move the guitar upright as it rings - you'll hear the change in pitch
Great series Ben ! Thank you for sharing !
Love the series, beautiful. Cheers.
Great work, Ben!
Another great one Ben! Ben the tool-man Taylor.... ;-) And you didn't make me watch you Nib 42 individual fret ends! Edits rule! Keep up the great work! Live long & prosper; may the force be with you... Raney day, Out..
Never seen a guitar strung like that. Might try it next string change.
Some RUclips Guy no i put the string through the string post then wind it. not wind it first then put it through the post.
Can't remember where I learned it but I was taught it as "the roadie's way" and have always done it that way. .
brilliant series, thanks very much!
Fantastic tutorial Ben, I have exausted myself just in watching you. Now I have one question and it is this, The fall away from I think the 12th to the 22nd or 24th fret,...After you have done the fall away is there a measurement of height difference between the 12th and 22nd when a straight edge is placed on the flatted frets to the very last fret which you aim for? Sorry it's a bit long winded 'cause I dont know how else to put it. Thanks very much.
Thanks for this great tutorial serie Ben
Great work, thanks for posting.
Excellent series
4.05 that vice is so nice.....
just watched the series,exellent stuff. how happy was kelly with the job? looked great.
Much learned here. Thank you.
Love it Ben Brilliant insight!
Ben, thank you for the video. As an aspiring hobbyist luthier, I get a lot of help from videos like this.
Question: how well does a strip of aluminum, or several, work as a shim under the nut? Apart from the visible shiny bit, I have found it to work well, and the material is more readily available to me than mahogany veneer.
Also, is a full coat of superglue on the nut better than just a small dot to hold it in place? How much is too much?
Cheers Ben, as always very informative. Only problem i have with you videos is that they leave me wanting to buy more tools...
Superb job!
Hi Ben,
Great series. I would have thought you would have been (or seemed) more nerve-wracked considering the history, etc. of the instrument! Nerves of steel! I was wondering, what is your preferred adhesive to use to secure a brass nut? I was thinking that an epoxy might be the best considering the different materials but epoxy is pretty thick and could be a problem if/when you needed to remove the nut in the future. What do you use? Thanks for the videos!
-mike
Brilliant job!! Cheers
I have to shim up a Floyd nut. I bought a 3mm piece of maple, i have to sand it a little bit. Should i glue it to the neck, or just with the Floyd screws is enough to hold everything? what's better? thanks!
loved these vids saw them all
Nice series.
What's his reaction? Like it?
I assume he liked it as he is possibly playing it here in this concert ruclips.net/video/JOrrurEMLEI/видео.html
Recently got hold of an Alsin Dane SG, with a composite fret board. I didn't like it at first but now I've learnt to tame it I'm in love with the SG. Any thoughts on composite fret boards?
How you going to get that nut out now ben if needs be ? with an already broken headstock..Anyway great lot of info shared and i thank you for sharing your years gained knowledge . Very kind of you to sir All the best from lancashire. Btw Take my comments with a pinch of salt.. ALAPWB
Just fit a new nut!
Great video , but would liked to have heard the size of the gauges you used to set up the nut and neck relief,as well as the points you pressed when you checked them, did you use factory specs or your own? and where could we find specs ? Do you have another video covering this topic in detail? Thank you.
Its easy to work out . 10,s fitted relief 10 thou string height factor specs
I thought the idea was to flatten the fretboard when all the strings were removed....and that was it.
What would cause you to readjust the truss rod with all the strings under tension?
Veneer may not necessarily have the properties of the neck does it? Even if the species is the same the variation from tree to tree (or even parts of the tree) may be so big that what matters is the properties.
Did Kelly like his new frets and set-up?
Very enjoyable series the 7 part Kelly jones sg,Did you find out if he was happy with the finished product??
steven lawson well he must be as later with jools holland live on 28th October he was playing it .
It was interesting, thanks.
It did worry me a bit seeing the neck bend when you put pressure on it, and Gibson SG's are renowned for neck breaks? How much do you charge for a refret?
Purchased one of your 12" fret leveling beams for frets and edges of tops and backs. 12"
is hard to find. Thanks
How much do you charge for this kind of job?
If I wanted to sand back my Explorer but without taking off the serial number and the custom shop transfer, how would I do that? I don't want to change the colour, I just want to fix the terrible varnish job.
I've been wondering: is that a Crimson leveling beam with a plug or is it someone else's?
Ben:- "...NOW...!"
"..sigh......"
:-)
Instead of shimming, why not just replace the nut? Is there any reason to keep the original nut on there aside from sentimental value?
Aesthetics, tone, sentimental value ..
I always keep the nut if its original. It works. Its cut and worn in perfectly to the artists preferred string size etc.
Also the patina is impossible to reproduce and a new nut looks off on an old worn in guitar.
@@cgavin1 the aesthetics and sentimental value I definitely get, but I feel like he's changing the original nut anyway by shimming it and making the grooves deeper. I feel like a new nut could be better fitted than the old worn one, especially when the guitar was refretted anyway. But I'm sure he asked the guy if he wanted to go with original or new anyway, so it's not our call. I think if the material of the new nut was kept identical, any tonal difference would be negligible.
Rebuilding a really low budget Gibson Maestro and am getting set up for the refret (the original frets were exceedingly soft and misshapen) but I do not have a fret tang nipper. Was considering simply filing the tangs with a needle file as the binding I replaced on the fretboard is very thin (0.5mm ish). The replacement binding is wood (100 year old spruce scrounged from my 100 year old house), not plastic, so if there is any bump on the tang, it should embed itself into the wood. My question is concerning alternative methods of removing the tang tips efficiently without a fret tang nipper. Any suggestions?
pinantan001 I have done several re-fretts using files. You just have to take care to never bend or warp the fret with excessive pressure. I found a jig with a half round indentation to help hold the fret in place made it easier. Just be patient and it should work fine.
Am no telling ma granny how to suck eggs buddy but are the nut slots not too deep, should material not be removed from top of nut to allow string resonance? Enjoyed videos Regards willie
No shim of Mahogany for that extra Tone?
Loved the videos thanks. Can't believe you didn't clean the guitar properly though.