Removing the frets on the Mike Bloomfield Tele
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- Опубликовано: 12 сен 2024
- www.stewmac.com/
The Mike Bloomfield Tele is back in Dan’s shop. It's in for a refret, and that means working very carefully on this historic guitar. As Dan pulls all the frets, does he manage to avoid chipping the old rosewood fingerboard?
This is the 1963 Tele that Mike Bloomfield used to record iconic guitar solos with Bob Dylan and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1965.
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Thank you for remembering and honoring the great Mike Bloomfield. I'm an old dude.
He’s like the bob Ross of guitar repair!
Well said. Great observation. It's always interesting to watch a true artist.
I think your right
I was litterly just thinking that before i read the comments
Pow Music don’t pay attention to the chip stopper when it drops, just let it fall.
So soothing haha
happy little frets
Please show this neck go back together. It's so nice to watch a real master at work:-)
+Woodeso's Guitar Mods Yes I would love to see Dan refretting his neck!
Dan should just make a new guitar with the old neck on it that'd be cool
I,m self taught watching these masters at work but when I radius a rosewood fretboard I collect all the sawdust and use a spot of superglue on the exposed fret end slots and chips,drop some dust on,let it harden then sand and polish,works great !
These videos are invaluable! They're beautifully shot and instructed! Like others commenting, I'd love to see part 2 of this and see how fretting this guitar, with such a delicate fretboard, is fretted properly.
Dan is the guy that taught me to attempt my first fret job with his book many years ago. The trick is learning all the details, and using the right tools. A good fret job is usually better than a factory fret job, making the guitar more playable than new. I have refretted Japanese guitars that play better than Fender/Gibson guitars. Best guitar I ever played was a early 70's Japanese guitar with the action so low you could barely fit a business card under the strings. 2nd best guitar I played was my guitar teachers 59' Les Paul that he sold to Greg Alman around 1983 that had action so good (original frets filed) that all beginner guitars should have action that low.
At last! I have searched high & low for videos of how to raise a fret...this gives the best insight, using heat. Every other video is about levelling the frets. Thank you sir!!
Great work, Dan. You are a master. I hope there's a subsequent video that shows you putting new frets in this historic neck.
Dan, I really appreciate your calm, clear and logical videos. Unlike many other luthier videos on RUclips, you avoid hyperbole. Thanks
Thanks for the great tutorial video! I've been putting off refretting my Classical guitar with ebony fingerboard for years. It has scalloped edges for some thumb over the top playing. I love working on my guitars, but I was afraid the edges of the fingerboard might tear off while removing the frets.
I followed your video carefully, used a soldering iron, and brushed the frets with a little water before heating them up. I heated up the ends of the frets a bit more - until the water bubbled a little. I carefully and slowly lifted the frets up using a nipper just as you demonstrated. All the frets came out with out any problems or chips! It only took about 30 minutes or so to remove them. Honestly, it was surprisingly easy to remove them. I'll never be hesitant about removing frets again.
Thanks again. Now it's time to clean up the fingerboard, etc. so I can install the new frets!
Wow. This guy’s hands....all those years of experience...
And not messing things up
Wow.
Great job
Dan is amazing. Just the greatest teacher anyone could ask for.
I like the water idea! Some people on TDPRI suggested tightening the truss rod, giving the neck a back bow so the frets come out easier. Another suggested scoring the frets before they come out.
What an amazing, vast well of knowledge. Dan Erlewine is a LEGEND.
Nicely done. I am getting close to re-fretting my old MIM strat and this is the first video I've seen that suggests using a little bit of water which looks like a good idea to me as it also acts as an indicator of how hot the fret is getting when using the solder iron. Cheers.
Dan,you are the czar of repairs...thank you so much for your informative videos!
Met Dan in Columbus Ohio. What a treat it was to talk to a legend!
I’d read where a young Seymour Duncan worked in a shop that used old Fender necks for firewood.
When the shop got cold, they’d grab a neck or two from the pile, cut it in half with a bandsaw, and toss them into and old wood-burning stove.
Eventually there’d be a bile of old, burnt frets & truss-rods at the bottom.
I guess Fender necks were too much trouble to re-fret so they used ‘em as kindling.
What an Excellent Job! Someone who loves the instrument as well as the work. Kudos !
Such an incredibly historic instrument to be working on. Many years ago a friend of mine had the opportunity to examine Bloomfields fabled 59 Burst. The owner asked if the guitar should be refretted because of extensive fret wear. He said no. He thought the wear was the result of Mike's playing and therefore it was part of the history of the guitar. A tough call really.
Bloomfield’s ‘59 Burst was actually Dan’s first! They traded for money and a goldtop with P-90’s! That story is the stuff of legends!
@@vayabroder729 Yes, I was aware of that history of the guitar. I have wondered if Dan ever regretted parting with it or if he was more philosophical about it and knew the guitar was destined for the hands of a master bluesman like Bloomfield.
I like your sence of humor and of cource your knowledge and skills are awesome! Greetings from Latvia!
I learn so much with every video. Thank you, Dan.
If I ever need a major operation to save my life, I want the surgical equivalent of Dan Erlewine.
i want dan erlewine
Except the part where he's poking around the neck with an exacto knife scratching it.
“Now the artery is bleeding, but I’m in no rush because this isn’t my neck.”
Awesome as usual Dan,I look forward to your videos! So much what you say and do pertains to life,as well as the guitar! Take care,look forward, for more greatness,down to Earth instructional videos!
I had Fred Stewart refret a 72 reissue Tele Custom for me with Dunlop 6105 frets. He wouldn’t let me watch him do the job. It was a maple board with gloss finish. He did a GREAT job, but, then we are talking about a Tele master tech.
It was awesome to see another master tech do the job. Thank you for the video!
BTW……. Leo called the visor he wore his “Peepers” ………… a little Leo History….
I have an original 72 custom. Know anything about the fret slots being wedge shaped and needing to be drifted out? That's what a tech told me.
I don’t think they are wedge shaped. But it might be better if they were drifted out to keep the slots in good shape. There may be a little finish chipping on the end that the fret is going out on, but, that would be an easy touch up….
i wouldn't mind having one of those frets :)
These help me stay calm during the lockdown. Thanks and keep safe.
Stewart is one of the few real craftmen left! Well done Sir
Thank you sir. Sounds and looks clear without music to distract
Chose the right day to start sniffing glue, Dan!
A True Master at his Craft ... What a Pleasure to watch ... thank you ..
I just bought an all original 1958 Fender Stratocaster that had been stored in its case in a bedroom closet since 1981. It was bought off of the original owner. The guitar is in immaculate shape and was played very little from 1958 to 1981. We went through everything with 2 verified, separate experts and both agreed it all original and in fantastic shape.
Great video! Is there going to be a video with the refret?
Loving this Tele rebuild series
I want him to redo the frets on my guitar. He was really careful not to hurt the fretboard. 10/10
Your method is mindfull , explanation with animation is usefull, bravo.
A true guitar surgeon without doubt!!
Excellent info. Thank you.
We want the refret video! ;)
What a Pro! Joy to watch!! Great advice , thank you.
I'm a little confused. You said you would normally pull the fret wires up by sliding them forward instead of straight outward away from the neck. But you did the opposite that you said you normally don't want to do bc you felt like that guitar has been done before and doing it that way is fine for your case. But I think most people that are looking at how to do this won't be in your unique situation.
A true, knowledgeable craftsman.
Would love to see this as a series
Dan is living his dream which started for him as a kid 50 years ago, now worshiping the idol relic.
How possibly could he have imagined back then that someday that guitar he would sonehow hold.
What are the markings that look like side dots on the treble side of the neck? Aaah! I've just looked through the comments and seen the story. The dots look a darned sight neater than that hacked out cutaway.
Another interesting video. Never less than interesting here at StewMac
Great videos. Truly fascinating
This guy's a frigging pro man ...
No, Dan's THE pro. Everyone else is an amateur in comparison!
Another great vid! Thanks for sharing your wisdom Dan!
Excellent video. Thanks for uploading.
I love this man!!!
He is a national treasure.
Great work. Don't be dismayed if they don't come out this easy though! I'm doing a Squier SE at the moment and they are a pain in the ass. Still no chips though.
You're always doing a good job! The design of the apron is different from what is on sale now, isn't it?
This guy does great work!
Man, what a wonderful job!
Thank you! I planned on repairing a Strat clone I have, partially or fully Im not sure yet. Didnt know the frets had studs like that?
Thanks for the video Steward!
Thank you so much for this, I'm learning a lot.
Thanks for showing us the part most of us have already managed to handle, stew. Not being ironic but it did help me know i hadn't screwed my project up completely and was on the right track. And no i didnt pay for their tutorials that would have been really handy, ive done a few re frets and i feel you simply get better with experience
Whatever you do to this guitar please film it. I've been waiting for you to work on this.
"Put the body in the case, because I don't want to be scratching it during the fret job." Most scratched-up body on his show so far.
Love your videos Dan. You seem like a real likable guy. Hope to meet ya someday. I live in Ashland KY. Not far from ya.
The master at work .....
Respect !!!!
I don't want to lacquer my maple neck I just purchased off you or polly it. What kind of oil should I use on it? And just received my stew mack jumbo #150 fret wire pre,cut .and my fingerboard is perfect and very happy with my purchases.
Also! On the magnification glasses - as a luthier, you’re looking to see if any wood fibers are beginning to pull away WELL BEFORE THEY ACTUALLY DO!! bc you do not want to cause ANY FURTHER DAMAGE, which is tough with a guitar that’s seen as much refitting as Mike’s old Tele…
Why would Mike B. have fret markers on the treble side of the fretboard? Is he a lefty? I have a 80s Tele that needs a refret, and I'm so grateful for this video. Thank you Dan! Thankz
+Audio Tech Labs Off memory, the story was that the previous owner before Bloomfield was lefty handed, and decided to hack away at the upper bout to create a cutaway for access to the higher frets. I guess the neck would have been modified as well to suit the left handed player
+KHGuitarFreak1988 the owner after Bloomfield, actually.
+KHGuitarFreak1988 Bloomfield traded/sold his Telecaster to John Nuese of The International Submarine Band. The guitar can be seen being played by Nuese in a film Michael scored called "The Trip" before recording the first album with Electric Flag. Nuese was Lefty.
Somebody needs to patch in that missing chunk from the body while it's in the shop.
I was thinking the exact same thing. Part of me is thinking "well, it's not that bad, it still plays the same, sounds the same etc" and another part just screams "JUST FIX THE THING ALREADY" haha
That would diminish the value, the cut is part of the guitars history. Would you put a working tone pot on Eddie Van Halens Frankenstrat ?
No use of vice grips, he must know what he's doing! Great job Sir.
Vise.
Hey Dan,
I'm really interested to Buy the Visor but it's not in the shop with the 4x and 2x power. Maybe you can bring that version to the shop.
If you don't want to slip with the soldering iron, just buy a tip with a flat surface like they're used doing tiffany glaswork and cut a slight slot in it with a round file.
What do you consider the best way to get frets out of a lacquered maple neck?
Anything against chipout besides cutting the lacquer along the frets?
I do understand. I've been doing the same for the last three years. There is a life to be lived in the next few years. There is a Family to attend and there is our wife who still needs us in spite of old age. It is time to slow down and live.
would love to see the refret and going back together with it
Man I would love one of those frets!
What does brushing water onto the fret do before removal?
Why not push them out from the side? The last frets removed would have the barbs at different locations than the present frets, so you are pulling at new locations.
+Taterly Saladman There was too much strong glue to consider pushing them out - I did make a few taps to test, but not much before deciding "no way"
Thanks, love your books and videos!
master craftsman makin' it look easy.
What are you going to do about worn down(scooped) fretboard? Will it affect the string height in setup? A lot people like this video. Thankz
this man is amazing
Is that a plain tap water you brushed on the fret wire before heating it?
The question I have is, why is Mike Bloomfield's guitar being messed with in the first place? Shouldn't it be in a museum somewhere - as is? I mean, the fret wear/damage IS a big part of the historical provenance... Great video/tech work, of course (that is never up for debate when it comes to these videos).
You may remember a fella who played on David Lettermans show who owns the guitar. Lol
Do I have to make the fret iron concave? Or does it take the shape of the keyboard when we nail it with glue? There is no practical tool for this at home.
I would say start at the bottom of the neck with removing frets, since that area is less frequently played.
Very cool stuff...
Thank you. Solved a big and scary problem for me. :D
Could you please fix that top cutaway.
Maybe some of that residue under the frets contains Bloomfield DNA? Could we possibly clone a new Bloomfield? Maybe one with all the talent & personality intact but with the addiction and insomnia genes deactivated? That'd be awesome.
Theres a guarantee his DNA is there somewhere. No doubt.
If these frets hadn't been pulled straight up before, would you just push them through the fret slot the way they were put in to avoid chipping?
He’s the man.
Cool DAN! BUT...and there's always a BIG BUT somewhere :)....At the end you said, "Whew! not a chip". My question would be...What if that wasn't the case? What if you were faced with several larger chips and a bunch of smaller despite the effort with the heat and chip stopper. Not all the time can I get this result, no matter how careful and methodical I am.
So I leave that hypothetical to you to answer. I have a couple answers in mind, but I'll leave it to you. Bearing in mind the wavey antique and somewhat historic fingerboard.
Thanks DAN. Good to see you hard at work!
Greg
Then you use sawdust from a piece of rosewood mixed with glue. And you always save the chip and glue that back in.
You're a fucking artist, man.
awesome video!!! can i ask what's that boiling liquid that you brush on frets?
Anyone know what he said between 1:02 and 1:11 about the cause of the side chipping? I wonder if he knocked someone's work, and later found out it was a friend who everyone knew had done the last fret replacement, and he didn't want to talk bad about the fret job that was done, otherwise he could have given the wrong reason, and realized it after the video was made, and they decided to just cut it out rather than redo the whole thing.
Awesome vid , many thanks
Just an interesting note, heat will release old superglue by melting it. The problem is that it gives off toxic fumes when you heat it.
Hello Dan, was wondering why the neck is in the jig? I need to re-fret my 74 D35 and it also has excess relief. I will try compression fretting with thicker tanged frets to achieve a flat to slightly back bowed result so that when I string it up it should give me the ideal relief. The excess relief is there even with extra light gauge strings and I would like to go up to at least a light gauge. Should I use the jig, and/or how would you use it to set up the job if indeed you needed the jig. Most re-fret vids I have watched dont involve using the jig. I want to re-fret the neck and then check how close the fret and bridge planes are before deciding if a neck reset is warranted. I would send the guitar to you but I am in New Zealand so it would be expensive and I worry about it getting damaged or worse lost in transit. Any advice would be welcome. Thanks for all your videos, they are great.
I'm surprised you haven't made a body jig that bolts to the frame, with Fender neck pockets for guitar and bass. That would let you bolt it down and you could put a slotted fixture for the bridge so you could drop it forward to release the strings for access and not have to put the old strings back on or put on new ones.
How to attach gitano to guitar
Guitano
Excelente...!!! Gracias...!!!
Dan is such a badass
Does Dan or anyone know if my 1969 telecaster would have had the frets inserted from bass to treble ? It would be just nice to know. I suppose under CBS they just whack em in? The wear on the rosewood board is similar to mikes. I've owned this since approx. 1972 It's all original but I have gigged with it in the 70s a bit. Now it's roadworn??
Was this ever played left handed? Cuz there are cord position markers in the bottom.
What is the problem of the frets? Why he removed it and why not to crowning them or sanding it down so that to reuse it again the frets.
After removing old frets can I use radiused sanding block to sand fingerboard prior to installing new frets??? Radius 16" Ibanez RG550DX LB 1992