Phil - Instead of using your finger for pressure (however light) try using a simple pencil eraser ( Staedtler for example) and wrap the paper around it to make the pressure on the fret even.
I use a dremel and flitz polish. Sandpaper or micromesh is great for removing scratches and smoothing the frets before using actual metal polish to get the glassy finish. Steel wool has no business near a guitar, it requires a ton of taping or a magnet inside the wool and even with that bits of metal can still get in places you don't want them and will inevitably start to rust.
Phil, I bought the Rosette Fret Polishing Kit on Amazon for $7.90. (4 grades of 3M micro polishing cloths, included Stainless fret protector. Quality, inexpensive, works well, highly recommend.
$37.90 in Australia by some cowboys called Buy Global - when Rosette are selling it for $7.90 and ship to Australia for free. Someone needs to put these guys down
www.amazon.com.au/Rosette-Guitar-Polishing-Utimate-Cleaning/dp/B00BNVHCYM/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2N62VVHJVF9PO&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1546475411&sr=1-1&keywords=rosette+fret compare that to www.amazon.com/Rosette-Guitar-Polishing-Utimate-Cleaning/dp/B00BNVHCYM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546475246&sr=8-4&keywords=rosette+guitar+3m+fret+polishing+kit
The Lizard Spit Fret Polish System comes with two metal fret guards (different sizes) and hand-cut, thick pads. One kit will do about 7-8 guitars and it does bring a high-gloss, glassy smooth feel back in minutes. After using frine and gorgomyte, the Lizard Spit is a clear winner.
One thing that helped me with this kit a couple of years ago was using a small kid’s eraser and wrapping the paper around it. Less stress on your finger, template doesn’t last long. Less messy than steel wool and quicker, but sw still a little better overall.
I'm a scale modeler and I used Micromesh polishing cloths to clean the frets on an Ibanez acoustic guitar I'd just purchased. I masked off with painter's tape but in the future I'd use the metal template.
I've always used the Dunlop Fret Polish Cloths and they work pretty good. In fact because I've always used them my frets have always looked good and it was only recently when I cleaned up a guitar that hadn't had the strings changed in 20 years! Yes, no exaggeration! That I saw just how effective these polish cloths are. The frets were pretty bad with muck and even though my cloth was pretty well used already, it cleaned them up pretty good.
I've used these, but have had the best results with a foam nail buffing block. Got a package of four of them off Ebay, only cost about $2. Each side of the block has varying degrees of grittiness -- I use sides 3 and 4, and one of those aluminum fretboard guards you mentioned. I think the Music Nomad fretboard protector with the handle would be worth looking into for even easier work.
I tried a few fret cleaners (one like this one, fret rubbers etc.) but I think that paint masking tape and steel wool gives the best result, and is also the cheapest. Steel wool easily rounds itself around the fret, while the others only clean the top of the fret. Also, steel wool is the finest and gives the best shine. Be careful with those steel fret guards, I got cheap ones and they had sharp edges on the sides and they scratched my fretboard while I was working on the frets!
Full sheets of 3M polish cloth in various grit are about $1 each online. One full sheet looks to be about same size as all 5 in that kit. Does work though:)
I tried these for the first time only a few hours before you posted your review. On an electric with frets in fairly decent shape I got the same results you did. On an acoustic with long-neglected frets, not so good. So my take is they're OK for regular maintenance, but if things have gone kind of south, you still need a fret eraser or steel wool. And you're right, they don't put on any kind of shine at all.
I got a 3000 and 5000 grit pad from an auto parts store that works wonders for polishing frets. I think theyre about 10 dollars each, but they have lasted me for several years.
I got these , real easy to use , no worry of steel wool , but I’ll say this , if you want smooth all the time and frets not getting all bent up , stainless steel is the best frets , change your frets to them you be happier than a dog on a t- bone lol , just saying
Best things I've ever used are those Micro Mesh soft touch pads. A woodcraft store near me has them in little 2x2" pads and the grits go all the way up to 12000. I usually start at the 4000 one and go up to 6000, then 8000 and finish with 12000. The Frets look brand new after that.
I’ve found the D’Addario kit is a fairly good, no-fuss solution for cruddy frets and one kit will last a lot of polishes if you’re judicious with the paper. Not a bad product at all.
I watched a video from Dylan Talks Tone regarding a similar product from Lizard Spit. His recommendation was to never ever use steel wool and sandpaper ever, and these should suffice for polishing. My frets weren’t rough but had some friction when I bend. The Lizard Spit fret polish didn’t really smooth out the frets. I decided to go against his suggestion and get a professional polish job where the guitar tech used sandpaper and steel wool. The difference was so good that my strings felt lighter. When a little dirt gets on my frets, I use the Lizard Spit kit to clean and resmoothen my frets and they do an amazing job at that. They’re great for maintaining already smooth frets. But for rough frets, I recommend having a professional job done.
The auto stores have 3000 and 5000 grit foam backed sheets for about $6. They're about twice the size of your squares. Cut easily with sissors, last forever, they are wet/dry and washable. Usually, I use them barely wet, dipped in polish, not water.
I’ve used them, and yeah they work, but I’ve been using 0000 steel wool for over thirty years now and my frets glide better than a hockey rink, it’s readily available in more places (hardware stores, home improvement stores, paint stores), you can see the difference and they’re cheap.
Outstanding video. I am going to order several packs tomorrow. I really enjoy listening to your advice on tricks for the guitar. Keep on pickin, Sniper
I use the Nomad Frine Fret Polish kit a coup[le of times a year on my guitars works well. It comes with some metal fret protectors too. Frets look and feel good after.
Me too, but after the hand polishing with 5000 grit. Not nessarily smoother, but it brightens them up a bit. Stainless is amazing and comes out beautiful, near chrome looking.
I ordered some to try out. I use their strings anyway...and they don't cost much. I did order some of the metal templates as although the cardboard is OK for temp use and a nice touch by the company...the metal ones are better. There are also some nice automotive finishing sanding pads ( I use them on my guitar bodies) that also are very good for fret cleaning. They can be $$$ though...
I have the Dunlop 65 polish kit and a fret polisher came with it, only the Dunlop was 8000 grit as opposed to the 3000 here. However, the kit only came with one sheet about the same size. I’ve used it on multiple guitars and it has definitely made a huge difference... and I get the glassy finish lol.
I may have to pick up a few of these. My guitars could all use some polish, and these look like a great, quick, convenient, affordable solution. Thanks for the video, Phil!
I started with these, then went to steel wool, then went to Music Nomad string instrument polish (the paste not the spray), and then finally to Hosco fret erasers. I gotta say, fret erasers + quick pass of polish has worked the best for me. Steel wool works great as well, but it’s such a paint because it gets everywhere even with all the magnets I put on my workbench to capture the shavings. These work great in my experience, they can get the same result as steel wool, but with maybe 3-4x the effort. The reason I stopped using these is because they become a literal workout if you own more than one guitar and polish your frets religiously like I do. TL; DR, fret erasers + polish = great playing frets
Next time im a my local guitar shop I will have to grab one of those kits. I just polished the frets on my old Charvel model 5 last night. 0000 Steel wool and my secret polish. These look a lit bit quicker and simpler to use than taping off my neck and going through my normal process.
Appreciate you putting this video up Phil. It's always good to know that if need be these would get the job done. Def something that I'd throw in a zipper pocket on my gig bag for emergencies if gifted with them. Peace!
I’ve tried Nomad’s Frine, 0000 Steal Wool, and Gorgomyte and I prefer the Gorgomyte cloth as a one step fret polish and fret board conditioner. I do however, finish the fret board with Nomad’s F1 fret board oil just to get what the Gorgomyte leaves behind. Gorgomyte does a great job, but on really dirty frets it leaves behind some of the tarnish it takes off.
I'd recommend micro mesh sheets from Stewmac or if you want super shiny and slick feeling frets then use a dremel with a polishing wheel and some autosol.
I also favor Autosol or pretty much any other Chrome or metal polishing paste. Combined with 1000 grid sandpaper to smooth out rough areas it leaves a mirror finish that feels hard and smooth like glass. The only downside is that you really need to use painter’s tape to prevent the paste from getting on the freetboard or you will have to spend ages trying to clean up the mess.
Thanks for the review! I have only used these once, but I think I got a better 'shine' and 'clean' from the Dunlop Micro Fine Fret Polish Cloths. I'll have to use the D'addario ones a few more times before I decide which one I want to keep purchasing. I will say that for someone like myself, these fret polish cloths are really great because I hate dealing with the mess of steel wool since I don't have a dedicated 'workspace,' I need the least amount of mess as possible. Definitely recommend buying the Dunlop Micro Fine Fret Polish Cloths to see how you think they compare!!!!!! Really interested to see you do a video review of those ones!
I imagine most of those fret polishing kits will do the job. I have so many grits of sandpaper already so I use that and finish the job with some Happich Simichrome or Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish.
I think that those would be good before using fret polish but only if the frets dont need some serious work done to them. I used fret polish and painter's tape only because I dont like using those metal fret protectors.
I had a kit from Planet Waves that I ordered from Musician’s Friend a while back which is exactly the same for around the same price. I definitely want to get the fret guards and a micro mesh kit in the future. I used to have a micro mesh kit when I was in the Air Force, but I had given it away to a coworker who managed the upkeep on our Squadron/Unit’s Flagship aircraft.
Do these have a metal polish in them or do they clean by abrasion only? The paper certainly wasn't as black as my Gorgonite cloth gets when I polish the frets with it, which I've always assumed was caused by the metal polish removing oxidation. I also use a piece of leather attached to a wood block to "strop" the frets like you would when putting an edge on a straight razor to finish up.
Metal polish like Gorgomyte is actually a chemical reaction which removes the oxidation and a very thin layer of metal which then oxidizes on the cloth. This polishing system is just very fine grit sandpaper so it works by abrasion.
I have used "Lizard Spit Fret Polishing System" and it works great! You should try that if you haven't done a review on it! I bought the "D'Addario Fret Polishing Kit" and was curious to see what I was getting myself into but your review helped me out so thanks!
A blue scotchbrite pad will polish your frets for less than a dollar. No steel wool bits on your pickups. A soda can with a fret line cut in it will protect the finger board (although a light scrubbing by the pad isn't a bad thing if you re-apply some lemon oil). It's hard to understand products that are easily bested by what are essentially free hacks. But, capitalism, I guess. Buy it and enjoy it, if it suits ya.
I live in East TX where its very Humid during the summer and spring months . I'm a Maple fret board fan so do Maple fret boards need to be oiled and if so what should I use Lemon oil Linseed just asking !! Normally I just wipe with a damp wash cloth . So wanted to know if oiling a Maple fret board is needed where I live ? If yes and only once or twice a yr. what oil should I use ?
I am many years late here but I live in East Texas too and love Maple fretboards...I use the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner..just pull it out of the package and wipe the fretboard really good..then let it sit for a short time and then using some pressure wipe it down and let it dry if you want...I use it on all my fretboards of all types..Macassar Ebony on my Jackson and ESP guitars love it.
If you want your frets highly polished and smooth as glass, try Happich semi chrome metal polish to "finish" them after prep work (if needed). You can also use it to remove scratches on the high gloss guitar finishes, plastics etc. I learned about this from Randy Shartiger here on you tube and it works miracles!
These appear very similar to the Dunlop Micro Fine Polishing Cloths which I have used with good results. However, those only come two in a pack so the Daddario kit would seem to be a better value.
I bought the Music Nomad polishing kit with the creme (Music Nomad MN124 FRINE Fret Polishing Kit) on Amazon. it works pretty good, would be interested to see how you think it compares to the cloth/sandpaper stuff you got from D'Addario
I can tell you guys that I have 2 Xaviers and the ash Les Paul copy Slick, they are just such great guitars for the price, all of them, one good setup on it and your good to go, excellent main, backup or recording guitars, cannot think of any other brand that matches the quality for the price, cheers.
Thanks for the review!! I will have to get a package of those. I use the Stew Mac little fret eraser 2000 Grit, but always wanted to try this polish paper. Off to the Guitar Shop! Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours, Phil.
I own the Crimson fret erasers. I would love to see how they compare to the Stewmac erasers. Stewmac sells several different grades of grit whereas crimson sells only 4 in a single pack. Comparing the same grades to each other would be cool to see. I trust both companies but Stewmac is extremely over priced. Before I purchased the Crimson set, I looked at the same erasers at Stewmac and ended up saving a couple bucks when i purchased from Crimson. Strange thing is that the shipping was cheaper from England and I live in NC. But I'm not a Stewmac member. I always go by the rule, you get what you pay for but there are several products on Stewmac that are extremely over priced. If I didn't work in metal fabrication I wouldn't have realized just how over priced they are. I hate I have to source tools from other non US companies because the main guitar tech supplier thinks their stuff is priceless. Are Stewmac tools even made in the US? I cant find anything telling me that they are US made products. Sorry I went down a rabbit hole...
Just to clarify (not aimed at anyone), I was refering to the stewmac tools. The crimson tools look good but I'm really pleased with the hellfire tools.
From what I've seen, the Music Nomad MN124 FRINE Fret Polishing Kit have gotten good ratings. Maybe those are a good recommendation, but are like $20 from what I've researched Also happy new years my man!
The Frine kit is very good! Leaves the best finish I’ve ever felt. I used to use steel wool but it gets everywhere, and can damage pickups if it gets into the windings. Brass wool for boats and marine stuff is better. Steel will sometimes cause frets to oxidize faster depending on the frets nickel/silver blend
I use the frine kit every couple months. It brings the frets to a crazy shine and doesn’t seem to wear down frets. I got crazy acid hands so my frets get dirty and salty quickly. Plus their feet templates are the metal ones like Phil but these actually have handles so your fingers don’t get in the way
I just used the FRINE fret polishing kit on my 2013 Tele. I've been conditioning the fretboard but this was my first time using a fret polish. My guitar plays brand new and feels like I'm sliding my fingers across butter. Would recommend.
Hey Phillip Love your Channel, can you recommend any 1 single pickup guitar for left handed players on a budget? Thanks a lot Keep on with the nice work
Hey phil I know you always talk about fret polishing products in your videos I looked in the description and can you give me a link to your favorite fret-polishing products? Thank you from Germany Ps: i dont know if the links will work here but the product names will help anyway ok thanks bye
Phil - Instead of using your finger for pressure (however light) try using a simple pencil eraser ( Staedtler for example) and wrap the paper around it to make the pressure on the fret even.
I use a dremel and flitz polish. Sandpaper or micromesh is great for removing scratches and smoothing the frets before using actual metal polish to get the glassy finish. Steel wool has no business near a guitar, it requires a ton of taping or a magnet inside the wool and even with that bits of metal can still get in places you don't want them and will inevitably start to rust.
Phil, I bought the Rosette Fret Polishing Kit on Amazon for $7.90. (4 grades of 3M micro polishing cloths, included Stainless fret protector. Quality, inexpensive, works well, highly recommend.
I will check it out
$37.90 in Australia by some cowboys called Buy Global - when Rosette are selling it for $7.90 and ship to Australia for free. Someone needs to put these guys down
www.amazon.com.au/Rosette-Guitar-Polishing-Utimate-Cleaning/dp/B00BNVHCYM/ref=sr_1_1?m=A2N62VVHJVF9PO&s=merchant-items&ie=UTF8&qid=1546475411&sr=1-1&keywords=rosette+fret compare that to www.amazon.com/Rosette-Guitar-Polishing-Utimate-Cleaning/dp/B00BNVHCYM/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1546475246&sr=8-4&keywords=rosette+guitar+3m+fret+polishing+kit
I have this kit too. Love it. Enough to last a long time. I think I actually saw them on Phil's channel originally.
The Lizard Spit Fret Polish System comes with two metal fret guards (different sizes) and hand-cut, thick pads. One kit will do about 7-8 guitars and it does bring a high-gloss, glassy smooth feel back in minutes. After using frine and gorgomyte, the Lizard Spit is a clear winner.
One thing that helped me with this kit a couple of years ago was using a small kid’s eraser and wrapping the paper around it. Less stress on your finger, template doesn’t last long. Less messy than steel wool and quicker, but sw still a little better overall.
Hi Phuil, Jozef with Z here :). Thank you for all the knowledge you share. This week I will round fretboard edges and polish the frets :)
I love this product. Makes frets smooth and play like glass
I'm a scale modeler and I used Micromesh polishing cloths to clean the frets on an Ibanez acoustic guitar I'd just purchased. I masked off with painter's tape but in the future I'd use the metal template.
I've always used the Dunlop Fret Polish Cloths and they work pretty good. In fact because I've always used them my frets have always looked good and it was only recently when I cleaned up a guitar that hadn't had the strings changed in 20 years! Yes, no exaggeration! That I saw just how effective these polish cloths are. The frets were pretty bad with muck and even though my cloth was pretty well used already, it cleaned them up pretty good.
Metal polish is good, a bit messy but gives a mirror shine. I'm using Solvol Autosol, beloved of bikers!
I've used these, but have had the best results with a foam nail buffing block. Got a package of four of them off Ebay, only cost about $2. Each side of the block has varying degrees of grittiness -- I use sides 3 and 4, and one of those aluminum fretboard guards you mentioned. I think the Music Nomad fretboard protector with the handle would be worth looking into for even easier work.
A very complicated and sophisticated fret-polishing system :) I love the way SYSTEM is used in these situations 😇
I tried a few fret cleaners (one like this one, fret rubbers etc.) but I think that paint masking tape and steel wool gives the best result, and is also the cheapest. Steel wool easily rounds itself around the fret, while the others only clean the top of the fret. Also, steel wool is the finest and gives the best shine. Be careful with those steel fret guards, I got cheap ones and they had sharp edges on the sides and they scratched my fretboard while I was working on the frets!
Full sheets of 3M polish cloth in various grit are about $1 each online. One full sheet looks to be about same size as all 5 in that kit. Does work though:)
I use the Lizzard Spit fret polishing kit. Does a fabulous job.
The way to Polish frets to take the gunk off and to get them to a mirror finish is using a dremel with a polishing wheel and medium polishing compound
I tried these for the first time only a few hours before you posted your review. On an electric with frets in fairly decent shape I got the same results you did. On an acoustic with long-neglected frets, not so good. So my take is they're OK for regular maintenance, but if things have gone kind of south, you still need a fret eraser or steel wool. And you're right, they don't put on any kind of shine at all.
I.M.O., just take a 3000 grit sandpaper for 0.50 $ and you do the same job, that's what i do and works perfectly fine.
I got a 3000 and 5000 grit pad from an auto parts store that works wonders for polishing frets. I think theyre about 10 dollars each, but they have lasted me for several years.
I got these , real easy to use , no worry of steel wool , but I’ll say this , if you want smooth all the time and frets not getting all bent up , stainless steel is the best frets , change your frets to them you be happier than a dog on a t- bone lol , just saying
Best things I've ever used are those Micro Mesh soft touch pads. A woodcraft store near me has them in little 2x2" pads and the grits go all the way up to 12000. I usually start at the 4000 one and go up to 6000, then 8000 and finish with 12000. The Frets look brand new after that.
Would be a good idea to tape the pick up to avoid any debris getting into the magnetic pick up just to be safe
I’ve found the D’Addario kit is a fairly good, no-fuss solution for cruddy frets and one kit will last a lot of polishes if you’re judicious with the paper. Not a bad product at all.
I watched a video from Dylan Talks Tone regarding a similar product from Lizard Spit. His recommendation was to never ever use steel wool and sandpaper ever, and these should suffice for polishing. My frets weren’t rough but had some friction when I bend. The Lizard Spit fret polish didn’t really smooth out the frets. I decided to go against his suggestion and get a professional polish job where the guitar tech used sandpaper and steel wool. The difference was so good that my strings felt lighter. When a little dirt gets on my frets, I use the Lizard Spit kit to clean and resmoothen my frets and they do an amazing job at that. They’re great for maintaining already smooth frets. But for rough frets, I recommend having a professional job done.
The auto stores have 3000 and 5000 grit foam backed sheets for about $6. They're about twice the size of your squares. Cut easily with sissors, last forever, they are wet/dry and washable. Usually, I use them barely wet, dipped in polish, not water.
I’ve used them, and yeah they work, but I’ve been using 0000 steel wool for over thirty years now and my frets glide better than a hockey rink, it’s readily available in more places (hardware stores, home improvement stores, paint stores), you can see the difference and they’re cheap.
I could visually notice the difference of the first fret you polished from your zoomed-out camera perspective at about 3:06 in the video.
I've always been using the hard green side of a kitchen sponge. Tbh it works pretty damn good. It does the job🤷♂️
I am so glad you did this video. I’m going to try them.
Outstanding video. I am going to order several packs tomorrow. I really enjoy listening to your advice on tricks for the guitar. Keep on pickin, Sniper
I use the Nomad Frine Fret Polish kit a coup[le of times a year on my guitars works well. It comes with some metal fret protectors too. Frets look and feel good after.
Oh man,....I use a Dremel tool with the buffing wheel.
Me too, but after the hand polishing with 5000 grit. Not nessarily smoother, but it brightens them up a bit. Stainless is amazing and comes out beautiful, near chrome looking.
I ordered some to try out. I use their strings anyway...and they don't cost much. I did order some of the metal templates as although the cardboard is OK for temp use and a nice touch by the company...the metal ones are better. There are also some nice automotive finishing sanding pads ( I use them on my guitar bodies) that also are very good for fret cleaning. They can be $$$ though...
And first and I've had pretty decent luck with these on a freebie offer, but I'm not sure that I'd buy them.
First video of the new year yeah and good year to you phil
I have the Dunlop 65 polish kit and a fret polisher came with it, only the Dunlop was 8000 grit as opposed to the 3000 here. However, the kit only came with one sheet about the same size. I’ve used it on multiple guitars and it has definitely made a huge difference... and I get the glassy finish lol.
I may have to pick up a few of these. My guitars could all use some polish, and these look like a great, quick, convenient, affordable solution. Thanks for the video, Phil!
I started with these, then went to steel wool, then went to Music Nomad string instrument polish (the paste not the spray), and then finally to Hosco fret erasers. I gotta say, fret erasers + quick pass of polish has worked the best for me. Steel wool works great as well, but it’s such a paint because it gets everywhere even with all the magnets I put on my workbench to capture the shavings. These work great in my experience, they can get the same result as steel wool, but with maybe 3-4x the effort. The reason I stopped using these is because they become a literal workout if you own more than one guitar and polish your frets religiously like I do.
TL; DR, fret erasers + polish = great playing frets
Next time im a my local guitar shop I will have to grab one of those kits. I just polished the frets on my old Charvel model 5 last night. 0000 Steel wool and my secret polish. These look a lit bit quicker and simpler to use than taping off my neck and going through my normal process.
Appreciate you putting this video up Phil. It's always good to know that if need be these would get the job done. Def something that I'd throw in a zipper pocket on my gig bag for emergencies if gifted with them. Peace!
I’ve tried Nomad’s Frine, 0000 Steal Wool, and Gorgomyte and I prefer the Gorgomyte cloth as a one step fret polish and fret board conditioner.
I do however, finish the fret board with Nomad’s F1 fret board oil just to get what the Gorgomyte leaves behind.
Gorgomyte does a great job, but on really dirty frets it leaves behind some of the tarnish it takes off.
Have used steel wool for years, works fine.
I'd recommend micro mesh sheets from Stewmac or if you want super shiny and slick feeling frets then use a dremel with a polishing wheel and some autosol.
I used it a while back. Seemed to work pretty well.
Autosol is good for polishing frets.
Will Horen - Autosol on a Dremel felt wheel on low speed results in frets that look like hemi-cylindrical mirrors! Can't be beat, IMHO!
Yeah, that's what I use, I don't know of anything better than metal polish to polish metal. ;)
I also favor Autosol or pretty much any other Chrome or metal polishing paste. Combined with 1000 grid sandpaper to smooth out rough areas it leaves a mirror finish that feels hard and smooth like glass. The only downside is that you really need to use painter’s tape to prevent the paste from getting on the freetboard or you will have to spend ages trying to clean up the mess.
That's funny, I was just looking at the different fret polishing kits online this morning, I put off picking one until I could find some videos
Thanks for the review! I have only used these once, but I think I got a better 'shine' and 'clean' from the Dunlop Micro Fine Fret Polish Cloths. I'll have to use the D'addario ones a few more times before I decide which one I want to keep purchasing. I will say that for someone like myself, these fret polish cloths are really great because I hate dealing with the mess of steel wool since I don't have a dedicated 'workspace,' I need the least amount of mess as possible. Definitely recommend buying the Dunlop Micro Fine Fret Polish Cloths to see how you think they compare!!!!!! Really interested to see you do a video review of those ones!
Used this before. What you did takes a lot of elbow grease. GHS Gorgomite works better and easier. Highly recommend that.
Pretty cool to get a present for New Year!
I imagine most of those fret polishing kits will do the job. I have so many grits of sandpaper already so I use that and finish the job with some Happich Simichrome or Mothers Mag & Aluminum polish.
I think that those would be good before using fret polish but only if the frets dont need some serious work done to them.
I used fret polish and painter's tape only because I dont like using those metal fret protectors.
I had a kit from Planet Waves that I ordered from Musician’s Friend a while back which is exactly the same for around the same price. I definitely want to get the fret guards and a micro mesh kit in the future. I used to have a micro mesh kit when I was in the Air Force, but I had given it away to a coworker who managed the upkeep on our Squadron/Unit’s Flagship aircraft.
Planet Waves == D'addario
@@XiXora Yeah, I know... Made no sense why you have two separate items that're exactly the same, other than the packaging.
Maybe it's my imagination but it looks lighter than the non polished ones?
Definitely will consider doing this in the future
Do these have a metal polish in them or do they clean by abrasion only? The paper certainly wasn't as black as my Gorgonite cloth gets when I polish the frets with it, which I've always assumed was caused by the metal polish removing oxidation. I also use a piece of leather attached to a wood block to "strop" the frets like you would when putting an edge on a straight razor to finish up.
Metal polish like Gorgomyte is actually a chemical reaction which removes the oxidation and a very thin layer of metal which then oxidizes on the cloth. This polishing system is just very fine grit sandpaper so it works by abrasion.
I have used "Lizard Spit Fret Polishing System" and it works great! You should try that if you haven't done a review on it! I bought the "D'Addario Fret Polishing Kit" and was curious to see what I was getting myself into but your review helped me out so thanks!
i use the frine from MusicNomad also have used NeverDull metal polish
A blue scotchbrite pad will polish your frets for less than a dollar. No steel wool bits on your pickups. A soda can with a fret line cut in it will protect the finger board (although a light scrubbing by the pad isn't a bad thing if you re-apply some lemon oil). It's hard to understand products that are easily bested by what are essentially free hacks. But, capitalism, I guess. Buy it and enjoy it, if it suits ya.
Thanks for this video the frets on my guitar are awful I always wanted to make them look and feel better
Thanks for the post!
I used those and Gorgomyt. Both work good enough.
I live in East TX where its very Humid during the summer and spring months . I'm a Maple fret board fan so do Maple fret boards need to be oiled and if so what should I use Lemon oil Linseed just asking !! Normally I just wipe with a damp wash cloth . So wanted to know if oiling a Maple fret board is needed where I live ? If yes and only once or twice a yr. what oil should I use ?
I am many years late here but I live in East Texas too and love Maple fretboards...I use the Ernie Ball Wonder Wipes Fretboard Conditioner..just pull it out of the package and wipe the fretboard really good..then let it sit for a short time and then using some pressure wipe it down and let it dry if you want...I use it on all my fretboards of all types..Macassar Ebony on my Jackson and ESP guitars love it.
Dunlap also makes a set of these and they work pretty well.
Thanks for the video Phil! Just got a set of these with the Daddario maintenance kit (Heard about it from you) and was wondering if they were any good
If you want your frets highly polished and smooth as glass, try Happich semi chrome metal polish to "finish" them after prep work (if needed). You can also use it to remove scratches on the high gloss guitar finishes, plastics etc. I learned about this from Randy Shartiger here on you tube and it works miracles!
These appear very similar to the Dunlop Micro Fine Polishing Cloths which I have used with good results. However, those only come two in a pack so the Daddario kit would seem to be a better value.
It's easy to see a difference. You need to polish your frets more often because those had got into a nasty state.
Hey Phil as usual thanks for posting this review. I may have to pick up a few of these. I do use the free guards.
Phil. Are you a fan of a Dremel, with a wool buff and jeweler's Rouge for polishing frets?
The Guitologist will have to do a video about this video now, he needs the views.
"Well, the world needs ditch diggers too." - Caddyshack
From the comments it seems like these are cool but the best in terms of bang for buck is to buy steel wool and a fret protector, right?
These seem cool but tbh just buy a pack of 0000 steel wool and it will last you way way longer with less cost
I bought the Music Nomad polishing kit with the creme (Music Nomad MN124 FRINE Fret Polishing Kit) on Amazon. it works pretty good, would be interested to see how you think it compares to the cloth/sandpaper stuff you got from D'Addario
Ok, gotta ask. How was the set up & quality on that Slick Tele? Are you gonna review it? I’m thinking of grabbing one.
Yeah me too just wondering they are worth it
Looking at the blue one myself!!
I can tell you guys that I have 2 Xaviers and the ash Les Paul copy Slick, they are just such great guitars for the price, all of them, one good setup on it and your good to go, excellent main, backup or recording guitars, cannot think of any other brand that matches the quality for the price, cheers.
I've tried these too, not as effective as 0000 but definitely cleaner (no shavings dust).
Thanks for the review!! I will have to get a package of those. I use the Stew Mac little fret eraser 2000 Grit, but always wanted to try this polish paper. Off to the Guitar Shop! Happy and Healthy New Year to you and yours, Phil.
Another excellent video!
Always great stuff. Thanks!!!
I own the Crimson fret erasers. I would love to see how they compare to the Stewmac erasers. Stewmac sells several different grades of grit whereas crimson sells only 4 in a single pack. Comparing the same grades to each other would be cool to see. I trust both companies but Stewmac is extremely over priced. Before I purchased the Crimson set, I looked at the same erasers at Stewmac and ended up saving a couple bucks when i purchased from Crimson. Strange thing is that the shipping was cheaper from England and I live in NC. But I'm not a Stewmac member. I always go by the rule, you get what you pay for but there are several products on Stewmac that are extremely over priced. If I didn't work in metal fabrication I wouldn't have realized just how over priced they are. I hate I have to source tools from other non US companies because the main guitar tech supplier thinks their stuff is priceless. Are Stewmac tools even made in the US? I cant find anything telling me that they are US made products. Sorry I went down a rabbit hole...
I saw a comment on RUclips somewhere that thought they might be Chinese made after comparing things to Chinese tools. Can't remember where though.
The crimson stuff is top quality. Their guitars are also stunning.
Just to clarify (not aimed at anyone), I was refering to the stewmac tools. The crimson tools look good but I'm really pleased with the hellfire tools.
Charlie I haven’t heard of hellfire tools
@@pacedc1 British company, only been going a few years. They don't sell erasers yet.
Could you please demonstrate how to properly restring a guitar , I really suck at this and I need help doing this properly, thanks for your time.
Hello Phillip! Great channel!!
TDS, this is the non - U.S. supplier @ $37.50, but yes, that's the kit. The one I got was the Amazons highlighted pick at $7.90.
Use Nevr-Dull... wad a piece up go back and forth a few time then wipe the fret with a clean cloth... steel wool will destroy pickups
Great! I was hoping for a new video. I want to check these out.
Though I think I'll get the Stu Mac tools!
From what I've seen, the Music Nomad MN124 FRINE Fret Polishing Kit have gotten good ratings. Maybe those are a good recommendation, but are like $20 from what I've researched
Also happy new years my man!
@@FachryZulfikar Ahh ye true. Cheap way to beat the system if you're like me, and have no money at all lol
The Frine kit is very good! Leaves the best finish I’ve ever felt. I used to use steel wool but it gets everywhere, and can damage pickups if it gets into the windings. Brass wool for boats and marine stuff is better. Steel will sometimes cause frets to oxidize faster depending on the frets nickel/silver blend
@@moparbryan Ahhh awesome to hear and see! It does look promising indeed!
I use the frine kit every couple months. It brings the frets to a crazy shine and doesn’t seem to wear down frets. I got crazy acid hands so my frets get dirty and salty quickly. Plus their feet templates are the metal ones like Phil but these actually have handles so your fingers don’t get in the way
I just used the FRINE fret polishing kit on my 2013 Tele. I've been conditioning the fretboard but this was my first time using a fret polish. My guitar plays brand new and feels like I'm sliding my fingers across butter. Would recommend.
Since your on the topic of frets, how do you feel about stainless steel frets? Thanks!
Phil, would you recommend this or similar grain paper to smooth a fretboard a little? Or should I just keep playing and wear it in (brand new guitar)
Hey Phillip Love your Channel, can you recommend any 1 single pickup guitar for left handed players on a budget?
Thanks a lot
Keep on with the nice work
I'll stick with my 0000 steel wool. Works great and is very cheap.
Any chance of an updated guitar collection video?
i know you did one of em....that slick tele is ... pretty nice. can we get a review of it?
I use headlight polishing kits.
Are these equivalent to the 1200grit or 6000grit 3M polishing papers?
I use Meguiars Gold Class car wax to polish my frets.
Music Nomad Fret Polish!
Have you tried music nomad fret frine?
I'll stick with feet erasers.
Just don’t erase mine. I use them!
Oops......fret, not feet.
Fret erasers, then chrome polish with my Dremel buffing
Great video! Thanks Phil.
I like 0000 steel wool followed by
Flitz or Maguiers Magnesium & Aluminum Wheel Polish for a glass/mirror finish!
But then you won't be able to walk...
Will you review the d'addario string lubricant?
Hey phil
I know you always talk about fret polishing products in your videos
I looked in the description and can you give me a link to your favorite fret-polishing products?
Thank you from Germany
Ps: i dont know if the links will work here but the product names will help anyway ok thanks bye
Hi, new subscriber here. I have a question, do you have bass videos? I have a cheap one that I would love to sharpen with fender hardware
Thanks!