tidying up fret ends

[MoonBassAlpha]

Hi there collective Oracle.
I'm after any tips for doing this as I have a lot or sharp ends sticking out on a recently aquired instrument.
There is no binding and it is a one piece maple neck.
How do you protect the wood whilst getting medieval on the frets?
Cheers
Jules

[gabson]

You need a modified file.

i use a 3 square file with one of the edges ground flat - so it doesnt harm the fingerboard.

you can buy something similar at stewmac.

dont forget to level off the edges too before smoothing off the corners of the frets off

[Grand Wazoo]

The problem commonly described as fret sprouting is due to the "shrinking" of the fretboard due to extreme dry conditions to which the instrument is subject to. A luthier will help with a fret redress and I would advice you against trying to do anything yourself in the evenuality that you might cause more damage to the neck. Trust me that be a job best left to the professional however once you get your bass back it would be wise to invest in a home humidifier.

something like this [url="http://www.dry-it-out.com/wg-s40-warm-mist-humidifier"]http://www.dry-it-out.com/wg-s40-warm-mist-humidifier[/url]

Edited February 20, 2010 by bass5

[lozbass]

Alembic warn of the problem with the company's instruments and suggest that a minor dress of the fret ends might be necessary after around a year from purchase (settling of the fingerboard timbers and changes in climatic conditions are the culprits). It's not a big or expensive job but certainly best left to the professionals - the latter have the tools, jigs, templates etc. Getting the right angle on the fret-end is not a matter of guess-work - take too much, or apply too steep an angle and the G (I'm assuming the sharp frets are at the G side of the board - this is usually the case) and the string will slip easily from board