Fret-Levelling / Fret-Dressing

Kavus Torabi from English Prog-Punk Legends Gong and The Cardiacs brought in this much-played Gretsch White Falcon with fret-buzz and related intonation problems, due to the deep string-wear trenches in the fret-tops. Luckily the frets were still high enough to level, reprofile and dress without needing to refret the neck.

Fret-dressing

The first step was to remove the nut, to allow the file to pass over all the frets equally.

Fret-levelling

Then level the frets-tops only with a straight file, following the radius of the fretboard/course of the strings.

I coloured the tops of the frets with Magic Marker to help see where the metal is being removed.

fret-levelling

Here you can still see the pit on the second fret. Once all the fret-tops are level, the rough file working marks can be sanded out.

Fret-dressing

The fretboard must then be masked off to prevent damage to the inlays, binding or playing surface of the fingerboard.

Fret-dressing

Very carefully round (recrown) the edges of the frets with a triangular needle-file. This is essential to prevent string buzzes, intonation problems etc.

Fret-dressing

Followed by more sanding out of marks, followed by a final high-polish with super-fine steel-wool.

frets dressed

There we go, the trench has been removed, the frets are all the same height, nicely rounded and polished.

Gretsch White Falcon


 

Fret-Dressing on a 1964 Fender 'Mary Kaye' Strat