FINE-TUNING YOUR GUITAR: FRET LEVELING

In the pursuit of crafting the perfect sound and playing experience, a critical step in guitar setup is often overlooked but can make a world of difference: fret leveling. Fret leveling is an advanced technique that can help you achieve impeccable playability and eliminate fret buzz.

The Importance of Fret Leveling

Frets are the metal strips on your guitar's neck that determine the pitch of each note. Over time, these frets can wear down unevenly due to string tension and playing habits. This can lead to frets that are not level, causing notes to buzz, choke out, or produce inconsistent tones.

Standard Guitar Fret

Fret leveling is the process of reshaping and polishing the frets to ensure they are perfectly level, allowing for even string contact across the entire fretboard. This procedure is essential for achieving excellent intonation and playability, especially if you're striving for precision in your guitar performance.

When to Consider Fret Leveling

You may wonder when it's time to consider fret leveling. Here are some signs that your guitar may benefit from this adjustment:

• Fret Buzz: If you notice buzzing or choking out of notes, particularly when playing higher up the neck, it's a clear indication that your frets may be uneven.
• Inconsistent Action: Uneven frets can lead to an inconsistent feel when playing your guitar, making it challenging to perform smoothly.
• String Bends Don't Sound Right: If string bends result in notes that sound out of tune or muted, fret leveling may be the solution.
• Uneven Fret Wear: Visual inspection of your frets can also reveal whether they've worn unevenly over time.

Useful Tools for Fret Leveling

For fret leveling, it is important to use tools to better understand which fret needs to be leveled and by how much.

Notched Straight Edge: The notched straight edge allows you to have a global overview of your fret level for all frets. You can check which have the same height and which do not. To use it effectively, follow these steps:

• Place the notched straight edge along the fretboard.
• Check for any gaps or unevenness between the straight edge and the frets.
• Identify which frets are higher or lower than the straight edge.

Fret Rocker: The fret rocker can be used to check the level of a specific fret between its neighboring frets. It is more accurate than a notched straight edge and can be used as a second step to further refine your fret level. Here's how to use it:

• Place the fret rocker across three frets at a time.
• Rock it back and forth to detect any rocking or movement.
• If there is rocking, the center fret is the one that needs leveling.

Fret Leveling Beam: This tool allows you to level the entire guitar fretboard and perform a planification.

Fret leveling beam woodworking tool from The Guitar Fabric

Crowning File: Crowning files allow you to reshape your frets the way you want. Here's how to use it:

• Gently file the rounded crown of each fret to ensure they have a smooth, rounded shape.
• Be careful not to remove too much material, as this can affect intonation.

Crowning file woodworking tool from The Guitar Fabric

Fret Mark Eraser: If there are tiny scratches and marks on your guitar frets, a fret mark eraser can easily remove these scratches and give back the shine of your frets. You can:

• Rub the fret mark eraser along the frets to remove imperfections.
• Continue until the frets have a smooth and shiny finish.

Fret Leveling Process

Fret leveling is a meticulous process and will need some tools defined above. The process to adjust your fret level will follow these steps:

• Assessment: Identify which frets require leveling. Use the notched straight edge or fret rocker to identify uneven frets. Make a note of which frets need leveling.

Fret rocker luthier tool from The Guitar Fabric

• Filing: The high spots on the frets are carefully filed down to match the lower ones. First, secure your guitar in a stable position. Then, carefully file down the high spots on the frets, aiming to achieve an even height across all frets. Finally, use the leveling beam to refine the leveling process for all frets.

Fret leveling beam woodworking tool from The Guitar Fabric

• Re-Crowning: After leveling, the frets are re-crowned to their original rounded shape to maintain proper intonation. Use crowning files to reshape the frets into a smooth, rounded shape. Remember to maintain the original curvature to ensure proper intonation.

• Polishing: Finally, the frets are polished using a fret mark eraser or whetstone to achieve a smooth finish for optimal playability.

Fret leveling is an advanced guitar adjustment that can take your playing experience to the next level. If you're experiencing issues with fret buzz, inconsistent action, or improper intonation, it may be time to consider this procedure. With fret leveling, you can achieve fretboard perfection and unlock the full potential of your instrument.