Super quality video on every aspect. Well done guys!

What on earth is wrong with the--at the time of writing this comment--192 people who downvoted this video? This is one of the clearest, well-produced tutorials (almost on any topic) I've ever watched. Thank you Stew!

Thanks for posting this. This is probably the most comprehensive video on how to correct sharp fret ends that I have seen yet.

The cheapest guitar I ever bought on Amazon a month ago had the smoothest and rounded frets ends. Guitar cost $98! Bought as a project guitar. No fret work needed. Change of strings and it was good to go. Getting a Fender Player stat tomorrow. I guarantee it will need fret work. Thank you.

great zoom-ins on the fret ends. Really could see the rounding work so much better than previous videos. Thanks!

I've been using raw cloth-backed Micro Mesh 1500-12000 grit to polish fret ends after beveling for 25 years now. Micro Mesh is an incredible polishing tool that comes in many forms, like the foam-backed version seen here, and is used in many industries from finger nail polishing to removing scratches in fighter jet canopies. It's actually known as the "non-abrasive-abrasive" because if you lay into it with some elbow grease, the heavier grit can be abrasive when you need it to be. It's extremely controllable. It works on metals, woods and plastics. For guitars, 2400 grit is a good starting place finally ending with 4000 grit to finely polish most guitar related surfaces to a gloss. Your grit choices may vary. The ONLY problem is Micro Mesh is wicked expensive, and the older MM from the 90's that I use absolutely works better than the new stuff, but the new MM can still last a long time. Like I said, I'm still using Micro Mesh from the 90s when I was a trombone maker. I saved a lot of it because I knew how special it is. Use MM wet or dry and use an ultra sonic cleaner with detergent to clean and renew it. HOPE THIS HELPS.

There are many KZfaq videos that address this subject but this video is by FAR the best. Thank-you very much.

StewMac, bravo on this in-depth updated version of Dan’s instructional. To anyone curious about doing their own fretwork, this is 100% all the info you need. With only these 2 or 3 tools, and a little practice, you can definitely do this yourself. The cost of the tools add up to the same price as a setup with some fretwork. It’s worth it. It didn’t take me long to get the technique right with the beveler and fret dressing file. You can totally do this!

February Fret Ends. Driest month, and it'll be good all year. Great teaching in your videos Gene, thank you!

Great timing Gene. I am doing the fret job on the 12-string you and I have discussed at length as we speak. Thanks again to all you guys at StewMac for the help we receive whenever we ask. Byron Stafford, N.E. Arizona.

I had this problem for years, but simply keeping the guitar in the case made a big difference. Recently I've been putting the humidifying packs made for cigar humidors in my case, an inexpensive way to manage dryness. One cheap little pack works for months. I no longer have that fret popping issue.

Wow! Best instruction I've experienced on the subject - simple and clear, all the detail you need, without complication. Well done.

Great tutorial I did this to my cheap ibanez flamenco guitar which plays amazing for the price. After filing and dressing then polished with micromesh pads then oiled the fretboard and now it's super smooth and feels like an expensive guitar. Thanks for the video 😎

Thanks for this video. The detailed camera work really helps make the process clear.

Guys, incredible video. So instructive, so detailed, and so short ( not to mention so humorous ). That says a lot about the StewMac reputation. Keep up the great work. Thank you very much for sharing this knowledge with all of us "wannabes". You Rock!!!

All the info I needed without unnecessary banter. Perfect!

Quite useful video for sure, very well explained, I especially liked hearing for the change when filing down the side of the frets, very helpful tip

We have very long and harsh winters here in Norway. I made it a habbit to bring my Acustic info the bathroom when I shower during winter. Works like a charm🙌

I have been doing this for years and this is probably the most complete easy to follow video ever made on the topic!

Literally...the best fret shaping tutorial I have seen after suffering more youtube wandering than I care to admit. Having done my time with a file in a machining world, the overall approach completely makes sense, I just hadnt peiced it all together till I saw this vid. Excellent sense of humor and great graphical representations too. Yes...I am clicking subscribe now guys, keep it up!

Very good info, I feel like I might be able to do this myself now. You've really taken care to note everything, you went slow enough for me to catch everything and that tells me you care about having the end result turn out right for me. Thank you.

Superb informative video. Thank you. Micro mesh has so many uses. As well as using it on frets it's also good for levelling out any paint or varnish touch-ups. Used with water you can get a super flat finish prior to finishing with a good polish.

OK wow. This IS the video I've been looking for. Thanks for sharing

Thank you very much for the great, detailed instructions. Have a good time and a not so cold winter...Peace

I've ordered parts and tools galore from stewmac over the years. Last job was a broken cello neck and I steamed it apart, splined and reset neck, and put it all back together. Cello plays like a dream again. U guys rock.

Best fret sprout video I've seen. Thank you!

very clear and detail explanations. Thank you very much for your professionnalism.

I just got a custom made tapping instrument and I really need to do this to the frets. Excellent video...thank you so much for posting!

Best and most detailed video I've seen on this subject. Thank you.

Great video. I need this and it's going in my save bucket. I have the fret end dressing file and the micro mesh pads. Both tools are great. I'd like to get the mill file now. I've dressed about a dozen sets of frets and boy do I need the practice. I'm getting better and have discovered, as you said, that I've over-dressed sets of frets often. It's not an easy skill to perfect, but practice and training videos like this are great. I will keep after it. Thank you for this simple, yet great training video.

Answered every question I had. Amazing job.

This is precisely what I needed. What are all the tools needed? How to use them most effectively, efficiently, and in what order? Just perfect. Excellent editing also. Just the right amount of time for each detail. Thank you stew mac

Wery well done! I bought all the articles in this video and can confirm they work as described. StewMac tools never disappointed me so far, although the prices often gave me slight creeps ...

Good instructional video for a common, age old problem!

Great lesson!. Thanks for all these videos. So helpful.

Great video , opening is comical. The most concise tutorial I’ve ever seen.❤

Dude thanks....I was panicking so hard the other day, I picked up every single guitar and they all developed sharp fret ends during this month. I thought my guitars were done for but I read into it and people were saying most of the time you can treat it like this and you should be fine. Thanks for the video...right on time.

Oh boy. I remember when I got my first bass with this issue. I was young and clueless about fret sprout. My fingers looked like that shredded dowel! After doing my own fretwork now, I can say this video shows exactly what is needed for success.

Was just about to do mine, I’m reminded every time it’s cold , even in so cal

What a great video. Now I need to buy all the tools mentioned.

Thanks for posting. Great explanation !

Good timing - I grabbed a guitar to play this am that I haven't played in a bout a month and realized it has succumbed to the Wyoming winter. The fret ends are protruding and sharp. We're snowed in - I'll work on this today! Thank YOU!

Very useful information. Thank you for sharing.

Nice video Gene. You taught me this several years ago and it has served me well. You are a great teacher! Stew Mac is very lucky to have you. 🙂🎸🤘🏻

Took me 8 years to shred down a Fender bass guitar. Well, fingers really start to bleed and a guitar builder had to fix it like you did! After that I had to get used to jumbo frets instead of the "sharp" frets. Played, sounded different ofc. Amazing video! Thanks!

Great video! I taught myself how to use my left hand for the other side of the fret. Just practiced on a junk neck and before long it was no problem.

Totally pro here! Great vid!!! By far the best! Will buy the files exactly as described.!

Awesome video, thanks for the lesson.

This is great. I was just wondering about this today. Great video and close ups. Very helpful. Looks like i need to grab some tools from you guys.

Excellent video, thanks.

Very instructive and helpful information, thank you!

Excellent. Thank you.

Brilliantly articulated as usual..

Thank you for this Knowledge!!

Wow! This is so detailed ans extensive. Thank you!

What a great video! Thank you so much, StewMac!

Thanks well made and informative!

Well done, thank you 👍

Excellent!

Great video. I’m about to do this for the first time by myself but feel pretty confident after watching this. Thanks

Great no-nonsense video. Thanks for sharing.

I really liked the tip at the end! Great video, as always!

Great video, thank you!👍

Great video. It’s pretty much how I do it. I do use your fret beveling file that is embedded in the poly block and on new builds or a refret when you are removing more material I have noticed the filings tend to get under the block and scratch the frets so I usually tape off the frets except for the ends to prevent that.

Thank You, Very Useful.

Grateful for your tips and tricks. you show to us how working with care and caution with our guitars. Sometimes guitars good brands guitars require much more than fine adjustments. I’d like add that to maintain the fingerboards against the sweat of the fingers, the dryness of the wood, a French luthier strongly advises camellia oil that the Japanese use for the conservation of the wooden handles of their katanas. Miracle oil also known for the Cosmetique of the facial skin!! Thank you guitar doctor and greeting from Casablanca Morocco

At the end of last year, I bought a Wilkinson Tele kit from StewMac and out of the box the neck had rough fret ends. This was due to the fact that the production date on the guitar was one year prior to my purchase and over the course of the year the wood had shrunk a bit. To me, that was a good thing because I felt that the wood in the neck had stabilized. Doing exactly what you have shown here has given me a really smooth neck.

Good tips. Thank you.

Way, way helpful. Thank you!

Incredibly well taught and filmed. You made D.I.Y. less scary 👍

Very informative video, many thanks!

Gratefully for your tips and tricks. You work with care and caution, showing us how respecting our guitars. Sometimes good brand guitars require much more than fine adjustments. Your work equals the doctor. I’d like add in the same way that to maintain the fingerboards against the fingers sweat and the dryness of the wood, a French luthier strongly advises using camellia oil that the Japanese use for the conservation of the wooden handles of their katanas. Miracle oil also known for the Cosmetique of the facial skin for no need high price. Thank you and greetings from Casablanca Morocco

Well explained. Thank you!

This is great!

Great video!

Thank You for sharing. The world is a better place.

Really great detailed vid

I always file down my fret ends to make sure I can do the balloon test on my guitars. Thank you for the informative video

great technique, and it's really well presented. great camera work! thanks!

Great video. I had an Ibanez that would catch my strings. Not sharp but, apparently, never adjusted in factory. I just made up the filing as I went along. This helps me understand the proper steps. Thank you.

Great video. Thanks

Awesome video! I have two basses that need this done.

Great Video. Thanks.

USA, looks yummy! I'll have to try it. Thank You!

I use Stewmac's 3 corner file for radiusing fret ends. Made a LOT of money with that file! And steel wool is the DEVIL. I never use it anymore.

Excellent thank you!

Great information, well presented. Top notch.

yes,you got it man!Do this for my guitars...-)good video;thanks for the work,knowledge and posting!

Thank you so much for the info!! After watching your video I can now dig out all of guitars from my grave yard closets and repair my buzzing sounds and stop buying so many bandaids.. great 👍 video my brother this channel is well worth subscribing..

excellent content, ty

Great video and tips!

Just what I wanted to know, thanks!

Awesome

excellent video

My wood also shrinks during winter! Thank you for a great video!

great video!

This is really helpful. I have the tools but not the skills so I'm practicing on a $70 Fender Starcaster from Walmart, via the pawn shop. $30 for new pickups and some copper tape to shield them. But fixing the frets is more important than anything. It'll immediately change how you play, for the better. Thanks.

Winter is the time to do this job.

Like the dressing flie push stroke for both sides. I really get into a groove with it. Hips, elbows, body position, rotating my body into each stroke. After a while you just get super fast at it. Don't like a bevelling file as well. I'll just go straight to the mesh pad cycle and I'll go through em all, then rub it out with fine polish. Don't feel comfortable with steel wool on electric guitars, magnetic pick ups and fine metal dust isn't to appealing to me. Basically, the same techniques. With a few minor variations. Everyone develops their own technique. Personally l like more rounded frets ends. Even bring in the frets a little more and roll the freeboard a little as well. Though you might have to make another nut with narrower string spacing. Just a personal preference.

THANK YOU!!!!