High Fret Problem

I have a bass that was unplayable beyond the 14th fret. The strings would hit the frets in front of the fretted note causing clanking, buzzing etc. The simple solution was to not play above the 12th fret, which is quite easy on a bass. The bass stayed that way for about a year. I recently started practicing exercizes that went beyond the 12th fret and that forced me to deal with it.

I removed the strings and set the neck flat with the truss rod. I then took the neck off and examined it under a very bright light. I saw a few frets were not completely seated. I got out the non metalic BFH and a popsickle stick. A few sharp raps and the frets were in contact with the fretboard. I used a Sharpie to mark all of the frets beyond 12. I used 12 inch piece of 1/2 inch tool steel to back the sand paper. I started with 220 and went to 600. I re-applied the Sharpie with each change of sandpaper. I tried to slightly ramp down the frets from 12 to the end.

I examined the neck under the light again. There were a few flat spots and ridges from the sanding.

I used a speedy sharp carbide to round the frets.

http://www.speedysharp.net/

These are the bomb for sharpening anything metallic. It will peel the metal sort of like carving wood.

I did not bother with polishing the frets. The strings will polish the frets.

I reassembeled the bass and it plays without clanking or buzzing. It plays and sounds nice in the upper register.

Of course, using the correct tools would have been faster and easier.

Good deal. You may want to slack the strings and then use sime super fine sandpaper to polish the frets up a bit. Rough frets chew up strings and the polished surface will reduce fret wear, make any string bending smooth and makes the string contact the frets more evenly for better tone.

Good deal. You may want to slack the strings and then use sime super fine sandpaper to polish the frets up a bit. Rough frets chew up strings and the polished surface will reduce fret wear, make any string bending smooth and makes the string contact the frets more evenly for better tone.

You are right about polished frets making strings last longer, frets last longer, and sounding better. I use these almost every string change, mostly the blue and the pink. Keeps the frets looking brand new and it's super easy. They cloths last quite a while too before they wear out.

Those are cool. My drummer does antique restorations for a living and gets me all that kind of stuff. I do return favors of course.

I still have a batch of super fine black paper. The only problem is the black abrasive sheds.

What I do is take a strip, put it over the crowning file and use it to polish. The files curved and the paper follows the curviture. This way any crowning I might have done with the file itself continuses to be enhanced and smoothed.

You can also do it with a piece on your thumb if you dont have a fret file and allow the flesh of your thumb to follow the curvature. The files better though because you can hit the fret without having to tape off the neck.

I really need to make some new fretboard protectors though. It fits over the fret so only the frets exposed and protects against accidents. I've made them out of plastic but they dont last long. The stainless steel ones are the best. Makes for fast fretwork between string changes without marring the fretboard.

That's a good idea. Getting the last few scratches out of the fret left by the crowning file can be a bit tedious, particularly the scratches near the bottom of the crown closer to the fretboard.

Thanks for that one.

Thanks for the heads up on the polishing papers. I will look for an industrial supplier. If I find a deal, I will post back here.