[Luke Duke]

Alright guys, Rich specifically, I've played a few Prestiges over the last 12-18mos and the feel of each fret job seems random so I can't figure out what makes THE prestige fret edge treatment.

I realize the maple necks don't have all the steps due to the clear coat process...but I can't figure out what the process IS in the first place. I've been looking on and off at a local RG5120, trying to wrap my head around it all. The fret sprout is pretty bad on that one, but probably not much worse than my S5570Q was before I took my sanding stick and Rich gave me some advice on making the fingerboard edges feel better.

Also what file/s should a guy have to try to clean up/round the fret ends? Living in Arkansas is rough on guitar necks. The StewMac sanding stick isn't made for too much of that kind of abuse.

Thanks!

Luke

 

[Rich]

Fret sprout just means the neck was built in the Summer and now it's Winter, or sometimes just enought years of shrinkage and a Winter neck will sprout.

For end work
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Fret_End_Dressing_File.html

To shave back the sprout
https://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Fret_Fingerboard_Leveling_Files.html

though any file will work for this if you can get the right hold on it.

 

[BigBazz]

Alright guys, Rich specifically, I've played a few Prestiges over the last 12-18mos and the feel of each fret job seems random so I can't figure out what makes THE prestige fret edge treatment.

I realize the maple necks don't have all the steps due to the clear coat process...but I can't figure out what the process IS in the first place. I've been looking on and off at a local RG5120, trying to wrap my head around it all. The fret sprout is pretty bad on that one, but probably not much worse than my S5570Q was before I took my sanding stick and Rich gave me some advice on making the fingerboard edges feel better.

Also what file/s should a guy have to try to clean up/round the fret ends? Living in Arkansas is rough on guitar necks. The StewMac sanding stick isn't made for too much of that kind of abuse.

Thanks!

Luke

Premium fret ends are rounded, Prestige fret ends are straight with a steep angle. I would have thought rounded frets would take more time, but I don't prefer them and none of my high end guitars have rounded fret ends so I doubt it's seen as something preferable or worthwhile for guitar builders, probably because straighter fret ends give you more fret between the outside string and the drop off point.