Advice please... Sharp fret ends

skullfunkerry

Evening all. I want to pick your brains: I bought a cheap bass this week, just for recording at home - I've been recording bass parts with a pitch shifted guitar but it doesn't really sound great. I got one of these:

https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/RedSub-Infinity-Fan-Fret-Multi-Scale-Bass-Guitar-Gloss-Black/2C6U

They had a nearly new one for £150 so I got that. It arrived today and in nearly all ways in really pleased with it: it's light, it's got a really nice neck, it sounds good and the extra scale length means that it handles drop C tuning nicely.

Only problem is that it has some sharp fret ends, especially on the treble side of the neck.

So bearing in mind that I've never done anything remotely like it before, should I buy a fret file & try to sort it myself, or should I just send it back & get a brand new one for an extra £50?

FelineGuitars

Use a smooth cut file (#2 or #4 cut) or use something makeshift like a stick of MDF with some abrasive paper wrapped around it.

or your local chemist/branch of boots (or girlfriend's beauty bag ) may contain a nail filing block like this 

They come in a variety of grits and are damn useful.

My ex was a beauty therapist and visiting her wholesale beauty store was a goldmine of things I could adapt to workshop use

Whistler

Similar to FelineGuitars, I use an ordinary nail file like this. They are a bit squidgy and do not have abrasive edges.

There is a temptation to sand the fret and avoid the neck; that leads to sanding at too shallow an angle, so pay attention to the angle you sand at. A bit of tape running along the neck can help avoid scratching the neck.

skullfunkerry

Brilliant, thanks chaps!  

Roland

Have the frets lifted slightly as the neck wood dries out, or are they just poorly finished?

FelineGuitars

Roland said:

Have the frets lifted slightly as the neck wood dries out, or are they just poorly finished?

More likely just fret sprout where the board has shrunk and the frets haven't

skullfunkerry

FelineGuitars said:

Roland said:

Have the frets lifted slightly as the neck wood dries out, or are they just poorly finished?

More likely just fret sprout where the board has shrunk and the frets haven't

Yep, they don't appear to have lifted 

Henrytwang

Sounds a lot like fretboard shrinkage which is not unusual. Any of the above remedies will sort it out, just take care not to cause any damage to the side of the neck with the file/ abrasive. I find that a little at a time and testing by running your hand over the offending area is best.

rocktron

The next guitar you get may also have sharp fret ends.

Buy a set of Dekton No. 2 Needle Files from eBay, and follow the instructions in this video:-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wQt3NzGdez4

You can use a strip of paint masking tape to protect the fretboard from file marks.

PS Edit: I am unskilled in this and I did a perfect job on a budget guitar I bought in December. You can do it too.

skullfunkerry

Thanks chaps! I spent a few minutes with some fine wet & dry today and it's much more comfortable to play. I've ordered some of those files too; when I change the strings I'll give it a proper going over