The waiting begins...

[gutter0909]

Looks awesome! I'd use a black switch tip instead of the white though to match your pickups. I'd probably also at least try black knobs too to see what that looks like, but the chrome works.

First line after the picture "A teaser until I get the rest of the correct hardware (read: black)." The black switch tip is on and the knobs are in the mail.

 

[gutter0909]

Things are coming together nicely but I have one last hiccup. The cutout for the blade switch is too small, I can't get my switch fully in the 1 or 5 position. I tried using a small file to open it up a bit but after about an hour of filing and test fitting, I feel I'm not getting any closer. I'm scared to take a dremel to it but I suppose if that's what it takes I'll do it. Any suggestions?

 

[Hagwood]

Things are coming together nicely but I have one last hiccup. The cutout for the blade switch is too small, I can't get my switch fully in the 1 or 5 position. I tried using a small file to open it up a bit but after about an hour of filing and test fitting, I feel I'm not getting any closer. I'm scared to take a dremel to it but I suppose if that's what it takes I'll do it. Any suggestions?

I think a dremel is your best option with a very small grinder/sanding bit. Maybe make a jig out of some thin scrap wood that you could lay on top to keep the lines straight. Plus it would be practice on the scrap !

Good Luck.

 

[JohnnyHardtail]

For the blade switch cut out, I sometimes trimmed it and removed some wood at each end using a scalpel knife

 

[gutter0909]

Thanks for the replies guys but now I have bigger issues. I thought I was better at this than I am. I massively screwed up though. I was doing a fret level for probably the 10th or so time and I made the first 3 frets triangular. The neck was off, I made sure it was flat using a notched straight edge and I let it sit for about 20 mins before I checked it again and it was still flat so I started leveling. I used a sharpie so I knew when I was hitting all the frets and they were level... except they never did. I ended up taking quite a bit off of of the first 3 frets but still never touched the 5-9th. The fret rocker still showed some rocking. I checked level with the notched straight edge and it was still level. There was only slight rocking so I figured it was probably good enough. I went to recrown with my StewMac center z-file and it was taking quite a while but someone said stainless frets work the same as regular frets they just take longer. So I was going... remarking and going... and going... remarking and going... and now they are triangles instead of nice rounded frets. *$(%&(#%&#!!! They are horrible, I massively screwed up. I already have a replacement neck in my wish list but I just wanted to see how hard refretting is because I feel like that's the only thing that'll save this neck.

Maybe I'll just go back to buying off the rack. #@&% my life.

 

[Spud]

Thanks for the replies guys but now I have bigger issues. I thought I was better at this than I am. I massively screwed up though. I was doing a fret level for probably the 10th or so time and I made the first 3 frets triangular. The neck was off, I made sure it was flat using a notched straight edge and I let it sit for about 20 mins before I checked it again and it was still flat so I started leveling. I used a sharpie so I knew when I was hitting all the frets and they were level... except they never did. I ended up taking quite a bit off of of the first 3 frets but still never touched the 5-9th. The fret rocker still showed some rocking. I checked level with the notched straight edge and it was still level. There was only slight rocking so I figured it was probably good enough. I went to recrown with my trusty StewMac center z-file and it was taking quite a while but someone said stainless frets work the same as regular frets they just take longer. So I was going... remarking and going... and going... remarking and going... and now they are triangles instead of nice rounded frets. *$(%&(#%&#!!! They are horrible, I massively screwed up. I already have a replacement neck in my wish list but I just wanted to see how hard refretting is because I feel like that's the only thing that'll save this neck.

Maybe I'll just go back to buying off the rack. #@&% my life.

I have only re fretted one neck to prove to myself I could do it, it came out fine, but I won't ever do it again as it was so tedious I thought I might die. I would go with a replacement neck IMO.

 

[Spud]

Thanks for the replies guys but now I have bigger issues. I thought I was better at this than I am. I massively screwed up though. I was doing a fret level for probably the 10th or so time and I made the first 3 frets triangular. The neck was off, I made sure it was flat using a notched straight edge and I let it sit for about 20 mins before I checked it again and it was still flat so I started leveling. I used a sharpie so I knew when I was hitting all the frets and they were level... except they never did. I ended up taking quite a bit off of of the first 3 frets but still never touched the 5-9th. The fret rocker still showed some rocking. I checked level with the notched straight edge and it was still level. There was only slight rocking so I figured it was probably good enough. I went to recrown with my trusty StewMac center z-file and it was taking quite a while but someone said stainless frets work the same as regular frets they just take longer. So I was going... remarking and going... and going... remarking and going... and now they are triangles instead of nice rounded frets. *$(%&(#%&#!!! They are horrible, I massively screwed up. I already have a replacement neck in my wish list but I just wanted to see how hard refretting is because I feel like that's the only thing that'll save this neck.

Maybe I'll just go back to buying off the rack. #@&% my life.

Would a partial refret fix it?

 

[NovasScootYa]

Thanks for the replies guys but now I have bigger issues. I thought I was better at this than I am. I massively screwed up though. I was doing a fret level for probably the 10th or so time and I made the first 3 frets triangular. The neck was off, I made sure it was flat using a notched straight edge and I let it sit for about 20 mins before I checked it again and it was still flat so I started leveling. I used a sharpie so I knew when I was hitting all the frets and they were level... except they never did. I ended up taking quite a bit off of of the first 3 frets but still never touched the 5-9th. The fret rocker still showed some rocking. I checked level with the notched straight edge and it was still level. There was only slight rocking so I figured it was probably good enough. I went to recrown with my trusty StewMac center z-file and it was taking quite a while but someone said stainless frets work the same as regular frets they just take longer. So I was going... remarking and going... and going... remarking and going... and now they are triangles instead of nice rounded frets. *$(%&(#%&#!!! Tinhey are horrible, I massively screwed up. I already have a replacement neck in my wish list but I just wanted to see how hard refretting is because I feel like that's the only thing that'll save this neck.

Maybe I'll just go back to buying off the rack. #@&% my life.

Tried to warn you in a previous reply...

"Last thing to do would be grinding on the frets especially if you do not fully understand fret particulars you can make matters worse; same applies to nickel and stainless. Next, obtain a wiring diagram and compare it wire by wire."

Don't feel bad I've had worst blunders learning to fret necks. All you can do is refret the neck or list it on eBay as needs fret work.

 

[gutter0909]

Would a partial refret fix it?

I walked away pretty quick but I think it was just the first 3 frets that are buggered.

 

[Spud]

I walked away pretty quick but I think it was just the first 3 frets that are buggered.

well that's not so bad bro! You can do that!!

 

[gutter0909]

well that's not so bad bro! You can do that!!

I guess we'll see. I ordered some SS fretwire from StewMac. I guess we'll see how it goes huh? I still can't figure out where I went wrong. I've done close to a dozen fret levels before and they turned out great. I'm blaming the stainless frets since this was my first one. Damn stainless frets.

 

[NovasScootYa]

I guess we'll see. I ordered some SS fretwire from StewMac. I guess we'll see how it goes huh? I still can't figure out where I went wrong. I've done close to a dozen fret levels before and they turned out great. I'm blaming the stainless frets since this was my first one. Damn stainless frets.

I'll help you out one more time. If it is a Warmoth Neck and I gather it is then buy the wire from Warmoth. Unless Stewmack uses wire from the same tooling as Warmoth it may not match idealy with the remaining frets. And if you do not have a Stewmack 300 grit Offset Diamond Fret File expect the same results from your current file that leaves triangular crowns. And of course to remove frets you need a soldering iron and fret puller. And you need a fret slot cleaning file or make one from a suitable thickness automotive feeler gauge. And you need superglue with a fine tip to glue the new frets in like Warmoth. And you need various grits of Micro Mesh cloth or sell it as is and order another neck.

 

[Spud]

I'll help you out one more time. If it is a Warmoth Neck and I gather it is then buy the wire from Warmoth. Unless Stewmack uses wire from the same tooling as Warmoth it may not match idealy with the remaining frets. And if you do not have a Stewmack 300 grit Offset Diamond Fret File expect the same results from your current file that leaves triangular crowns. And of course to remove frets you need a soldering iron and fret puller. And you need a fret slot cleaning file or make one from a suitable thickness automotive feeler gauge. And you need superglue with a fine tip to glue the new frets in like Warmoth. And you need various grits of Micro Mesh cloth or sell it as is and order another neck.

This.................

 

[gutter0909]

The Stewmac fretwire is within thousandths of an inch of the Warmoth. I have an offset file as well as the z-file but my offset file is jumbo as most of my guitars have jumbo frets but this neck did not. Thus why I stuck to using the z-file solely.

In a rare moment of clarity I realized I was better off ordering a new neck. I bit the bullet and ordered it last night. Jumbo nickel frets so I don't run into the same problem again. I suppose the silver lining is I can use this damaged neck to learn refretting and working on non-Jumbo frets. Expensive lesson but I might as well gain something from this cluster@%&@.