Official Luthiers Forum!

Step 1 is to run my saw through the slots again - there will be shellac in there as I have some finish on the board area, which will stop the frets seating properly. Check the depth again - if unsure, make the slot a fraction deeper.

I start at the dusty end. These frets are the least used, so if I make a minor screwup it will be less noticeable when playing. By the time I get to the business end I will be well in practice. The neck needs to be supported on something - I have sand inside a plastic bag inside a pillow case, but I've used a bag of rice in the past (wrap that up, as you will split the bag!).

I hold the length of fretwire in my left hand so it projects by a tiny fraction on the far side of the neck, and then using a plastic-faced hammer, tap the far end of the fret until it starts to go into the slot. Then I hold that end down with one finger of my left hand to stop it popping up, use another finger to hold the free end of the fretwire over the slot, and tap along it until it's all starting to seat. Then I tap either end fully down, and finish by tapping down in the middle.



Finally I snip the end off as close to the neck as I can using a pair of pincers ground down to a flat on the top. But anything which will cut would do.

Things to watch out for:

1. Light taps not heavy blows. Probably 20 or more light taps for each fret. You want it to sit down on the surface, but not to drive it below. If you bend it by hitting too hard, no amount of hammering will flatten it.

2. Hit only the frets - even a plastic hammer will dent the fingerboard. You can do this with a metal hammer if you are delicate, but a glancing blow with that will ding the fret (not good, remove and fit another one).

3. Leave as little overhang either end as possible. Too much makes snipping the next fret difficult. Plus if you hit the overhang you will lever the fret out of its slot.

4. If the fret won't go in fully the slot is too shallow. Pull the fret out carefully (grab it and rock it v, v gently, as anything more than a tiny wobble will put a dent in the fretboard as you lever on it with your pincers/pliers/whatever). Deepen the slot and try again, only re-using the wire if it's not in the least bent.

Here we are, all done.



At this stage I put a drop of CA glue on each fret end so it wicks into the slot. Keep the glue off the fretboard, and don't be tempted to add a second drop as it will rise up out of the fret slot and stain the fretboard.

If you were installing fret markers on the fretboard you should already have done that, as it's much easier to sand them flat before the frets are in.