About a month ago got my MIM Std. Strat back from the friend of mine checked it out and everything was fine. Put it away since I was playing my no1 MIA Std and the Gibson LP standard I had rented. Yesterday Gibson went back and got my MIM out for a little play and ouch!! a nice cut on my finger from the fret ends that are sticking out and are razor sharp.

This is 09 MIM standard with the maple board. Now I found a bunch of info in regards of the cause and some info how to fix it. One good luthier that I know is so busy that he can't even look at the guitar until the end of February and I need a guitar operational soon. So it is up to me now.

I am a little big foggy of what I should do but this is my take. Corrections, suggestions and solutions are welcome.

1. Mask the neck between the frets with the painter tape.
2. Get a small fine file (i have a small/fine file set) and file down what is sticking out.
3. Shape the fret ends with 1000 grit sand paper.
4. Polish frets with 0000 steel wool dipped in lemon oil.

Anything missing?

Thanks

Hi Daniel.

What I do.

Get a 3 cornered file and gring the corners flat. Use that to shape your fret ends. I dont mask off, or wirewool the fret tops. If you mask off the edges and go as gently as you need with the file. You run the risk of not taking enough off. Not a big dilema, I know. Personaly I'd rather just do it right once. With a bit of practice you can get a really nice rounding where the fret tops and sides meet the 35degree angle on the fret end.

I use brasso for polishing fret tops, nothing as harsh as wirewool. I mask off the top of the fretboard inbetween frets (labourious as hell). Wrapp some of the brasso wadding cloth round a foam sanding block.
This Brasso product



Wrapped around this foam sanding block.



Then I wipe that repeatedly (loads and loads of times) up and down the fretboard. In a 21st to 1st fret direction.

If your working on a rosewood boarded neck its worth masking the sides of the fretboard off to stop the metal polish getting to the glue or in the fret sides. It gives a really smooth shiney finish, with lovely rounded tops.

Its always worth taking the neck off to do it, when possible.

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No no and no

The proper humidyshould put the wood back where it should be. If they still stick out after that then file as stated above.

As above. Buy one of these:
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... sku=420984

Follow the instructions or just leave the guitar closed up in a hardcase for a few days and measure the humidity. If its below 40% then it needs more moisture.

You can to this by getting a small plastic container an place a sponge inside.
Put a couple of teaspoons of water in the sponge and place it inside the case with the guitar in a safe spot where noones going to pick up the case.

Just keep adding every couple of days until your guitar is back to humidity.

You don't want the sponge to have direct contact with the guitar or humidify it too fast! Important to keep monitoring it. Remember when you open the case moisture in the air of the case is lost so don't do it constantly.

As there will be more moisture in the air of the case when the sponge is wet by removing it will give more accurate reading with the Hygro Thermometer.

If this is beyond your skill level get a professional to do it.