I have this problem on my strat. Sometimes when I do multiple bends on the B string on at the 13th or 15th fret, the string doesn't bend smoothly and scrapes the fret. But it doesn't always happen, just every now and then. I have my action set at 2mm on all strings at the 17th fret (with capo at first). I have my neck relief @ .10- or so it appears to be when sighting. Maybe its a little bit over. Perhaps too much relief is causing this phenomenon?
Anyone else experience this?

yes, when you bend about 3 times its very smooth, then it starts to really scrape. The note doesn't fret out. It just feels like its damaging the fret.

To see if its technique practice playing with as little pressure as possible to get a clear note. I'm not talking about bends yet. Keep reducing the pressure until the the note is unclear. That will give you an idea if your putting too much pressure into the fretboard while playing.

Also you could review your technique if your using extra fingers support bending. Are you bending the string and it rests on the fret or using two fingers either side of the fret and sliding it up the fret?

To reduce your strings from biting also change your strings and use some metal polish on your frets and buff them up shiny. Best to mask off your fretboard with low tack tape so you don't get any polish into the wood or paintwork. I notice bends are super slippery after this.
You can dab some "Fast Fret" (light mineral oil) on the frets this will make them slippery and help as well.
http://accessories.musiciansfriend.com/ ... c=3LFHWXX1

If there is a dent in the fret take it to a luthier who will dress the frets for you.

The strat is a 2001 American standard. I've had the frets dressed recently. I will try the Fast Fret polish. I've never heard of it. sounds like it may do the trick. Thank you every one for your posts.

Polish your frets first! Fast fret is essentially light mineral oil its really designed for sliding up and down strings.

If the strings wont slide on the frets after a bit of Fast Fret then nothing will make them. You only need it run it lightly over the problem frets to see if it makes a difference.

You know another possible cause. Your frets weren't crowned (the curve) properly by the person that dressed them. I'd check that as if they are slightly flat on top there is more surface area for the string to catch on.

If your strings are stainless steel, they will exacerbate your problem quite a bit too as SS strings are literally harder and stronger than your frets.

FWIW, sliming up your fingerboard with Fast Fret (or any other greasy product for that matter) treats a symptom and not a cause. Further, once that stuff starts getting old and crusty, you are going to run yourself into a whole bunch of other fingerboard maladies and to compound those, naturally you'll have to keep slathering more and more on to keep the fingerboard slick to where eventually, the entire neck/fingerboard will need an extreme cleaning where after that, you'll be right back where you started.

Consider too, that as this gunk penetrates deeper and deeper into the fingerboard, it will work its way down to the tang of your frets where they very well may start lifting.

Again, you'd do better to discover and correct the cause rather than to mask the symptoms. YMMV.

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You dig?

Sounds like whoever 'dressed' the frets, just stoned em. They may have crowned em too, maybe not.

I've seen more than a few instances of fret leveling/ crowning work where the frets haven't been polished afterwards. A lot of people rely on play in to get rid of any burr's or minimal amounts of file chatter.

If that's the case it will dissipate in time, with play.

However I can also recommend this stuff. I've had great results with it, better than the Planet Waves system and far easier to use than metal polishing the frets individualy. (though that is the ultimate way to get the final polish/shine to your frets. Use Jewelers rouge)

http://www.fretrefinishing.com/
(the polishing kit towards the bottom of the page)

Again to agree with Martian, Fast Fret will do nothing, as it acts more on the fretboard than the fret itself.

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No no and no

http://www.fretrefinishing.com/
(the polishing kit towards the bottom of the page

wow that looks interesting. I'm doing some research on it.
My neck relief was actually pretty straight. I loosened the truss a little and it went away. I wouldn't have thought a straight neck would be the cause.

Thank you for your posts.

Thanks Nikininja. This arrived in the mail today. Fantastic product. Just what the doctor ordered. Works a treat. It seems that the frets were stoned and crowned and not polished.

Cocteau

I'm glad it worked for you mate. I really don't like unpolished frets. They take all the finesse out of a otherwise great instrument.

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