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Post subject: Dressing upper frets to reduce string buzz on bends?!
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:16 pm
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I love my MIM Strat, my Strat's 9.5 radius neck, and my medium jumbo frets. My issue is that my big bends fret out, which I know is common. I like my action low, so jacking it up isn't an option. Although I had thought about a compound radius neck, I came across the following online info that seemed like a simple solution...it said, and I quote:

"Compound radius fret dressing
A trick often used to make smaller radius fingerboards better for bending is to dress the frets from about the 10th or 12th fret with a flatter radius. This essentially makes the fretboard compound without needing to remove the frets, dress the fingerboard and refret again. The difference in height between the common guitar radii is usually very small, so doing this properly means that very little of the fretwire needs to be removed, which usually leaves plenty of life in the frets. So if you have a vintage (or vintage reissue) Strat that you want to get a lower action without notes fretting out on bends, this is a great option."

Has anyone ever heard or done this before? If so, how was it done and how happy were you with the results?

I saw a Warmoth replacement neck that is a compound radius that goes from 10 inches to 16...the ten sounds fine, but the 16 sounds huge. If I could get away with just dressing my current upper frets, that would be better.

As always, thanks!


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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 3:46 pm
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I will need to look into this.

I just bought a new MIM strat that the frets weren't dressed prior to being shipped apparently (actually it is the worst fret job I ever seen on a new guitar) but I love the guitar and the sound which is why I bought it.

I am having the frets dressed tomorrow and will ask my guy about this.


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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 4:35 pm
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Thanks, buddy. Let me know what your guy says. I lucked out with my MIM - great fret job right out of the box. I've done a ton of mods to it and am very pleased with the end result. Good luck with yours!


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Post subject: Re: Dressing upper frets to reduce string buzz on bends?!
Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2008 5:58 pm
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scpa105 wrote:
I love my MIM Strat, my Strat's 9.5 radius neck, and my medium jumbo frets. My issue is that my big bends fret out, which I know is common. I like my action low, so jacking it up isn't an option. Although I had thought about a compound radius neck, I came across the following online info that seemed like a simple solution...it said, and I quote:

"Compound radius fret dressing
A trick often used to make smaller radius fingerboards better for bending is to dress the frets from about the 10th or 12th fret with a flatter radius. This essentially makes the fretboard compound without needing to remove the frets, dress the fingerboard and refret again. The difference in height between the common guitar radii is usually very small, so doing this properly means that very little of the fretwire needs to be removed, which usually leaves plenty of life in the frets. So if you have a vintage (or vintage reissue) Strat that you want to get a lower action without notes fretting out on bends, this is a great option."

Has anyone ever heard or done this before? If so, how was it done and how happy were you with the results?

I saw a Warmoth replacement neck that is a compound radius that goes from 10 inches to 16...the ten sounds fine, but the 16 sounds huge. If I could get away with just dressing my current upper frets, that would be better.

As always, thanks!


I read where Eric Johnson did (or still does?) this.


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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 4:25 pm
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Your guitar should not fret out. As far as I know that's not common. I've never had a guitar fret out. I bend a full step at the 22d fret without any choking out on my Highway One, and I always have since the day I got it, with low action. I think in the owner's manual it says the guitar should not fret out. You may need a set up.

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Posted: Fri Apr 25, 2008 5:29 pm
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The larger the radius, the less your frets will cut out as the incline you are bending through is less. Yet, if you keep a really low action, even the slightest incline will choke those notes.

I'm a dyed in the wool Strat player. Sparing you all the details, for many years, I favored ridiculously low action and naturally, the high bends would cut out all over the place. The remedy you posted is what solved these problems for me. It works perfectly and nothing is sacrificed except a tiny bit of fret meat.

Currently, I keep a more normal action but still lower by most players standards, Consequently, every so often I'll bag a Strat where with all things being equal, I may experience the cutting out problem here and/or there, even with the guitar 'perfectly' set up. So, I still do a little feathering on those higher frets.

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Posted: Tue Apr 29, 2008 8:33 am
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My action's pretty low, but must not be low enough to cause this problem. Also, the radius on my Highway One Strat is 9.5, which is not as tight as some. The bridge floats well under 1/32d off the deck but Bending on the 22d fret causes no fretting out.

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