" Dressing or replacing frets ? "

[Roger Smith]

I changed the strings on my guitar from light( Elixer nanoweb phosphor bronze) to medium (Elixer phospher bronze nanoweb).
I did this because I was hearing some twang/buzz on a couple strings when I strummed hard.
Pretty sure it was the G/B strings...
Now,they all sound better since the string change,which makes me think I shoulda been using medium guage all along.
However,I still hear a slightly noticeable twang/buzz on the B string.
Looking closer,I see the 2nd and 3rd frets are fairly worn down in that area...as if I play a D chord alot...

Here is my question: If a couple frets are showing sign of wear,will that account for intonation issues and /or string twang/buzz? If so,can this be corrected by " dressing the frets" or replacing the worn down frets ? :?

Now for the ..." Yer outta here ! " ...by the ref.... The guitar I am having the issue with is my 2000 Taylor 810 Dreadnought.

My Guilds NEVER give me any trouble !

 

[taabru45]

Re: " Dressing od replacing frets ? "

Try backing off the truss rod just a little...if you fret a string on the 1st and 12th fret at the same time at about the 6 th fret there should be a very slight space between the string bottom and the fret....Steffan

 

[adorshki]

Looking closer,I see the 2nd and 3rd frets are fairly worn down in that area...as if I play a D chord alot...
Here is my question: If a couple frets are showing sign of wear,will that account for intonation issues and /or string twang/buzz? If so,can this be corrected by " dressing the frets" or replacing the worn down frets ? :?

HI Roger: I tend to play mine way past the need for a refret, and it shouldn't cause buzzing if you're fretting cleanly but it COULD cause intonation "irritation".
Personally I don't believe in dressing frets, I think it's just spending money to degrade an instrument untill a full fret job can be afforded. Frank Ford mentions a few reasons why frets that are too low will degrade sound on his Frets.com website. It also covers why frets shoud be done as a group. I've had the first 12 done on the D25 now, twice, but I do get that high up the board a lot.

 

[Roger Smith]

Thanks for the input Steffen , however,I ain't touching that truss rod...no way !
Adhorski...,
interesting perspective on dressing frets...will consider.

Remarkable how much better my Taylors sound with medium strings !
Same ones I use on all my Guilds.
Go figure.

Right now I am thinking I will take the one guitar
( Taylor 810 ) with the intonation issue,
in for a couple new frets sometime in the next few months.
Until then,all is well.

 

[Martin Taylor Guild]

I have noticed that the fret wire that Taylor uses does wear out faster than some other brands.
I think that part of the ease of play that Taylor is known for, is the thin fret wire that is used.
I'm a believer in fret dressing. When my most used frets show noticable wear, I have the guitar set up and include a level,
crown and polish of the frets
This allows my guitars to play their best for me.

Several factors must be considered when frets start to buzz.
Humidity, fret wear, action higth, string guage, neck angle, trus rod adjustment [neck bow],
saddle and nut height, and style of play.

All of these factors should be considered and proper repair or adjustments made, for optimal performance.
A good set up is worth the price.

Take the Taylor to a good Tech and have it evaluated.
Then if work is needed, have it done.
You will be happy with the results.

 

[Willy]

Looking closer,I see the 2nd and 3rd frets are fairly worn down in that area...as if I play a D chord alot...
Here is my question: If a couple frets are showing sign of wear,will that account for intonation issues and /or string twang/buzz? If so,can this be corrected by " dressing the frets" or replacing the worn down frets ? :?

HI Roger: I tend to play mine way past the need for a refret, and it shouldn't cause buzzing if you're fretting cleanly but it COULD cause intonation "irritation".
Personally I don't believe in dressing frets, I think it's just spending money to degrade an instrument untill a full fret job can be afforded. Frank Ford mentions a few reasons why frets that are too low will degrade sound on his Frets.com website. It also covers why frets shoud be done as a group. I've had the first 12 done on the D25 now, twice, but I do get that high up the board a lot.

I'll have to read up on the referenced articles, there's always lots of good advice to learn from. I re-dress frets on my instruments occasionally and don't feel it has negatively impacted them. If kept in good condition, crowned and highly polished, they will last a lot longer. Once they start wearing the rate of wear will increase imho so it's good to keep up with it while it's minor.

 

[adorshki]

I re-dress frets on my instruments occasionally and don't feel it has negatively impacted them. If kept in good condition, crowned and highly polished, they will last a lot longer. Once they start wearing the rate of wear will increase imho so it's good to keep up with it while it's minor.

Yeah that "negative impact" comment probably made it sound worse that it really is. It proaably also has as much to do with me being a "factory spec" freak, and Guild's factory set-up specs were perfect for my style, so for me it's kind of a "factory spec or nothing" attitude.
I think even Frank explains how to gauge whether the frets are worth dressing, or there's not enough left to "dress".
Did you get your Guilds new? Maybe another part of it is tha I've been spoiled by enjoying brand new instruments and getting used to the feel.

 

[Willy]

I re-dress frets on my instruments occasionally and don't feel it has negatively impacted them. If kept in good condition, crowned and highly polished, they will last a lot longer. Once they start wearing the rate of wear will increase imho so it's good to keep up with it while it's minor.

Yeah that "negative impact" comment probably made it sound worse that it really is. It proaably also has as much to do with me being a "factory spec" freak, and Guild's factory set-up specs were perfect for my style, so for me it's kind of a "factory spec or nothing" attitude.
I think even Frank explains how to gauge whether the frets are worth dressing, or there's not enough left to "dress".
Did you get your Guilds new? Maybe another part of it is tha I've been spoiled by enjoying brand new instruments and getting used to the feel.

The Frets.com article is good, Frank's spec's are a more objective approach than what I do by feel in determining how far they can be brought down before they need to be replaced...but there's nothing to lose by dressing them first if you're not paying a luthier to do it. I've gotten several Guilds new or nearly new but most have been played hard and put away wet - every one has been salvaged without a fret job. I like the feel of the frets on most Guilds but I have played Martins and others that have frets that are too tall for my liking. And I don't find the slightly lower frets to be objectionable after dressing. The keys are properly re-crowning the frets and then finishing to a mirror finish when done.

 

[Roger Smith]

Thanks MTG and all the rest of you folks.
I have a much better understanding of frets now.
Planning on an eval and likely to replace a couple worn frets in the near future.
~ R