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Guitar Restorations: 1935 Martin D18, Part 3: Pick Guard and Fret Job Wherein our guitar repair tech channels a 1930s Martin guitar maker to right some wrongs on this vintage instrument. From "Handmade Music" episode DHMM-306

(Continued from page 1)

Figure A

Martin D18: Fret Job

Sometimes in guitar restorations even original parts have to be removed, and that's exactly the case with the frets. Over a guitar's lifetime frets get worn until they are simply unplayable. Andy solves that problem by removing the bad frets, cutting new fret wire and tapping the new ones into place along the fret board.

Materials:

arbor press
fret saw
fret wire
sanding block
radius sanding block
pliers
hammer

• This fret job begins with fret removal. Some jobs don't require this drastic step, but these original frets are worn beyond playability. Each fret is heated to release the glue (figure A) and then removed with pliers.
  

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• The fret board is prepped next. Time is rough on a guitar and over the years a dip has worked its way into this ebony board. With a sanding block, the rest of the fingerboard is leveled to equal its lowest point (figures B and C).

• Leveling the fingerboard usually removes the radius curve required for proper play, so the next step puts the curve back into the board with a radius block.

  Figure B

  Figure C

  
  

• The sanding that the neck endures inevitably lessens the depth of each fret slot. Before the new frets can be inserted, the slots must be cut deeper with a fret saw (figure D).

• Lengths of fret wire equal to the width of the fret board are cut and prepped before they are tapped lightly into place with a hammer (figure E).

  Figure D

  Figure E

  
  

• Finally an arbor press seats each fret firmly into place (figures F and G).

  Figure G

  Figure F

  
  

  
  
  
  

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  RESOURCES :
  

  Gruhn Guitars
  Nashville, Tennessee
  www.gruhn.com

  
  

  GUESTS :
  

  George Gruhn
  Proprietor, Gruhn Guitars
  Nashville, Tenn.
  www.gruhn.com

  Andy Jellison, Vintage Instrument Repair Specialist
  Gruhn Guitars
  Nashville, Tenn.
  www.gruhn.com

  RELATED PROJECTS: Guitar Restorations: 1935 Martin D18, Part 1: Neck and Bridge Guitar Restorations: 1935 Martin D18, Part 2: Wood Repair and Neck Set Guitar Restorations: 1965 Gibson ES355 Guitar--Dressing the Frets 1923 Gibson Snakehead Mandolin: Basic Set-Up and Wood-Replacement Repair Gruhn Guitars: Vintage Guitar Evaluation, Appraisal and Value

  
  

  ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
  	Guitar Restorations: 1935 Martin D18, Part 3: Pick Guard and Fret Job
  	Gruhn Guitars: Fiddle Setup
  	Gruhn Guitars: A Look Inside the Vault