I am not sure what my problem is... according to most videos and articles I have read or seen fretting isn't supposed to be all that bad.  I have the PDF from Josh G (forget how to spell his last name), I bought and watched Red Dog's DVD (watched it a couple of times when it came to the part on fretting). I did the same with Bill Jehle's DVD. I watched Big Daddy's video series on YouTube (several times). I just cannot get a handle on fretting.

Now with Cigar Box Guitars most would say, "So! Go Fretless!".  I have done that, and still like doing that for certain guitars, but the truth of the matter is, I can't play slide all that great (although I am getting better), but I prefer to fret an instrument.  I can actually play something if I can fret it. It's what I am most used to.

Is there anyone else who can empathize/sympathize, and maybe has gotten past this?  I am to the point of looking for Luthier Classes somewhere, anywhere! (and sadly not finding any local to my area in NC).  I just need someone to hands on show me is the only thing I can think. I honestly do not know what I am doing wrong.  I am following all the tips and tricks I can find (for the most part, minus a few expensive tools).  I am almost at my wits end with fretting an instrument, yet there are so many more instruments (CBGs, Guitars, Basses, Canjos, Cookie Tin Builds, etc....) that I want to build.

So far, I have tried to fret roughly 10 guitar (one of them is for the 3rd time). Out of those, only half turned out okay (three turning out really well (one I used bobby pins for the frets) and the other two just okay)).  The other half were an awful mess that make no sense and piss me off to no end.     

Any ideas?

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I can confirm that the metric measurements on SM's calculator are correct, and bizarrely always have been in the 3 years I've used it.

The 2 times I've used it I ended up having to convert it myself. Maybe they have a intermittent problem. So everyone look it over closely to make sure it's right before you use it to be on the safe side.

You simply need to put on the scale length in the appropriate units, ie for Fender scale 25 1/2inches or 648mm  (from memory, don't take that as gospel) for example.

I guess you are suggesting not to use a printed template as there's room for error i.e. you can easily move the paper as you mark the frets?  I do use a printed template but I measure the frets out 3 times to make sure they are right.  I've been meaning to make myself some kind of fret ruler but I've never got round to it.  I also mark with a pencil but I like the scoring with a knife idea.

Best thing I ever did was buy a proper fret saw with depth gauge.  I've never had to level the frets since using one.  Most time I spend on fretting now is dressing them.

The reasons I say don't use a printed template are:

a) Printers can be rather inaccurate.

b) Paper is relatively unstable and can stretch and distort (compared to a steel rule).

John,

I know who you are in this community, and recognize a few other big names in this thread as well. I am truly grateful for everyone's comments. I appreciate that no one here has talked down to me, or belittled me in the least bit.

You were one of the first ones to respond on here to me years ago when I was first starting and asking about the best wood, and best boxes to use.  You told me, basically, "It's a stick in a box... quit over thinking it!". I feel it's a bit more than that, even though I have come a long way with several successful builds since then. It could be, maybe, I am still over-thinking it.

Thanks for the advise and your do's and don'ts.

I also have the Stew-Mac fret saw, miter box and one of the double-sided fret scale templates. This makes fretting accurate and easy BUT comes at a considerable expense.

C.B. Gitty sells a fret saw and miter box at a fantastic price but what I don't understand is why they don't also sell an add-on that would basically be a small indexing pin and then an aluminum template pretty much the same as one of these slotted straight edges except that the notches would be made smaller to match the index pin:

http://www.uaac.us/straight-edge-for-gibson-or-fender-luthiers-tool...

That way, you could have a system that works very much the same as the Stew-Mac system but vastly less expensive.

???

In one of the comments here someone said that they had been smart and cheap... just rarely at the same time.  I think when it comes to fretting that's been part of my problem, I have been still been just trying to figure it out, instead of actually figuring it out. 

I stole a saying from somewhere... "If at first you don't succeed... you're probably doing it wrong". I am a firm believer in this, but I also don't let it stop me.  I do the whole, "Try, Try again" part of the original saying, but I typically do some research, and ask the right people before trying something else with it.

I am grateful to all the replies, and the myriad of good advice. Hopefully all this info can help someone else as well.

I have a yard stick with metric measurements on one side. I put it on top of the board hold in place with tape and mark all the measurements all the way down. Double check, remove yard stick and put it in the mitre box and start cutting.

I guess this all depends on our own motivation. I keep seeing "Have Fun" on this board, and that's what I am mainly about.

I know that my hearing is fairly shot by spending too much time too close to Marshall amps in the 60's, and was made quite tone deaf by trying to emulate the parish priest as a kid, so maybe my standards are not too high. I am under no delusions that I will ever make a perfect instrument, and when I look at fret tables, I know that there is no  way apart from accidentally that I will EVER be able to measure 11.189", never mind cut to it.

So, my question is when is close enough good enough? isn't it just a different definition of "close enough" for every one of us?

Don't get me wrong, as I said earlier... I have had successful fret jobs.  Cynthia hit it though... it's currently a dread of mine because 50/50 chances (my current track record) of screwing up a perfectly good build is not good and very frustrating.  The only up side it seems I have had so far is that I have lucked out half the time (when it sounds like I should have only lucked out once or twice with how I have been doing it).  It sounds like I have been doing something right, just can't replicate that "magic" all the time, every time.  I think with the proper equipment, mixed with some of the wonderful knowledge that's been passed along here I should be fine (finally... I hope!)

On the successful fret jobs I have done here is what made them successful for me (and I presume what others strive for as well):

  • At the 12th fret I get the same note when I hit the harmonic and when I fretted it (almost no matter what I tuned the string to, within reason).
  • The other frets played on (not sharp or flat) when fretted.
  • The action was decent, or comparable to standard guitars I have played (this one subjective to the player).
  • A byproduct of these three things really doesn't have anything to do with the fret job, but more the overall quality of the build... but the strings typically stay in-tune once stretched.

Hey Cynthia, 

I spoke to Richey Kay yesterday and he has some great advice in some of his blog posts. He pointed out on my last fretted build, that it may not be my fret job, but issues with intonation.  Here's one of his posts that may help (info would be able to be applied to however many strings you have)... 4-tips-to-make-a-cbg-play-and-sound-better.

He also has a set of posts on making necks (which include his technique for fretting).  Thanks for the reply.  Best of luck to you!

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