Hi Snowwalker,
If the "fret markers" are sawed into the wood (as it sounds that they are), you need to be concerned about how wide these "slots" are. If they are too wide, then they might not hold the fret wire. Medium size fret wire is typically 0.023" wide and the slot cut by the fret saw should be 0.022" wide so the little tangs in the fret wire can catch the wood and hold the fret wire in place. Fret saws tend to be expensive, so what I usually use is a standard coping saw which has a thin blade which works fairly well for fretting a fretboard.
If the fret slots in your neck are too wide, then you might consider gluing the fret wire in (works best if slots are only slightly to wide) or you can try using cut nails as frets. Just buy a bunch of thin long nails, cut off the head and points (a jig might be worth building to keep nail lengths fairly consistent). You may have to cut or file the current fret slots so they are wide enough to hold the cut nails. Then use 2-part epoxy glue to glue them in, trying to work as cleanly as possible. Be sure to clamp another board to the top of the fretboard to apply pressure to the cut nail frets being glued in (but use a strip of plastic bag to keep this board from being glued on).
Also, working on a completed instrument makes fretting a bit harder to do. Be sure to rig up some kind of clamping system that supports the box, neck and head assembly and keeps everything rock steady when you get ready to cut fret slots.
Another easy option is to use electrician's tie-wraps as frets. Use the thinnest ones you can find. May need to replace the nut (or add a fret 0) with a thicker tie-wrap so the open string notes sound like the fretted notes. If you have a steel nut, the open notes tend to ring out pretty loud, but the fretted notes are dampened somewhat by the nylon (plastic) tie wraps. To solve this, the nut, or fret 0 should also be made of the same material.
Hope this helps.
-Rand.
Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Raymond Grimmitt Dec 21, 2021. 3 Replies 1 Like
Started by Robert Dawkins. Last reply by Order99 Jul 6, 2020. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Sean Murphy Oct 28, 2018. 3 Replies 1 Like
Started by Brian M Nusser. Last reply by ChickenboneJohn Nov 14, 2017. 16 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Sean Murphy. Last reply by Slow Blues Dani & Ol' Grey Bear Nov 14, 2017. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Holly Hodson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Nov 9, 2017. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Michael Zimmerle. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Dan Mullen. Last reply by Richard Dean Oct 23, 2017. 8 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Anne M. Fridley-Owen. Last reply by Brian Revels Jan 2, 2017. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Anne M. Fridley-Owen. Last reply by Anne M. Fridley-Owen Dec 4, 2016. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Chance. Last reply by Chance Oct 24, 2016. 3 Replies 1 Like
Started by tommy farrar. Last reply by tommy farrar Nov 28, 2015. 2 Replies 0 Likes
Started by evanmars. Last reply by Richey Kay Aug 25, 2015. 7 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Redbelly. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 30, 2014. 3 Replies 1 Like
Started by L. W. Carlson. Last reply by Thomas "Duck" Petry Jun 27, 2014. 3 Replies 1 Like
Started by L. W. Carlson. Last reply by L. W. Carlson Jun 24, 2014. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Started by Wagner Richter. Last reply by Wagner Richter May 7, 2014. 3 Replies 0 Likes
Started by L. W. Carlson. Last reply by Wichita Sam Apr 23, 2014. 5 Replies 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on March 31, 2024 at 11:48pm 0 Comments 1 Like
Posted by Vlad on March 6, 2024 at 2:32am 5 Comments 2 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 28, 2024 at 2:09pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by billy jones bluez on February 17, 2024 at 11:00pm 0 Comments 0 Likes
Posted by Vlad on February 11, 2024 at 1:06am 1 Comment 1 Like
May 11, 2024 from 11am to 8pm – Speakeasy Grill
0 Comments 0 LikesMay 30, 2024 from 6:30pm to 10pm – The Casual Pint of Huntsville
0 Comments 0 Likes© 2024 Created by Ben "C. B. Gitty" Baker. Powered by
Cigar Box Nation is presented by C. B. Gitty Crafter Supply, your one-stop-shop for Cigar Box Guitar parts and accessories!