Uploaded July 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Welcome to StewMac's ultimate guide to fretting! If you've ever been curious about doing your own fretwork, follow along as Gene breaks down all the essential tools and techniques you need to get your guitar frets looking and playing perfectly:
🎸 Fret polishing
🎸 Protecting your fretboard
🎸 Dealing with sharp fret ends
🎸 Leveling & crowning work
🎸 Tracking down fret buzz
🎸 Mastering a complete refret
0:00 Three levels of fretwork
1:24 Fret polishing
5:09 Fretboard protection
7:41 Sharp fret ends
12:09 Fixing unseated frets
14:58 Fret leveling
27:00 Fret radiusing
28:38 Fret crowning
31:35 Removing old frets
37:04 Leveling the fretboard
42:58 Installing new frets
54:30 Recap
Want to explore more fretwork videos? Check these out!
youtu.be/V3lFy_dH7EU
youtu.be/PX71E-y_mzk
youtu.be/XiUJxrLAd44
youtu.be/BYTVAYgN1RE
youtu.be/4ZIMMAdDn3k
Tools and supplies featured in this video include:
Micromesh Touch Up Stick
stewmac.com/item/3707
Micromesh Dual Angle Touch Up Sticks
stewmac.com/item/3650
Orange Multi-Purpose Tape
stewmac.com/item/0678
Low Tack Protective Tape
stewmac.com/item/1682
Fret End Dressing File
stewmac.com/item/1175
Snapfile Fret End Beveling File
stewmac.com/item/2255
Fret Hammer
stewmac.com/item/4895
2-in-1 Precision + Notched Straightedge
stewmac.com/item/4013
Fret Rocker
stewmac.com/item/3770
Fret Kisser
stewmac.com/item/3771
StewMac Fretbar Understring Leveler
stewmac.com/item/4643
Radius Blocks
stewmac.com/item/0415
Original Z-File
stewmac.com/item/5082
Solomon SL-30 Soldering Station
stewmac.com/item/0501
Precision Fret Puller
stewmac.com/item/1636
Japanese Fret Slot Cleaning Saw
stewmac.com/item/3615
Fret Cutter
stewmac.com/item/0619
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
🎥 Gear We Use in Our Studio
We get a lot of questions about the gear we use to make our videos, so here’s our current setup!*
Camera / Mounting Gear
Canon C70 à bhpho.to/3UOUkef
Canon XC10 à bhpho.to/4n4urD3
Sachtler Ace XL Fluid Head Tripod System à bhpho.to/3Hz9YHF
Manfrotto Deluxe Autopole 2 à bhpho.to/45SCNqs
Glide Gear OH 75 Overhead Portable Pole Rig à bhpho.to/4maFBpf
Lights
Aputure 300 Bi-Color LED à bhpho.to/47m0ASc
FotodioX C-700 Flapjack LED à bhpho.to/4fUL9Cs
Quasar Science Q-Lion LED à bhpho.to/4p3OROA
Sound
RODE Wireless PRO Microphone System à bhpho.to/45FLK7F
Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Microphone àbhpho.to/4oUAsUR
Sennheiser e 609 Microphone à bhpho.to/4mxRJRW
TASCAM DR-70D Multi-Track Field Recorder à bhpho.to/3URMwbG
🛠 Workshop Tools & Supplies We Use
While most of the tools we use in our shop are StewMac (shocker!), we’ve also outfitted our shop with some other essentials. If you’re looking to pick up anything to make some improvements to your own shop or bench, here are a few of our essentials.*
Storage & Organization
We love Craftsman toolboxes in this shop! à shoplowes.me/4mYqhwV
Storage Cabinets àshoplowes.me/3HVk9pO, shoplowes.me/3T4wSsw, shoplowes.me/3ZHXN0V
Small Parts Organizer à shoplowes.me/4l9cSkY
Storage Chest à shoplowes.me/45wIrA7
Workbench and Toolbox Stations à shoplowes.me/43YRlVX
Wire Storage Racks à shoplowes.me/4loDrSW
Tools
Craftsman Drill à shoplowes.me/4nghEOW
DeWalt Drill à shoplowes.me/4l1LVzz
Drill Bit Set àshoplowes.me/44tvxlh
Screwdriver Bit Set à shoplowes.me/4lEOGXx
Screwdriver Set à shoplowes.me/3I8iTiS
Silent Shop Vac à shoplowes.me/40chXjO
Spindle Sander à shoplowes.me/3T6RPmz
Shop Supplies
Blue Shop Towels à shoplowes.me/4l4xjzo
Shop Rags à shoplowes.me/4nqDpf6
Power Strips à shoplowes.me/4llBfLP
Work Lights à shoplowes.me/4ljsK3F
Dehumidifier à shoplowes.me/46LWAd8
Mixing Buckets à shoplowes.me/4ekkUVf
*These are affiliate links, which means if you pick something up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That support helps us create more great content for you—thanks for being a part of it all!
Welcome to StewMac's ultimate guide to fretting! If you've ever been curious about doing your own fretwork, follow along as Gene breaks down all the essential tools and techniques you need to get your guitar frets looking and playing perfectly:
🎸 Fret polishing
🎸 Protecting your fretboard
🎸 Dealing with sharp fret ends
🎸 Leveling & crowning work
🎸 Tracking down fret buzz
🎸 Mastering a complete refret
0:00 Three levels of fretwork
1:24 Fret polishing
5:09 Fretboard protection
7:41 Sharp fret ends
12:09 Fixing unseated frets
14:58 Fret leveling
27:00 Fret radiusing
28:38 Fret crowning
31:35 Removing old frets
37:04 Leveling the fretboard
42:58 Installing new frets
54:30 Recap
Want to explore more fretwork videos? Check these out!
youtu.be/V3lFy_dH7EU
youtu.be/PX71E-y_mzk
youtu.be/XiUJxrLAd44
youtu.be/BYTVAYgN1RE
youtu.be/4ZIMMAdDn3k
Tools and supplies featured in this video include:
Micromesh Touch Up Stick
stewmac.com/item/3707
Micromesh Dual Angle Touch Up Sticks
stewmac.com/item/3650
Orange Multi-Purpose Tape
stewmac.com/item/0678
Low Tack Protective Tape
stewmac.com/item/1682
Fret End Dressing File
stewmac.com/item/1175
Snapfile Fret End Beveling File
stewmac.com/item/2255
Fret Hammer
stewmac.com/item/4895
2-in-1 Precision + Notched Straightedge
stewmac.com/item/4013
Fret Rocker
stewmac.com/item/3770
Fret Kisser
stewmac.com/item/3771
StewMac Fretbar Understring Leveler
stewmac.com/item/4643
Radius Blocks
stewmac.com/item/0415
Original Z-File
stewmac.com/item/5082
Solomon SL-30 Soldering Station
stewmac.com/item/0501
Precision Fret Puller
stewmac.com/item/1636
Japanese Fret Slot Cleaning Saw
stewmac.com/item/3615
Fret Cutter
stewmac.com/item/0619
- - - - - - - - - - - -
StewMac has everything you need to repair, build or maintain your guitars.
Everything we sell is backed by our Lifetime Promise, and we offer fast worldwide shipping.
Shop StewMac: stewmac.com
Instagram: @StewMac_Guitar
Facebook: facebook.com/StewMac
🎥 Gear We Use in Our Studio
We get a lot of questions about the gear we use to make our videos, so here’s our current setup!*
Camera / Mounting Gear
Canon C70 à bhpho.to/3UOUkef
Canon XC10 à bhpho.to/4n4urD3
Sachtler Ace XL Fluid Head Tripod System à bhpho.to/3Hz9YHF
Manfrotto Deluxe Autopole 2 à bhpho.to/45SCNqs
Glide Gear OH 75 Overhead Portable Pole Rig à bhpho.to/4maFBpf
Lights
Aputure 300 Bi-Color LED à bhpho.to/47m0ASc
FotodioX C-700 Flapjack LED à bhpho.to/4fUL9Cs
Quasar Science Q-Lion LED à bhpho.to/4p3OROA
Sound
RODE Wireless PRO Microphone System à bhpho.to/45FLK7F
Sennheiser MKH 416 Shotgun Microphone àbhpho.to/4oUAsUR
Sennheiser e 609 Microphone à bhpho.to/4mxRJRW
TASCAM DR-70D Multi-Track Field Recorder à bhpho.to/3URMwbG
🛠 Workshop Tools & Supplies We Use
While most of the tools we use in our shop are StewMac (shocker!), we’ve also outfitted our shop with some other essentials. If you’re looking to pick up anything to make some improvements to your own shop or bench, here are a few of our essentials.*
Storage & Organization
We love Craftsman toolboxes in this shop! à shoplowes.me/4mYqhwV
Storage Cabinets àshoplowes.me/3HVk9pO, shoplowes.me/3T4wSsw, shoplowes.me/3ZHXN0V
Small Parts Organizer à shoplowes.me/4l9cSkY
Storage Chest à shoplowes.me/45wIrA7
Workbench and Toolbox Stations à shoplowes.me/43YRlVX
Wire Storage Racks à shoplowes.me/4loDrSW
Tools
Craftsman Drill à shoplowes.me/4nghEOW
DeWalt Drill à shoplowes.me/4l1LVzz
Drill Bit Set àshoplowes.me/44tvxlh
Screwdriver Bit Set à shoplowes.me/4lEOGXx
Screwdriver Set à shoplowes.me/3I8iTiS
Silent Shop Vac à shoplowes.me/40chXjO
Spindle Sander à shoplowes.me/3T6RPmz
Shop Supplies
Blue Shop Towels à shoplowes.me/4l4xjzo
Shop Rags à shoplowes.me/4nqDpf6
Power Strips à shoplowes.me/4llBfLP
Work Lights à shoplowes.me/4ljsK3F
Dehumidifier à shoplowes.me/46LWAd8
Mixing Buckets à shoplowes.me/4ekkUVf
*These are affiliate links, which means if you pick something up through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. That support helps us create more great content for you—thanks for being a part of it all!
