Fret Replacement On Dean ML

[PLX]

So, I was practicing my Pantera licks, and while depressing the Floyd Rose tremolo all the way down, strings completely flopping around slack..

When I brought the bar back up there was a loud TWANGGGG!!

The high E string had gotten caught under the edge of the 21st and 22nd frets. When I released the tremolo it pulled up these two frets.

So for years now I've just been playing this guitar with those two frets removed. I've talked to a couple of luthiers about replacing the frets and the cost was gonna be higher than I thought was reasonable.

I ordered all the tools and materials from StewMac to do the job myself, and I'll be posting the ensuing fuckery here so I can be mocked by the entire Internets for not taking this guitar to a luthier.


Full disclosure: I attempted this repair once before, several years ago without having the proper tools or materials, and it went to shit (as anyone could have predicted).

[RockyStar]

So you are replacing just those two frets or are you doing the whole neck? When it comes to frets, the right tools are a must! If you have those and some patience and choose to work slowly you can probably have a decent go at it.

[PLX]

So you are replacing just those two frets or are you doing the whole neck? When it comes to frets, the right tools are a must! If you have those and some patience and choose to work slowly you can probably have a decent go at it.

Just the two.

After the previous repair attempt, I bought a fret puller from StewMac and just removed the frets because the guitar was unplayable.

My plan of action (pun intended) is to repair the fretboard by inserting Teflon dams into the 21st & 22nd fret slots, then mixing rosewood sawdust with cyanoacrylate resin and then filling in the chipped areas.

Once that's done I can use the new fret press I bought to install new fret wire.

I bought a fret leveling tool as well, to level the new frets to the existing ones.

[RockyStar]

Sounds like a fun project. If you start doing re-frets on all your guitars instead of making pedals we will know you found a new passion.

[PLX]

Since I'm replacing the bridge pickup in this guitar, I decided to go ahead and do this repair.

Not having the 21st & 22nd frets is hindering my Van Halen riffs anyway.





Teflon dam


Brazilian rosewood sawdust and #10 thin super glue build-up process:

[PLX]

Teflon dam removed. Sanding away excess material.

[PLX]

sanded w 220 grit. level.

[PLX]

[harddriver]

Do you have two new functional frets now PLX?

[PLX]

Do you have two new functional frets now PLX?

No.

I couldn't find my fret crowning file.

Had to order a new one from a luthier supply.