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Hey all. I'm trying my first fret job. I have a new fretboard which appears to be ebony. It was made to take binding on the sides. I thought it would be best to put the binding on first, then the frets. That's the way I've done it and I still believe that's the right way. But I'm having some problems getting the frets centered on the board. The frets were almost too short which is probably my only problem. But I've made mistakes before when I was sure I was right, so what I'm asking is did I do it in the right sequence. Binding first, frets second. I can't really see doing it the other way but I've been wrong before.

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Binding first yes.
Then cut frets to cover the binding by nipping the rang and filing it smooth on the bottom. File off the extra over the edge and bevel them however you choose




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Imo yes that is the correct order, bind then fret. That way you can trim the fret ends so they overhang the binding. You need one of those fret ends nibbler tools so you can cut the trees plenty long and not worry about centering.

If you don't have a fret nibbler you can use a dremel tool or file to grind the tang off where the fret overhangs the binding. As JF mentioned, cut the frets a little long and trim the tang so it fits between the binding with the fret top overhanging on both sides.

I use a fret cutter then file it the rest of the way off


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I slot, radius FB, glue & trim bindings, then use a fret tang nipper for the undercut.
After nipping the tangs, for filing, I place the fret end upside down in a groove in a wooden block (held in a vice) to steady the fret while filing off any residual tang with a needle file.
Leave about 1/32 clearance to the bindings each end for putting the frets in and put a small drop of CA under the fret end.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

It's not clear to me if you are fretting the board off the neck and then installing it on the neck or not.

If you are fretting the board off the neck learn to fret the guitar once it's finished and with the board on the neck and neck on the guitar.

Fretting the guitar when it's finished provides us with the opportunity to shape the board, impart relief where we want, eliminate body humps and induce fall away ALL before a single fret goes in. It's how it's done in the professional repair world.

Also regarding your questions I installed the board on the neck and then bound it. My fretting came after the guitar was completed and finished. If the binding ledge on the board is already cut install the binding on the board, the board on the neck, the neck on the guitar and then fret the thing.

I had already installed the board on the neck. I don't have tang nippers so I used my Dremel to rough it in and then needle files to finish. I figured out part way through that I could tighten the truss rod to spread the fret groove to make it easier to get the fret in.

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You bind the fretboard after it's on the neck?


Pat

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Pat

I learn something new everyday!

Pat

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Pat

well that was wrong, good catch Pat.

A little trick I learned, when nipping and fitting the fret, is to start a fret or two down steam from the nut. If the fret comes out exactly the right length after nipping, I install it there. If it ends up too short, which it often does, you can move it one fret closer to the nut and fit it there.
I install my fret board on my neck, and then install the neck on the guitar. I then level the fret board, re-radius the fret board, and install the frets.

I made the mistake of buying precut frets on eBay. I had to lay them out by length to get the right length. I was unable to use the two shortest frets and came up three frets short because I bent one trying to install it. They were still borderline short. I found some the same height and width but longer to finish it with.

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