NGD! My first Jazzmaster!

[MichaelW]

Hold onto your wallet and pinch your nose.....

This is the one I have.

But if I were buying them today I'd get these.

Makes it a lot easier to crown set neck guitars.

Edit: Get the 300 grit. You don't need the 150 unless you routinely do Stainless Steel frets

 

[Harry Klippton]

I've only done one level and crown. It wasn't that bad but it was a lot of work with a 3 corner file. I'd be willing to give the z file a try

 

[MichaelW]

Well believe it or not, when I was a kid I had to walk to school in the snow in bare feet and they only served hard tack for lunch....but I digress............context: back in the day before I think it was John Gurian invented the first crowned fret crowning files, most people (including me) crowned frets with a 3 corner file. There's a lot to be said for learning how to do it old school. But since the advent of purpose specific fret crowning files, it's MUCH easier and faster than it used to be.

 

[MichaelW]

I've only done one level and crown. It wasn't that bad but it was a lot of work with a 3 corner file. I'd be willing to give the z file a try

It definitely takes some skill and practice to do this consistently. But there are old school luthiers that still do it this way and swear by it.

 

[Harry Klippton]

I hand file my cutters and rakers by hand with a round file too on saw chain, and got decent at stick welding before messing with MIG

 

[Harry Klippton]

Do you like the centered or the offset crowning file?

 

[MichaelW]

I've only done one level and crown. It wasn't that bad but it was a lot of work with a 3 corner file. I'd be willing to give the z file a try

Just a couple other thoughts before you make the investment. There ARE cheaper alternatives. Hosco makes some nice fret crowning files and there are a number of decent ones on Amazon. The downsides to these are 1) they don't last like Stew Mac tool do. Which is not a problem if it's only an occasional use thing. and 2) the bigger issue is that they tend to leave more "chatter marks" on the frets. So that makes more work after crowning and the polishing steps. Having said that, I've watched the PRS factory videos of how they level and crown frets and they do it COMPLETELY different from me, yet their out of the box fret jobs are legendary. They don't use a crowning file at all. Just a rubber sanding block and successively finer grits.

I like the offset Z-files for sure. The problem with the centered ones is that it doesn't work as well across a range of fret sizes. With the Z files you can tilt to one side a bit and just do one side at a time. It's not "essential" mind you, but just how I like to do it. With the Z-files it's so convenient I can crown a whole set of frets in about 15 minutes.

 

[Harry Klippton]

I don't mind paying the stewmac tax. I think it's worth it in the long run between the quality and the customer service. I had a feeling the offset files allowed for more operator control. They seem less "one size fits all"

 

[MichaelW]

I don't mind paying the stewmac tax. I think it's worth it in the long run between the quality and the customer service. I had a feeling the offset files allowed for more operator control. They seem less "one size fits all"

If you look at this way, a good fret job from a reputable luthier is going to run you close to what the file costs. Then there's the issue of finding a "reputable" luthier. I've had so many really bad fret jobs done by other people which is what pushed me into learning how to do it myself. I have trust issues when it comes to women and people working on my guitars......both very warranted.....

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

Another vote for the stewmac files. They're absolutely overpriced but they're also, as said above, far higher quality than the alternatives. I avoided upgrading to them for years and when I finally did I totally regretted the wait.

 

[andare]

I read that some Stew mac tools are repackaged inferior quality tools, unlike Hosco. Anyway I'm in Europe so I can't buy from them, especially those full-pocket shims.

Diamond files cut in both directions and leave no chatter marks but I think the wear out faster than metal file?

I watched a video by Mike Adams where he had to do all kinds of pyrotechnincs to make a Squier offset playable, like using a belt sander on the tremolo flange. In another forum a guy rounded off the knife edge to a semicircle. Offsets require so much work hot dayum...

 

[szukalski]

I bought my fret crowning and levelling files from Chris Alsop in the UK before Brexit, work a treat and are well made. I would recommend, his stuff has a lot of experience baked in.
Before that, I was using a triangle file, works well but takes longer and more concentration.

 

[MichaelW]

I read that some Stew mac tools are repackaged inferior quality tools, unlike Hosco. Anyway I'm in Europe so I can't buy from them, especially those full-pocket shims.

Diamond files cut in both directions and leave no chatter marks but I think the wear out faster than metal file?

I watched a video by Mike Adams where he had to do all kinds of pyrotechnincs to make a Squier offset playable, like using a belt sander on the tremolo flange. In another forum a guy rounded off the knife edge to a semicircle. Offsets require so much work hot dayum...

There's definitely a whole world of options besides Stew Mac out there. But they are pretty proud of their own designs and Dan Erlewine is always coming up with novel ways to address common scenarios. The problem is, most of them really do work and make life a lot easier. I've complained every time I've bought a Stew Mac tool, sometimes loudly, BUT I have NEVER regretted the purchase. I bought a StewMac end pin reamer to install pickups in acoustics many years ago when I was going through as many acoustics as I do electrics right now. That thing was a lifesaver to do a proper install, I've seen so many wonky holes reamed on really nice guitars because of not using the proper tools. My Stew Mac reamer has actually made a few trips across the country, I've lent it out to friends to use over the years. Paying for back and forth shipping was much cheaper than buying one for occasional use.

 

[MichaelW]

I bought my fret crowning and levelling files from Chris Alsop in the UK before Brexit, work a treat and are well made. I would recommend, his stuff has a lot of experience baked in.
Before that, I was using a triangle file, works well but takes longer and more concentration.

I like that! The offset handle looks really cool! The angle is a bit like the OG fret crowning file by John Durian.

 

[MichaelW]

@MichaelW I love me some Jazzmaster. They get pigeon holed into alt rock, indie and surf but they are some of the most versatile guitars out their. Suggestion, ditch the 1meg linear volume pot for a 250k logarithmic. It will shit the frequency response so you get rid of the harsh high end and it will still be plenty bright. You will also get better volume knob response. I love mine it's my third and final and the one I built. Mine has the staytrem bridge and arm collet with an avri vibrato. These guitars have the BEST vibrato ever, forget bigsbys. Also, run 11s, they were designed with heavy strings in mind and they really come alive.

@thewintersoldier I'm looking at the AVRI vibrato as a potential upgrade. Where did you get the StayTrem stuff? Their website sucks and has zero stock on anything. Also which pickups do you have in yours? I'm thinking about the Fender Pure Vintage 65's when I redo the wiring. I do find the 1 meg pot a bit on the bright side. But dropping to to 250k seems like a pretty big jump?

 

[Mentaltossflycoon]

I like that! The offset handle looks really cool! The angle is a bit like the OG fret crowning file by John Durian.

View attachment 29378

This image gives me the warm n fuzzy feelings.