Improperly cutting a slot can damage your neck and make you buy another one. Now we have to re-cut the slots for frets in the fingerboard by hand. Step Four: Clamp a Fret in the Fingerboard.

Be careful not to sand too much, or you will damage the fretboard. Step Three: Sand Down Any Rough Edges.Īfter you remove the frets from the fretboard, you need to sand down any rough edges that are left behind. If you can’t get them out with that method, use a Dremel tool to cut through the fret and lever it out by hand. Remove the frets from the fingerboard with a thin screwdriver or pry bar. The hammer on the opposite side will cause pressure against it and force it out easily. If you have a long neck, be careful not to damage it. Instructions: How to Fix Dead Frets Step One: Remove the Strings.ĭetach the strings from your guitar and use a small prybar to remove the fretboard from the side of dead frets.

Paint or nail polish remover (Vinyl dispersant).

A thin blade screwdriver or small prybar.

New fret wire of your choice, preferably stainless steel.

There are several chemicals that can be used to fix dead frets, but we have found a method that works just as well, if not better than store-bought products! We have shared those methods in this blog, so keep reading to learn the tips and tricks to remove those rusty frets from your guitar. If you hit a note on your guitar and there is no pitch change, it is likely that you have a dead fret. You can also use a guitar polish to help remove any build-up on the fret. If you have a dead or dull fret, you can try to clean it with a soft cloth and some distilled water.

This makes it harder for your strings to slide across the frets, which can make playing chords and melodies more difficult. A dull fret is when the frets on your guitar are not as sharp as they used to be. This means that you will need more force than usual to press your string down to play notes at all. Your strings will have a harder time sliding across the frets and may not even make it to the other side of the fret if they get too rusty. What Are Dead Frets?Ī dead fret is when the frets on your guitar go beyond becoming dull. In this blog post, I’ll show you how to fix dead frets without taking apart your guitar. You may think that you need to replace the whole neck, but this is not true! It’s an easy fix with simple supplies.

This can happen from playing the guitar a lot or not playing it for some time, and corrosion builds up on the fret wire.

How to file guitar frets