Want to Make a Guitar? Here’s How I Install Frets (No Talking)

A great fret job starts long before the first fret is pressed into the neck. Before installing the frets, the fretboard is glued to the neck, the maple binding is attached and blended into the ebony, and every slot is prepared for a precise fit. From there, each stainless steel fret is bent, cut, undercut, pressed into place, and carefully finished. No music. No talking. Just guitar building. Chapters 00:00 - Gluing the Fretboard to the Neck 01:30 - Installing the Maple Binding 03:00 - Blending the Binding Flush 03:29 - Bending the Fret Wire 03:53 - Cutting the Frets to Length 06:49 - Undercutting the Fret Tangs 08:28 - Preparing the Fret Ends 09:15 - Pressing the Frets into the Neck 11:00 - Trimming the Fret Ends 11:15 - Beveling the Fret Ends In this video: • Gluing the fretboard to the neck • Installing maple binding • Preparing stainless steel fret wire • Cutting and undercutting fret tangs • Pressing frets into the neck • Trimming and beveling the fret ends If you enjoy guitar building, woodworking, luthiery, and handcrafted instruments, consider subscribing for more custom guitar-building content. 🛠️ Looking for the tools and materials used in this build? They’re listed below. 🎸 Guitar Building Components StewMac Hot Rod Truss Rod: https://amzn.to/4aWA6HL StewMac Carbon Fiber Rods: https://amzn.to/4yjtn4I StewMac Maple Binding: https://amzn.to/3TCdciX StewMac Stainless Steel Fret Wire: https://amzn.to/44z6UmD 🧰 Fretting Tools StewMac Radius Beam: https://amzn.to/44rIefV StewMac Fret Wire Cutters: https://amzn.to/4ffVWHo StewMac Fret Tang Nippers: https://amzn.to/4vtV600 StewMac Fret Press Caul: https://amzn.to/4wE2CGw StewMac Fret Wire Bender: https://amzn.to/44qOOTT StewMac Snap Files: https://amzn.to/4w8bvsa StewMac Fret Beveling File: https://amzn.to/4533HvH StewMac Nut & Saddle Files: https://amzn.to/4wBeA3M 🪵 Adhesives & Finishing Titebond Original Wood Glue: https://amzn.to/4f7Fadu StewMac CA Glue 20: https://amzn.to/4hcignY Renaissance Wax: https://amzn.to/4fi38CW 🛠️ Workholding Festool Clamping Elements: https://amzn.to/4yo6QDW 🔋 Shop Equipment Jet 17” Drill Press: https://amzn.to/4fBQyjj 📢 Affiliate Disclosure As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. If you use these links, I may receive a small commission at no additional cost to you. Your support helps fund future builds and videos. Thank you! #guitarbuild #luthiery #fretwork #fretinstallation #guitarbuilder #woodworking