In recent times, since I published the article Installing Frets with Epoxy, I have eliminated infra-red curing of the epoxy when installing frets with epoxy.  If you’ve already read the article, click here to go directly to the update where you can find more details regarding this update.

Humidity is an important concern both for luthiers and for guitarists who own and play valuable instruments.  Both have to deal with that substance called wood, which shrinks and expands as it releases or absorbs moisture.  However, the humidity management challenges for the two are quite different. Continue reading Humidity Management →

Since the article “Installing Frets with Epoxy” was first posted in September 2014, California luthier David Schramm has presented an alternative that dispenses with Dremel-re-cut fret slots.  After pondering his idea for some time—and hearing from David that he had tried it and found that it worked well—I’ve concluded that his alternative has merit and deserves consideration.  In fact, I plan to try it myself on my next guitar.  (Click here to go directly to my article update.)

In 1989 when I built my first of seven guitars for Bill Kanengiser, I got myself into a pickle. Bill found the original frets were too low. When I removed those frets to install higher replacements, I somehow managed to get the slots bollixed up; they ended up too wide for any frets. What now? Continue reading Installing Frets with Epoxy →