1st:  Anyone can use FretMaestro – no skill or experience required – level, radius and crown frets at once, one tool, one task.

2nd: Every fret will be a perfect clone of each other, same height, same radius, same crown, every fret. CNC precision in the palm of your hand.

3rd:  When you Maestro your frets you can then get the best guitar setup possible for your guitar, no ifs ands or buts.

4th:  When the frets are not in perfect symmetry with each other, it is impossible to achieve an optimized guitar setup.

 

Step 1: Remove the Strings

Step 2: You do not need to flatten the neck

Step 3. Use Maestro Gauge to identify the lowest fret, not the highest as with a rocker, the lowest. Maestro Gauge measures in 12 increments of .003” each 0-11. (The lowest fret is the fret showing the most wear if these are not new frets)

Step 4: Set the two dials on Fret Maestro to the number Maestro Gauge gave you.

Step 5: Only after using Maestro Gauge - Use Blue Painters masking tape on the fretboard making absolutely certain not to overlap the tape. Only Blue Painters Tape
(see Pro Tips for more)

Step 6: Start on the lowest fret identified by Maestro Gauge using the 150 grit Maestro diamond file, and file until FretMaestro bottoms out and the file is no longer cutting fret material. (Be very sure to use a belt sander eraser often to clear fret debris)

Step 7: Inspect the Maestroed fret… if there are still wear marks, set FretMaestro to the next highest number, if it was on 2, go to 3. Repeat Step 6. (Be very sure to use a belt sander eraser often to clear fret debris.)

Step 8: Now that you have perfectly leveled, radiused and crowned one fret, use the same setting on all frets.

 

End Result is CNC Precision:

CNC precision because every fret is perfectly symmetrical, they are exact clones of each other, the exact same height, radius, and crown. Only FretMaestro or a CNC fret machine can do this. The fret radius now corresponds perfectly to the fretboard radius.

 

Optional Steps:

1. When the 150 grit Maestro file feels like it is barely cutting, change to the 300 grit Maestro file to give the fret a smoother finish. Be sure to bottom out FretMaestro. Be sure to use a belt sander eraser often to clear the file of fret debris.

2. Use the Crown Narrowing file to narrow the crown, then give it just a few passes with the 300 grit Maestro File for extra good measure. Be sure to use a belt sander eraser often to clear the file of fret debris.

3. Lightly polish frets with 1,000 grit or finer wet-dry sandpaper and/or extra fine scotch-brite pad.

 

Pro Tips:

Tape: Blue Painter’s tape is .005” gauge. If your fret is just a tad short of needed contact to the Maestro, you can use two layers of white packaging tape that is .002” gauge, this gives you .001” more contact and can save .002” fret material if that extra .001” does the trick, meaning you won’t have to step up to the next Maestro setting which is in .003” increments. Take your time, do the math, because it is totally worth it to get the most awesome fret level radius and crown possible, which in turn is the perquisite to getting the truest guitar setup possible.

 

Belt sander eraser: An absolute must to get a long life from any diamond file. Fret metal cannot chip or dull a diamond, will not dislodge Maestro file diamonds… but if you do not let the weight of the file to the work, if you press down on the file, you will most likely clog the file. Also, debris collects between the file and the fret, if not cleared, the debris starts to clump, and then it mashes into the diamond grit which makes the file behave dull; it is not dull, it is clogged and likely ruined. Use the eraser frequently as you work and your file will last for many years if not a lifetime. If you don’t use the eraser odds are you will clog the file, especially the 300 grit file.

 

NOTE:

We give very clear instructions for proper file use and care. If you clog a file you'll have to buy a replacement.