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Loose Frets
Related Topics: Level Frets/Set Up | Refret |
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Why do frets become loose?
Frets usually loosen from a fretboard for two common reasons: a dried out fretboard or improperly installed frets.
Shrunken Fretboard
If an instrument is subjected to a low relative humidity the fretboard's moisture content will lower causing the wood to shrink. When this happens the fret slots can become too wide to properly secure the fretwire. As the fretboard shrinks, the fretwire will often spring loose, especially at the ends of the frets. Sometimes the dimensional changes caused by exposure to a low relative humidity remain permanent, even after the instrument is properly humidified. This type of permanent change is especially common with ebony fretboards.
Improperly Sized Fret Tang
Frets will also come loose from the fretboard if the fret tang (the subsurface portion of the fret) is not properly sized to match the size of the instrument's fret slots. Although this problem can sometimes be traced back to the fretwork originally done at a factory or by a hand builder, it is more common that a refret is the culprit. Every time a fret is installed in a fret slot and every time a fret slot is cleaned out or re-sawn during a refret the fret slot sustains ware. This ware can slightly widen the fret slot. If the new fretwire is not properly modified or sized to match the fret slots the result can be loose frets.
How are loose frets repaired?
If the frets, fingerboard and neck are in reasonable condition simply gluing down and leveling the frets will rectify the problem. In some cases, though, replacing the frets is in order.