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Your cart is empty.For years many of the world's top luthiers have been hounding us to make more of these.
The original Ultimate Fret End File was just something I developed for my personal workbench many years ago, as there was nothing else available that was capable of the detail and accuracy I was looking for. The "problems" all started when I decided to make an extra one for a luthier friend - who was blown away by how well it worked, and could no longer do fretwork without it.
He then shared it with another luthier - who immediately asked me if I could make 5 of them for the guys in his shop... and it just snowballed from there.
Since then I've made and shipped thousands of the original Ultimate Fret End file all over the world - personally modifying each file by hand... until it became physically impossible to do it anymore... my hands ache just thinking about it.
Over the past 5 years we've tried and tried to find a file manufacturer who was capable (and willing) to create a file like this for us and our fellow guitar geeks.
China was out of the question. We actually tried, and their attempts to create a Swiss quality file were... laughable.
The only way to make this happen was to go to the source. The only challenge? Two of them actually:
The first was the expense of having a custom file made by old-world craftsman.
The second was, one look at the level of detail and precision in our file design, and they passed on it. We even got as far as prototype samples, but they were just too complicated and costly to make.
But we finally stumbled upon a craftsman from one of Europe's oldest and most respected file makers who was willing to take on the challenge.
The design and prototype process has taken years and many revisions.
They tell me these are the most detailed and complicated files they've ever made.
Carl
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 30, 2024
ok
Carl Virden
Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2024
This has to be the best thing ever invented for dressing fret ends on a guitar. No marring the fretboard and perfect, easy, results
Patrick Waugh
Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2024
This product is better than I imagined. I had some sharp frets on my new guitar, and this fixed them quickly and easily. There is a video that shows you how to use the tool, and it is very easy to get pro results. I cannot recommend this item enough. It is easy to get results with no damage to your fret board! Worth every penny I paid. Quality made, and you will be glad it’s in your kit.
Andrew Mitchell
Reviewed in Australia on June 18, 2023
Really good quality tool. Did a great job on the frets
BlaZe
Reviewed in Canada on January 21, 2023
This is a very well engineered tool and a joy to use.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2022
I've always been a "do it yourself" type of person but this was the first time I had done fret filing on my Martin tenor ukulele. It went very well. The following comments may be helpful. (1) I watched a demo video online and used the technique shown there. Of course one of the flat sides of the file rests against the fretboard as you move the cutting side of the file against the "corner" of the fret end. As you push the file, also rotate it over the top of the fret end (emphasis on "end". Don't file away the top of the fret where the strings touch!). (2) As a precaution, when filing the frets on the part of the fretboard on the front of the body, with my other hand I held a piece of heavy stock paper over the front of the body to protect the wood in case I accidentally touched the body front with the file. Although the end of the file is rounded, it would probably leave a mark on the wood if it contacted the wood. This isn't a concern as you move down the fretboard away from the body. (3) I have a jeweler's loupe (a band that fits around my head with two magnifying glasses in front) and I found that using this was a great help in seeing exactly how much metal I had filed away and precisely where. If you have great vision then maybe you don't need this aid but I found it to be very helpful.... This is a nice tool and did a good job. My fret ends were actually in pretty good shape (as shipped from the factory) but they were a little rough I thought. I am very pleased with the way they turned out; very smooth to the touch now as I slide my finger along the side of the fretboard. This fret end file is well worth the cost and using a custom tool like this is so much better than trying to improvise with a general purpose file.
AJ
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2021
Perfection! I recently started up my own guitar repair business, since I've had no tours/shows due to the pandemic. Customers pick up & drop off outside in my driveway, masked of course. It's worked out very well so far! Lots of musicians in my area, and not enough repair shops. Good for me! Lol! So, I was searching Amazon for some quality tools to do my work, and I've had several customers (including one of my own basses) that had sharp fret edges. I'm so glad to have found FretGuru products!! This fret edge file works perfectly! I LOVE this thing!! In the instructions, Bernie, the guy who makes Fret Guru products, lists a link to his brief instructional video on how to properly use the file to get the best results. It was very easy to follow his instructions, and I got professional results! Thank you, Bernie!! You ROCK!!! I've also purchased his new fret crowning file, which is absolutely amazing! As well as his fret leveling tool, but I haven't tried that one yet. As soon as I get a customer's instrument in that needs a fret leveling, I'll let you all know how it works. But, it looks high quality for sure, just like all of the FretGuru tools! I highly recommend FretGuru tools! Just follow Bernie's directions, and you'll do great work with these tools!
Leonard
Reviewed in Singapore on April 28, 2021
It's me again haha.Just got my FretGuru Ultimate Fret End File 2. As expected Great tool. Hv a number of fret ends to dress...... Thanks FretGuru.......Leonard
greyes
Reviewed in Canada on June 24, 2020
I wish I bought this one right away instead of trying cheaper options first .. I tried a bunch of other files first & found them too coarse to make a smooth rounded fret end or were really difficult to use without accidentally cutting into wood. This one does a great job & you don't even need to tape up (I still do just in case). Expensive... but great product! The way you'll save is by not 'cheaping out' like me at first only to be disappointed with the result & then buying this option in the end.
Some Guy
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2016
So let me just start off by saying that you don't really need this.If you're trying to dress fret ends (like Larrivees, those frets are the sharpest things ever), then a simple fine-grit file (and extreme care) will work. If you're trying to address fret sprout, then using a knife sharpening block is a fantastic, effective, low-cost solution.That said--this particular file is fantastic at what it does. The edges of the file are all rounded and unmarked, so it's impossible to accidentally file away the fretboard edge if you're trying to dress fret ends. The small size of the file makes it incredibly easy to maneuver. And the grade of the file is not excessively harsh, nor too gentle--it's the perfect amount for dressing fret ends without too much effort.If you feel the need to spend money on a tool to dress fret ends, then this is probably the only tool for that you'll ever need.Personally, I had an awful case of fret sprout on a Fender rosewood neck I was working on. I initially used a knife sharpening block (which worked well). But then I started using this file to touch up the fret ends and finish it off (it worked better).It's certainly not the most perfect product--the handle feels a bit flimsy, and it's kind of pricey. But it does what it advertises, and it does it VERY well.
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