Fret Tang Tool Set – StewMac

Fret Tang Tool Set

Money-saving combo for advanced fret work. The Fret Tang Tool Set includes our Fret Crimper and Fret Barber, specialty tools for advanced fret work.

Developed by master repairmen, they resize a fret’s barbed tang to help make installation easier in harder woods or oversize slots, to control fret compression and stiffness in the neck, and to help prevent or relieve backbow.

The Fret Crimper: Hardened steel jaws press a slight scallop into a fret tang to fit an oversize slot. You simply vary the pressure as needed. Overall length 7″ (178mm); jaw width 13/32″ (10.24mm), with comfortable rubber-coated handles.

The Fret Barber: Take a little off the sides! Fretting expert Dan Erlewine designed this ingenious tool. It quickly and precisely removes some (or all) of the fret tang barbs, to help control excess fret compression, relieve backbow and make fret installation easier. Pull the tang of the fretwire between the adjustable file jaws as needed for the desired fit. Complete instructions and eight gauged shims are included.

We recommend our book FretWork Step By Step for details on the technique of compression fretting.