Exploring the Music Nomad Fret Tool Set

My Journey into Fretwork: Exploring the Music Nomad Fret Tool Set

Today I’m about to dive into a new and exciting aspect of guitar maintenance that I've been eager to explore for quite a while—fretwork! Specifically, I’ve just received the Music Nomad Fret Tool Set, and I couldn’t be more excited to begin using it. I’m here to share my first impressions and explain why this tool set is essential for anyone who owns multiple guitars.

Why Guitar Maintenance Matters
As an avid guitar player, I’ve amassed quite a collection of instruments over the years. But with more guitars comes the realization that maintaining them is a huge part of keeping them in top condition. You have a few options when it comes to guitar upkeep:

Neglect Maintenance: You can ignore the necessary upkeep and risk having your guitars fall out of playable condition. This can lead to uneven frets, buzzing, and a generally unpleasant playing experience.

Frequent Professional Repairs: You could take your guitars to a pro regularly, but this can add up over time, especially when you have several instruments.

DIY Maintenance: The third option is taking matters into your own hands and learning how to do the repairs yourself—enter the Music Nomad Fret Tool Set!

I opted for the DIY route, and here’s why I think it’s the best solution for maintaining my guitars.

What Makes the Music Nomad Fret Tool Set Special?
This isn’t the first set of guitar repair tools I’ve purchased—I've already got a fret leveling tool, which allows you to ensure that all the frets are at the same height. However, just leveling the frets isn't enough. You need to take it a step further to get the best tone and playability. That’s where fret crowning comes in.

Crowning is the process of rounding off the top edges of the frets after leveling, so the strings make contact at the smallest possible point. This creates better sustain, improves tone, and provides a smoother playing experience. It's a task I’ve never dared to tackle before, mainly because I feared damaging my guitars with a regular file. But with this new set, I’m feeling confident.

The Tools I’m Most Excited About
There are a lot of tools in this set, but I want to highlight a few of the key ones that really caught my attention:

1. Diamond S File
This is the first tool I was drawn to before I even considered buying the whole set. The Diamond S File has two different fret dimensions—one for wide frets and one for narrow or medium frets. It even comes with a gauge to help you determine which size fret you’re working with.

The cool part? The file has no diamonds in the middle of the curve, which lets you know when you've reached the right point in the crowning process. When the file starts to slide smoothly, you're done. It takes the guesswork out of the equation and helps ensure you don’t accidentally go too far.

2. U-file (Precision Leveling Tool)
To tackle issues with specific frets, I also picked up a U-file (pronounced "you-file"). This tool allows for precise adjustments to individual frets, making it perfect for fixing isolated problems without the need to level the entire fretboard. The best part? You can use the U-file while the strings are still on, letting you make subtle corrections without affecting the rest of the guitar’s setup.

3. Fret Rocker
A fret rocker is a simple but incredibly useful tool for detecting fret buzzing or unevenness. By placing it across multiple frets, you can identify which ones are too high and need to be leveled. The fret rocker is essential for pinpointing problem areas and ensures you don’t end up leveling the wrong frets.

4. Fret Gauge
This little tool is a game-changer when it comes to measuring the depth of gaps between frets. It's crucial for determining whether a fret is loose and needs to be re-secured or if it requires leveling. The fret gauge lets you make these determinations with great accuracy—something I couldn’t do with my naked eye before.

5. Edge Dressing File
For guitars with sharp fret edges, this file allows you to smooth them out, eliminating any discomfort when playing. It can be adjusted to two different angles, making it versatile for a variety of situations.

The Learning Curve
I’ll admit, I don’t know everything there is to know about fretwork yet, but I’m excited to learn. With this tool set, I now have the resources to confidently level, crown, and dress my frets to achieve the best possible tone and playability for each of my guitars.

I’ll be documenting my progress and sharing videos of me using these tools, so be sure to stay tuned for future posts where I put these tools into action!

--Kris