I just got a guitar back in March. It's the Fender Squier Telecaster.
I just noticed that the fret wires look like they're already starting to become somewhat flat. Is that normal?
I haven't used a capo except for a few seconds. I am a beginner so maybe I am doing something wrong?
Your picture didn't post so I'm just guessing here. It seems highly unusual to have that sort of fret wear in a few months. Capoing shouldn't cause that problem either. Could it be a bit of optical illusion? Maybe the frets are more polished where the strings hit them and they look flat? Have you restrung the guitar recently? Maybe get a picture when a couple of strings have been removed.
Hello, usa4cc;
Davem_or made a couple of good comments (and asked excellent questions), here (thanks!) - I agree with everything he said, with one exception: if you're practicing a lot of bending techniques (and/or just playing a lot of Blues guitar), (unfortunately) you could easily have worn several of your 'favorite' note-bending frets quite badly, already...
Davem_or also suggested sending us a photo of your guitar's fingerboard, with some of the strings removed - this is another excellent suggestion, which I would modify slightly, to suggest specifically removing the 2nd and 3rd strings (the 'B' and 'G' strings), to examine the fret-wear, since these two strings tend to show wear, first.
Stephen White
Sorry, here is the picture.
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AjZAZpuzqUosgtNt0MhkZGPG0SCXhw
I I haven't restrung the guitar recently, other than the first two strings. Also I am still a beginner so I haven't done any note bending or anything like that.
Can you see what I mean in the picture now?
looks to me like it is just the oxidation layer which is rubbed off, not really cavities under the strings, probably your guitar has been hanging in the store a long time without cleaning, something you should do to after every time you played; just wipe the strings with a dry soft cloth.
Originally Posted by: hsnoeckxlooks to me like it is just the oxidation layer which is rubbed off, not really cavities under the strings, probably your guitar has been hanging in the store a long time without cleaning, something you should do to after every time you played; just wipe the strings with a dry soft cloth.
hsnoeckx is exactly right - you're looking at corroded fret-wire. Removing the strings, followed by a thorough polishing with 2500-grit sandpaper on a 'short-block' (this is a hard rubber block, that's made specifically to hold a strip of sandpaper) will make short work of this problem. However, Do Not use any sandpaper coarser than 2000 grit, for this job - sanding frets with coarse sandpaper will result in randomly lowering the frets, which would be a disaster!
Stephen White
Originally Posted by: Guitar TechOriginally Posted by: hsnoeckxlooks to me like it is just the oxidation layer which is rubbed off, not really cavities under the strings, probably your guitar has been hanging in the store a long time without cleaning, something you should do to after every time you played; just wipe the strings with a dry soft cloth.
hsnoeckx is exactly right - you're looking at corroded fret-wire. Removing the strings, followed by a thorough polishing with 2500-grit sandpaper on a 'short-block' (this is a hard rubber block, that's made specifically to hold a strip of sandpaper) will make short work of this problem. However, Do Not use any sandpaper coarser than 2000 grit, for this job - sanding frets with coarse sandpaper will result in randomly lowering the frets, which would be a disaster!
Stephen White
Thanks!
I'm glad that's all that it is.
You're right about that! It's great when a problem turns out to be less than it appears to be. So often, it's exactly the opposite situation...
Stephen White
