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I'm confused because two different sources have told me opposing things. On a compound radius fretboard are the top of the frets rounded to fit the shape of the board or are they filed flat. Another way to ask: in sighting down the fretboard from sound hole to nut what's the shape of the finished fret?

I'm asking because I have diamond plates that I could use to make the frets extremely level but the wide width won't make sense if I'm trying to create a radius across the width of the fretboard. I honestly can't recall ever examining my previous guitars in this regard.

Thanks,

-jj

The frets follow the radius. Level in this case describes fret to fret, such that a straight edge following a string path will touch all of the frets.

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The frets are radiused just like the board hence the term compound radius "fret" board. And.... you are correct that if your leveling beam/plate/what ever is wider than say 1" you won't be able to trace the individual string paths while leveling either the board or the frets which won't result in that compund radius.

A 1" width leveling beam that has been precesion flattened on a surface plate and that is long enough to span from the first though the 12th is ideal.

Thanks for clearing that up. It makes sense now but someone told me the opposite and I saw in the Stew Mac catalogue they sell a diamond plate exactly like mine as a fret leveler but they must intend it to be used on a classical guitar.

Thanks again,

-jj

You use the flat leveling device on the compound radius. You just slip it around to follow the shape.

Jimmy, this recent discussion on fretwork is a great resource. It contains some very helpful visuals.

Criteria.... Good Fret Work

James, that thread is exactly what I'm after. At this stage playability is the number one goal.

Hesh, thanks for the dimensions. Exacting numbers are nice when I get them.