Official Luthiers Forum!

The last six months or so I've been using hide glue for both primary and re-frets. I have it in a syringe and lay it in the fret slot and then press or hammer. I've been leaving them overnight before even cutting off the ends so they are as stable as possible.
I may be totally crazy but these instruments seem to sound a little better. Is this nuts or have others seen this?

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

I switched to fish glue but I agree that filling the voids in the fret slot helps

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I switched to FG from HHG also and believe there's a difference vs no glue or CA. The FB even taps better and that can't be bad.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

+1 more for fish glue. I don't know about sound difference but it is easy to work with and the clean up of the fretboard is easy. Some hot water and scotch-brite gets it off the wood even after it has dried.

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Fred Tellier
http://www.fetellierguitars.com
Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/FE-Tellier-Guitars/163451547003866

Thanks guys. I was using a fresh bottle of the Elmers hide since it dries hard and we are really just looking at gap filling. What's the advantage of HHG or Fish?

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

Probably nothing as long as it dries crystal hard. I know for a fact that HHG and FG solidifies as such but I have no experience with the liquid HG. I've heard that the liquid HG has an expiration issue. I also know that Mario used to use the Franklin glue but now uses FG for frets.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

That's cool JJ. I actually used the Franklin stuff based on some of Mario's old posts. How long to you fishers allow the glue to set up before you nip the ends and bevel?

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

With HHG I used to clamp the fretted board for 2 hours or 9 holes of golf. With the FG I clamp the board for 12 hours minimum. I then file (SS frets) the ends anytime afer unclamping.

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JJ
Napa, CA
http://www.DonohueGuitars.com

Thanks JJ

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It's not what you don't know that hurts you, it's what you do know that's wrong.

No doubt about it.
Fish Glue or Hide glue improves tone !!!

Terence. Commercial liquid hide glue does not dry crystal hard like FG and HG.

I'd stay away from using any liquid hide glue on any part of the guitar if you want to improve tone.

LHG is ok for temporary alignment cleats and clamps in repair work.

If you need to use LHG for repairing difficult places to reach or even crack repair.
It is advisable to learn how to make your own in small batches.
If you make it fresh it will harden almost as hard as FG and HG.

BTW. despite the fact it is called liquid hide glue. You should still heat it up.

Yes, HHG in the slots for me too. I think it does improves the sound by filling in the gap.
Any clean up is easier using hhg over CA too.

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Anderson Guitars
Clearwater,Fl. 33755

Just saw this thread. So for those of you that fill the slot, do you have any issues with the frets not seating? Especially on a bound finger board? Seams to me that you could have a kind of hydraulic effect keeping the fret from coming all the way down...or is it that HG is thin enough to just get pushed out the top of the fingerboard and under the fret bead? My first few refrets where I used titebond I had this problem but granted TB is much thicker.

+ whatever number we're at on fish glue. Started using it after the 2nd refret where I had to clean out CA.

I have used CA and clamped frets into oversized slots but have moved to using a standard size slot, filling with FG then pressing the fret.

Those of you who are clamping and allowing to dry - are you using standard or oversize fret slots?

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

where can I get fish glue (that ships to Taiwan)?

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Cat-gut strings are made from kitten guts, stretched out to near breaking point and then hardened with grue saliva. As a result these give a feeling of Pain and anguish whenever played, and often end up playing themselves backwards as part of satanic rituals.

Typhoon Guitars
http://www.typhoon-guitars.com

I haven't tried this yet but doesn't glue go flying everywhere when you tap them in?

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Hutch

Get the heck off the couch and go build a guitar!!!!

I've just started doing this, but no. The glue is about the consistence of honey.

Kevin Looker

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

It is a good idea to be diligent in removing the glue, as getting fish glue right up to the fret off after it has dried is more difficult. I use a damp rag, and then a heat gun (on the lowest setting, please! think hair drier) to avoid adding too much moisture to the FB. It is also easier so see if there is glue residue left on a dry fingerboard. Fish glued frets=good.

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Rian Gitar og Mandolin