Fret work covers three separate jobs: dressing the ends of the frets, beveling the ends at an angle, and crowning the tops after leveling. Each job has its own file, and a file made for one task is a poor fit for another.
The six files below split across those jobs, with toothed and diamond-coated versions and one spot-leveling tool. Sizes, grits and angles come from each listing page. We have not used these files ourselves, and performance claims are the makers’ own.
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What to Look For
| Feature | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Job | End dressing, beveling, crowning and spot leveling are different files |
| Cutting surface | Fine-toothed steel and diamond grit cut differently |
| Safe edges | Smooth edges are listed to protect the fingerboard |
| Fret size | Crowning channels are matched to narrow, wide or jumbo frets |
Specs at a Glance
| File | Job | Cutting surface | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| StewMac Fret End Dressing | Round fret ends | Fine-toothed sides | .062 x .125 x 6 in; 3 in cutting surfaces; 0.317 oz |
| MusicNomad E-File MN830 | Dress fret ends | 280 grit diamond, two sides | 8.1 inches long; two safe edges |
| MusicNomad B-File MN831 | Bevel fret ends | Double cut and single cut sides | 3 and 23 degree angles; 6 inch file; 10.2 oz |
| MusicNomad S-File MN850 | Crown frets | 240 grit diamond | Two channels; 8.75 inches long |
| StewMac Centered Z-File | Crown frets | 300 grit diamond | Centered V; 12 x 4 x 0.5 in |
| StewMac Fret Kisser | Level one high fret | 300 grit diamond-coated edges | 0.255 in thick steel; 5.6 oz |
The 6 Best Fret Files
1. StewMac Fret End Dressing File
A fine-toothed file that measures .062 x .125 x 6 inches with 3 inch cutting surfaces and smooth ground safe edges that glide on the fingerboard while the sides round the fret. The maker contrasts it with diamond-coated files and lists a lifetime promise.
Suits: smoothing sharp fret ends. Strengths: safe edges and a small, light body. Weaknesses: toothed, not diamond. Skip it if you want a diamond surface.
View StewMac Fret End Dressing File for Sharp Guitar Frets on Amazon
2. MusicNomad E-File MN830
A fret end dressing file with a 280 grit diamond cutting surface on two sides, a rounded and polished tip, and two safe edges: one flat and one slightly radiused, which is marked with an arrow on the handle. The maker says it works on stainless steel and other fret materials.
Suits: fixing fret sprout and sharp ends. Strengths: diamond surface and two edge profiles. Weaknesses: a 30 day warranty only. Skip it if you prefer a toothed file.
View MusicNomad Diamond Guitar Fret End Dressing File E-File Tool (MN830) on Amazon
3. MusicNomad B-File MN831
A 6 inch adjustable beveling file with a 2 in 1 design: one side double cut for heavy removal and the other single cut for fine removal. It offers 23 and 3 degree angles, a curved handle underside that spans the fretboard, and a replaceable file. It weighs 10.2 ounces.
Suits: beveling after fret work. Strengths: two cuts and two angles. Weaknesses: bulkier than a plain end file. Skip it if you only dress ends.
View MusicNomad Precision Fret Beveling File (B-File) (MN831) on Amazon
4. MusicNomad S-File MN850
A stainless steel crowning file with a 240 grit diamond coating and a strip at the top with no diamonds, which the maker calls the Safe Zone that stops filing once the crown is shaped. One channel is for narrow and medium frets, the other for wide and jumbo frets.
Suits: crowning with less risk of over-filing. Strengths: two channels. Weaknesses: sizes are not given in millimeters. Skip it if you want a centered V design.
View MusicNomad Diamond Safe Zone Guitar Fret Crowning File S-File Tool (MN850) on Amazon
5. StewMac Centered Z-File
A 300 grit diamond crowning file with two edges in a symmetrical V that cut both sides of the fret at the same angle. The maker says it suits new and taller frets and that the offset-angle Original Z-File is the better fit for worn, low or wide frets.
Suits: crowning new frets. Strengths: a symmetrical cut. Weaknesses: not meant for worn or wide frets per the maker. Skip it if your frets are low.
View StewMac Centered Z-File Guitar Fret Crowning File, 300 Grit Diamond on Amazon
6. StewMac Fret Kisser
A spot leveling tool made from 0.255 inch thick precision-ground steel with 300 grit diamond-coated edges. The listing says it levels only a high fret without affecting nearby frets and that the strings do not need to come off.
Suits: fixing a single buzzing fret. Strengths: strings stay on. Weaknesses: one job only. Skip it if you need a full fret level.
View StewMac Fret Kisser Spot Leveling Tool, Fix Guitar Fret Buzz on Amazon
Care and Use
- Clean diamond files often as the maker advises.
- Use light pressure and let the file do the cutting.
- Tape the fingerboard where the listing suggests protection.
- Store files so the cutting surface does not touch other tools.
Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a crowning file for end dressing.
- Pressing hard with a diamond surface.
- Choosing a file without checking fret size.
- Filing before checking where the high fret actually is.
Fret Files FAQ
Which files are diamond-coated?
The MusicNomad E-File and S-File, the StewMac Z-File and the Fret Kisser list diamond surfaces. The StewMac end file and MusicNomad B-File are steel files.
Which file bevels fret ends?
The MusicNomad B-File MN831 lists 3 and 23 degree angles.
The Short Version
For a toothed end file, the StewMac Fret End Dressing File. For a diamond end file, the MusicNomad E-File. For beveling, the B-File. For crowning with a stop, the S-File. For a centered crown, the Z-File. For one high fret, the Fret Kisser.
