FretGuru Guitar Fret Crowning File - Diamond Dagger

I bought both FretGuru files (Diamond Dagger and Dagger 2.0) through amazon and so this review will be a comparison of the two. Short Version: They are both excellent; but if you can only get one, the Diamond Dagger is better in my opinion. Read on for more information. I’ve been playing guitar for over 30 years, but only began to work on my guitars seriously in the last 5 years or so. I’m not a professional guitar shop guy. I am writing this review to help other hobbyists like me. I’ve leveled, crowned, and polished several guitars. One file I have used to use for crowning was the StewMac Diamond Compact Z-File original file (300 grit). It is a great file, but as StewMac says it is: “ideal for worn, low, and wide frets.” Because I like to use jumbo frets (Dunlop 6100, and Jescar FW57110), I decided to take a chance on the FretGuru Dagger 2.0 because it has two sides: (1) one made for Dunlop 6100 frets and (2) one made for Dunlop 6105 frets. The Jescar FW57110 frets happen to be very close in dimensions to Dunlop 6100 frets. I crowned one of my guitars with the Diamond Dagger (Jescar frets, nickel silver) and another guitar with the Dagger 2.0 (Dunlop 6100 frets, nickel silver). Here is what I experienced. The Dagger 2.0 works well. It cuts smoothly and feels good in your hand. However, it only cuts one direction and so after every push forward you have to lift it off the fret and start again. After crowing a fret I would clean the Dagger 2.0 with a brass wire brush to unclog it of any stray pieces of metal. That worked pretty well, but made it more labor intensive than the Diamond file, which did not need such cleaning. Sometimes there was a stubborn piece of metal in the file that I would pick out carefully with an ”icepick” like tool looking through my magnification visor. All in all, the Dagger 2.0 performed very well on that guitar and the frets polished up nicely with my Dremel tool and polishing rouge. I tried the Diamond dagger on another guitar and it also worked very well, but was better overall for three reasons. First, Diamond files are great because you can “saw” back and forth without lifting it off the fret (though make sure not to take off too much—you have to leave a thin magic marker line so the fret leveling is not undone). Second, I did not have to clean the Diamond version with a brass wire brush. Occasionally, I’d clean it with nylon bristles, though to be honest, I don’t think it needed such cleaning. The Diamond cuts nickel silver frets like butter. Third, the Diamond dagger has one feature the Dagger 2.0 does not have. The Diamond Dagger has 2 extra filing sides on the opposite end of the file (you have to see the pictures to understand what I mean). But this is great because sometimes I find that when crowning a fret my magic marker line in the middle of the fret is fatter/wider than at the ends of the fret. With the shorter filing side of the Diamond Dagger, I can work on just that middle section to make it have as thin a line as the other parts of the fret. This is really a great feature in my opinion and ergonomically both ends of the Diamond Dagger feel great in your hand (very comfortable and easy to maneuver). So, in conclusion, if you are working on Dunlop 6100/Jescar FW57110 frets the Diamond Dagger fits them like “hand to glove” and gives great results--even to hobbyists like me. The quality of both files is great, the prices are better than competitors; plus Bernie (the Fretguru owner) is a nice guy and very responsive to email. I emailed him with a question and needing some help and replied the same day. Finally, StewMac is great too; I love their products and customer service—but as many know they do have higher prices. All of that said, while StewMac’s Diamond Compact Z-File centered file will not work with jumbo frets, they do have other files that will (#4491, #5054, # 5183). I like both companies, but when it comes to my jumbo frets, the FretGuru Diamond Dagger is my new file of choice. Hope this was helpful for some of you.

I installed new stainless frets on my acoustic guitar. This fret file was so easy to use, and what a job it done on my frets. I would recommend this file to anyone doing stainless or wire.

I recently did a side-by-side test of 6 different diamond fret files. The results weren't what I expected, but very eye-opening. I've used the StewMac Original Z-file for over 5 year, had a love/hate relationship with it until recently. The hate has really been shared with all fret files, and that is due to the cutting surface plugging up with fret filing debris, more on that later. Curiosity of a new file on the market sparked a shootout test of sorts between the StewMac Original Z-file, Music Nomad S-file, FretGuru Diamond Dagger 2.0, Baroque Gen 4, StewMac Compact Centered Z, and an Offset File sold by Bitterroot Guitar. I tested all files on a special built fake neck consisting 6 groups of 2 nickel and 2 stainless fret pairs. Each file was given a number and a place on the board. The board was flat leveled to have +/- 0.045" flat crown on all frets. Each file ran through a basic crowning test twice with the frets re-leveled between each test. This initial testing was to determine if the files would plug-up evenly, if any one would scar the frets more than any other, and just to get a feeling for the ergonomics and user input required by each file. In general, all files worked well, each did have its own slight needs, and only one was rather irritating to use. The frets leveled again (and again...), the testing continued but using a cutting lubricant. A drop or two added to either the diamond coating, or the fretwire, and all files worked better*, none plugged up and only needed a wipe of a paper towel and reapplication of a drop of oil to continue. A huge improvement for all files. *One thing to note, while adding the oil keeps all filing debris suspended and easily wiped away. I felt the addition of oil also reduced the aggressiveness of the file cut slightly. So, perhaps a few extra passed are needed when using cutting lubricant, but no file cleaning is needed. I'm expecting to see extended file life when using cutting fluid, but more testing will be required. Additional rounds of testing were done and the winning spot was very difficult to judge. All files used will do the job, they are all one step in front or behind then next file, with one exception. I truly hated using the SM Compact Z file. I have since sent it back for a refund. The Baroque G4 works well, is very affordable, but I found it to be a bit large for many tasks. The Offset file required the edges to be smoothed before it could be used. It would bleed you, not good! Otherwise it is a good file. The Music Nomad S-file was my expected winner, but after using it, I have come to see it as a rough-work file, not a finish file. It is designed to leave a coarse cut +/- 1/32" wide crown, and that is what it does. I need to follow this file with another file, one of my top 2 from this test. The top spot is shared by 2 different style and approach files. The FretGuru Diamond Dagger 2.0, and the StewMac Original Z-file. Both are very good files, and each requires a different user approach, but both can deliver the "hairline" crown that we strive for. My take away, any of the files tested can get the job done, mostly. My expected favorite is not what I expected, nor my favorite. The FretGuru truly surprised me in fit, feel and function. If I'm not using the SM Orig-Z, I'm using the FretGuru DD 2. If I use the Music Nomad S, I will be following it with the SM or FretGuru. Whatever file you get, it will likely get the job done, but some files make the job easier. The FretGuru DD 2, is right in there getting the work done!

For a very long time I have worked on and built my own guitars. I have a Les Paul Junior that I picked up pawn shop for $75. I don't know where the pickups came from but they are awesome. The rest of the guitar not so much. It was obviously abused by its previous owner. So, I installed stainless steel frets, which resisted all of my trustee tools for rounding the frets after leveling. This tool did an excellent job and didn't even break a sweat on the stainless steel. It's a solid tool and I expect it will last for quite some time. I just wish it was cheaper. Having said that, I do not regret the purchase at all. And, if you watch what you are doing and don't over file, you can leave a thin tabletop that looks like it was drawn with a ruler.

This is a great tool for reworking frets. I used it to refret a kit guitar and it saved a ton of work and time over a plain file. Well worth the money. It made quick work of rounding over frets and the fret ends and it was quick work to polish the frets afterwards. Just a heads up, though, as with every diamond abrasive tool I've ever owned there can be a stone or two that really stick out. These can cause deep scratches that take a lot of work to polish. Test out your tool before first use and if need be, work over a screw or something to knock these off.