Greetings from the Sunshine State!

I’m currently out on the road, but I’ll be back soon and I’m already booking appointments for when I return. I’ll be opening up appointment slots starting May 6th, and there are already a handful of spots booked for that day. If you’ve been meaning to get your guitars repaired or set up, now’s a good time to grab a spot. I’ll also be heading back out again later this summer, so availability will be a bit more limited. You can book an appointment using this link.

Right now I’m out with Maren Morris, working with a wonderful guitarist and person, Julie Melucci. She has been a great addition to the touring camp. Her site: www.juliemelucci.com

I’ll be back taking on setups, fretwork, electronics installs, repair work etc. As always, I try to keep turnaround times reasonable, but I do limit how many instruments I take at once so I can give each one the attention it deserves. If you’re planning on bringing something in, I’d recommend booking sooner rather than later. See you back in Middle Tennessee very soon! —Rhett

Fretwork is one of the most important—and most overlooked—parts of guitar repair.

If your guitar has fret buzz, sharp frets, uneven action, or notes that choke out during bends, there’s a good chance the issue comes down to the frets.

Proper guitar fretwork is what allows an instrument to play cleanly, feel comfortable, and respond the way it should.

What Is Fretwork on a Guitar?

Fretwork means your frets are:

• Level across the entire fretboard
• Properly crowned (rounded, not flat)
• Smooth and polished
• Comfortable along the edges and ends

This is typically done through a fret level, crown, and polish, followed by a setup

Why Good Fretwork Is So Important

You can have great pickups and a perfect setup—but if the frets aren’t right, the guitar won’t feel right. Another great tech, Nate Wood of Stahman Guitars says. “A setup is only as good as its fretwork"

Good fretwork gives you:

• Lower, more comfortable action
• Clean notes across the neck
• Smooth bends
• A consistent, effortless feel

What Bad Fretwork Actually Feels Like

I recently had a guitar come in that had just had fretwork done by another tech. As shown below.

The customer said the frets felt sharp. And they were—but not just at the ends.

The edges of the frets were left with hard corners, and the tops were flat instead of properly crowned. Nothing was rounded or blended, so every movement along the neck felt harsh and unfinished. Not to mention the intonation inconsistency that comes with flat topped frets.

Here’s a visual comparison:

• The fret on the left is how it came in
• The fret on the right is after I reworked it

What you’re seeing is the difference between a flat, poorly defined crown and a properly rounded, polished fret that gives you a clean contact point and smooth feel.

That shape matters more than most people realize.

The Cost of Doing It Twice

Because of this, the customer is now paying for another full fret level and setup.

Not because they wanted more work—just because it wasn’t done right the first time.

The Difference Proper Fretwork Makes

When fretwork is done right, the guitar feels:

• Smooth when you move up and down the neck
• Effortless when bending
• Consistent across every fret

It stops fighting you.

What Customers Are Saying

I’m grateful to have consistent 5-star reviews from players around Murfreesboro and the Nashville area:

“Night and day difference. My guitar finally plays the way it should have from the start.”

Guitar Fretwork in Murfreesboro, TN

If your guitar feels stiff, sharp, or just “off,” the frets are often the root of the problem.

At Rhett’s Frets, I focus on precision fretwork and setups that make your guitar play the way it should have from the start.

👉 View pricing: Rhett’s Pricing List
👉 Book an appointment: Appointment Calendar for Rhett’s Frets

Final Thought

Fretwork isn’t something you should have to redo.

When it’s done right the first time, it transforms the instrument—and stays that way.

—Rhett

I’ll be heading out on the road as a guitar tech with Maren Morris from April 14 through May 5, so shop availability will be a bit limited during that stretch.

That said, my calendar is always up to date — if you’re trying to get something in before I leave or lined up for when I’m back, you can book here:
👉 https://calendly.com/rhettsfrets

I’ll still be checking in when I can, and things will be back to normal as soon as I’m home.

Appreciate you guys as always 🤝
– Rhett
Rhett’s Frets | Murfreesboro & Nashville, TN

This Martin OOO-18 came in with a binding separation at the waist. Unfortunately, this is all too common with newer Martin guitars.

A common assumption is that you can just heat the binding and push it back into place. The problem is tension. If the binding has shrunk, forcing it back will almost always lead to it lifting again later.

What this repair required:

– Releasing the binding from the waist up and cleaning the binding slot
– Letting it settle into a natural, stress-free position
– Filling the gap that formed at the heel with a small filler strip (thank you for the binding, Dave)
– Respraying lacquer and buffing to match the original finish

The goal isn’t just to make it look right — it’s to make sure it stays down long-term.

If you’ve got a Martin with binding starting to lift, catching it early can make a big difference.

Reach out here for an appointment.

-Rhett

Serving Murfreesboro, Smyrna, Nashville and all of Middle TN

Big news, friends — Rhett’s Frets is now an authorized LR Baggs dealer!
I'm excited to bring one of the most trusted names in acoustic pickups and preamps directly to you, my customers.

If you’ve ever played an acoustic guitar through a great LR Baggs system, you already know how natural, warm, and expressive they sound. And if you haven’t tried their gear yet, now’s the perfect time — I've got LR Baggs products available right here in the shop.

From the popular Anthem and Lyric microphone systems to the newer HiFi bridge-plate pickup, these products help your guitar sound more like your guitar when you plug in.

You can browse their full product lineup at:
👉 https://www.lrbaggs.com

If you’re in Middle Tennessee, reach out me for more information.

I look forward to this partnership with LR Baggs!

-Rhett

Hey friends, After a busy season out on the road taking care of Maren Morris’s guitar players across Europe and the U.S., I’m finally back in Middle Tennessee and settled into the shop again. It feels good to be home — and even better to get my hands back on your guitars.

Rhett’s Frets is officially open for new appointments. If you’ve been waiting on a setup, fretwork, pickup install, restoration, or just want to give your guitar some overdue love, now is the perfect time to get on the schedule. You can book directly through my calendar here.

My winter schedule fills up quickly, especially around the holidays, so grab a spot that works for you and I’ll take great care of your instrument.

Looking forward to seeing you — and your guitars — again soon. — Rhett

Hello from Europe! 🇪🇺 I’m writing this as I sit in a little restaurant in Paris, taking a quiet moment between shows on tour with Maren Morris, keeping guitars and guitar players happy for each night’s performance. Just a quick reminder: Rhett’s Frets will reopen for guitar repair appointments right after Thanksgiving. If you’re in Murfreesboro, Tennessee (or nearby areas like Lascassas or Nashville) and need a setup, fret level, pickup repair,or any other guitar repair, go ahead and reach out early to reserve your spot. My repair queue tends to fill up fast once I’m back home! Thanks for all your continued support—and for letting me do what I love, whether it’s backstage or back at the shop. —Rhett

Hey everyone, I’m excited to share some updates about repair intake here. As many of you know, my touring schedule can make shop availability a little tricky, so I want to give you a clear picture of when I’ll be open for new work this fall and holiday season.

October Intake – Limited Spots Starting in October, I’ll be re-opening repair intake on a limited basis. This means I’ll only be able to take in a small number of instruments before heading back out. If you’ve been waiting to get your guitar in for setups, fretwork, or pickup jobs, now’s the time to reach out. Slots will fill quickly. You can book your appointment through my Calendly link here.

November 1-25 – Closed After that initial window, I’ll be closing intake again through most of November. I won’t be able to accept new repairs during this stretch while I’m touring Europe.

Thanksgiving Week & December – Back in the Shop Good news, though—starting the week of Thanksgiving and throughout most of December, the shop will be fully open for repairs. This is a great time to bring in your instruments, especially if you’d like them ready for holiday gigs, recording sessions, or even as gifts.

Plan Ahead If you’d like to book a spot in October or get on the schedule for December. My Calendly link will ensure your spot.

Thanks again for your patience, support, and for trusting me with your instruments. I’m looking forward to getting back on the bench and helping you make music this fall and winter. — Rhett

Hey everyone, I’ve got some exciting news to share—I’ve been given the opportunity to go on tour with Maren Morris. I’m incredibly grateful for the chance, but it does mean making a few temporary changes at the shop. As many of you already know, things at Rhett’s Frets have been busier than ever lately. The support and trust you've shown by bringing your guitars in means the world to me—but with the current volume of work and the added responsibilities on tour, I need to make sure I don’t compromise the quality and attention each instrument deserves. Starting June 13th, I’ll be temporarily pausing all new guitar intakes. This will allow me to catch up on the guitars currently in the shop and maintain the high standards I hold myself to. If you’ve already dropped off your instrument, don’t worry—your guitar is in the queue, and I’ll be continuing work steadily to get it back to you before i hit the road. I want to sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this causes. I know turnaround times have been longer than usual, and I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. I’m working as efficiently as possible without cutting corners, because I believe every guitar deserves proper care and precision—no matter how full the bench gets. Thank you again for your continued support. I’ll post an update once I’m able to resume new intakes. Until then, please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions. Best, Rhett

Hey everyone,

I'll be hitting the road this spring and summer as a guitar tech.

That said, this does mean my availability will be limited for a while. Since I’ll be traveling rather extensively, I won’t be able to take in repairs as readily as usual, and turnaround times will be longer than normal.

What this means for you:

• I’ll still be booking appointments, but they’ll be more spaced out.
• If you're not in a rush and can wait a bit longer for quality work, I’d still love to get you on the calendar.
• You can continue to book appointments through my Calendly link—just know that scheduling may be a little tighter than usual.

Thanks so much for your understanding and support. This opportunity wouldn’t be possible without all of you trusting me with your instruments. I’ll be back in the shop full-time soon, and I can’t wait to get back to the bench and catch up with everyone.

Stay tuned for road updates on my social media—and maybe some behind-the-scenes guitar nerd content from the tour!

Keep it loud and in tune,
Rhett

Refretting a 1959 Gibson ES-225T: Working on a vintage guitar like this 1959 Gibson ES-225T is always an honor. The original frets were heavily worn, making playability an issue, but the goal was to restore it without compromising its vintage character. The biggest challenge was refretting the floating fretboard extension, which required a delicate approach. Dave Johnson of Scale Model Guitars was an invaluable resource, offering insight into properly supporting the extension to prevent stress during the process. I opted for StewMac 0154—taller than the original but still vintage-appropriate—allowing for better playability without losing the guitar’s classic feel. If you’ve got a vintage instrument that needs expert care, I’d love to bring it back to life while respecting its history. — Rhett

Every guitar has a story, but some have truly remarkable journeys. Recently, I had the pleasure of working on a 1985 Gibson Flying V that had traveled the world before making its way back home to Nashville—where it was originally built.

A Journey Across Continents

This Flying V left the Gibson factory in Nashville in 1985 and found its first home in the UK in 1986. From there, it lived some of its life in the Philippines before finally returning to Tennessee with its original owner. Even more impressively, it arrived at my shop with its original hangtag still intact—a rare sight for a well-traveled guitar of this age.

The Work: Bringing It Back to Life

After decades of playing, the guitar needed some serious TLC to reach its full potential again. Here’s what I did:

The original frets had seen their fair share of wear, so I refretted the guitar to restore smooth playability and precision. I crafted a new nut from unbleached bone, enhancing the tone and sustain while keeping it in tune with its vintage character.

A Guitar with History and Soul

There’s something special about working on an instrument that has traveled so far and seen so much. This Flying V has been a companion for decades, collecting memories along the way. Now, with fresh frets, a new nut, and a dialed-in setup, it’s ready for many more years of music.

I had to opportunity to make a new bone nut and refret this lovely 70s Stratocaster, “Blondie". It went home with its owner yesterday.

With the holiday season upon us, many of you may be unwrapping a new guitar this Christmas. If that’s the case, congratulations! There’s nothing quite like the excitement of receiving a new instrument. However, before you dive into playing, there are a few important considerations to ensure your new guitar is set up to perform at its best.

First, it’s important to know that most guitars don’t come perfectly set up straight from the factory or distributor. In fact, many brand-new guitars (and even some used ones) will require a setup to be fully optimized for playability.

A proper "setup" involves a series of fine adjustments made to tailor the instrument to the player’s preferences. These adjustments may include, but are not limited to, a truss rod tweak, action adjustments at the nut and saddle, intonation correction, and pickup height adjustments for electric guitars. In my setup process, I also typically oil the fingerboard—especially if it’s made of dark, unfinished wood—and tend to the bridge of acoustic guitars. Additionally, I’ll polish the frets to ensure smooth playability.

This brings me to the next point: the condition of the frets. Unfortunately, many mass-produced guitars leave the factory with uneven frets. Any luthier or guitar tech worth their salt will tell you that fretwork—specifically leveling, crowning, and polishing the frets—is a meticulous but essential process for a guitar to play at its best. Uneven frets can cause fret buzz and choked notes especially when bending strings—certainly not the kind of experience you want from a new instrument.

If you’re fortunate enough to receive a new guitar this Christmas, I recommend budgeting $75–$150 for a professional setup from an experienced tech or luthier. Keep in mind that if the frets aren’t level, this could add an additional cost. In the end, all of these adjustments come together to create a guitar that not only plays well but inspires creativity without getting in the way of your musical expression.

You can find my pricing for these types of repairs here.

This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with a longtime customer of mine, Rick. As usual, our conversation turned to the great country pickers of the past—legends like Roy Clark, Chet Atkins, Buck Owens, and others. Rick is an exceptional conversationalist, and anyone fortunate enough to spend time with him is bound to walk away with a wealth of knowledge about musicians, both past and present. He has an uncanny ability to introduce you to hidden gems from music history, often uncovering obscure 50s and 60s country-western tracks that you’ve never heard before.

Rick brought in his relatively new Gibson Les Paul Classic, asking me to perform a general setup. Upon evaluating the guitar, I noticed that the frets were uneven, which meant the instrument would need a fret leveling, crowning, and polishing to reach its full potential in terms of playability.

After Rick took the guitar home with the frets properly dressed, he sent me this message:

“Les Paul is playing so great. I had its first set up two years ago, but it's never played this nice, fretwork made a nice difference"

Calico Guitar Works has written this great article which describes a Level, Crown & Polish in more detail.

Nate Wood of Stahman Guitars in Eugene, OR said it best.

“A setup is only as good as its fretwork."

Happy pickin’ and happy holidays!

Rhett

Greetings Customers and Friends!

As the holiday season approaches and temperatures fluctuate, it's important to address a few key topics related to guitar care.

Humidity and Its Impact on Guitars
Guitars, being made of wood, are highly sensitive to changes in humidity. The type and quality of tonewoods used, along with the construction techniques, influence how much moisture the wood absorbs and releases. High-end acoustic guitars, in particular, are more vulnerable to these changes due to their thinner wood and lighter finish, which allow for better resonance but also make them more prone to cracking and warping.

During winter, home heating systems can dry out indoor air, causing the wood in guitars to lose moisture. This often leads to issues like warping, twisting, and cracking. A common sign of a dry guitar is fret ends that protrude from the fretboard. If you notice this, especially on guitars with Rosewood or Ebony fretboards, it's a clear indication that the guitar is too dry. To prevent damage, place your guitar in its case with a soundhole humidifier. (These are available at my shop fyi) These devices use distilled water to maintain optimal humidity levels, typically between 42-55% relative humidity.

You can monitor the humidity in your home with a digital hygrometer, which is available from guitar suppliers like StewMac, as well as retailers like Amazon and Walmart. If you prefer to keep your guitar on a stand or mounted on the wall, a room humidifier is an excellent solution. Be sure to choose a humidifier rated for the size of the room, and consider using a separate hygrometer to ensure accurate readings. For reference, my 288-square-foot shop requires approximately 1/2 gallon of water per day in a room humidifier to maintain 43% humidity when temperatures drop below freezing. Proper humidity control will prevent costly repairs from cracks and other damage.

Guitar Setups for the Holidays
If you're receiving a new guitar this holiday season, congratulations! However, it's important to remember that most guitars come from the factory with a generic setup, which may not match your preferences. Typically, the action is set too high, and the intonation may be off. To ensure your new instrument plays at its best, consider having it professionally set up by a skilled technician or luthier. In the Nashville area, we are fortunate to have many talented experts who can tailor your guitar to suit your playing style, so be sure to budget for a setup if you receive a new guitar.

By taking care of your guitar's humidity needs and getting a proper setup, you'll enjoy a better playing experience and avoid potential damage in the long run.

Happy holidays to all of you and your families. Thank you for being loyal customers and friends!

Rhett