Can I file down my guitar? to play lower frets?

Question

Hi... I was wondering how I can make my normal acoustic guitar into something like this:

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/5/9/5/472595.jpg

Is it possible to file it down so I can play the lower frets easier like 14, 15, 16, etc.

If so where can I do this... and how much would it cost? XD

Answer 1

An acoustic guitar is a hollowbody. Aside from the shape of the wood, it is simply air inside. If you try to file it down, you're going to cut a hole in the body, and permanently f@ck up the sound of your guitar.

My advice: Buy a new semi-cutaway like the one you've shown.

Answer 2

Hi

We do this all the time at the shop. their is a weighted fret file that you just drag over the entire fingerboards and it detects while fret needs file while it files them at the same time.

This is a sensitive procedure. You can file the frets on any guitar but they have to be checked so as to not file them down too much.

Otherwise, the guitar will buzz at certain position.

Just remember that each fret has 1/1000 of an inch difference in height al the way up the fingerboard. To file and polish the rets, figure $60 if your want a good job.