Building "Pistol Pete" The $52 Temu Guitar: Fretwork (OSU Tribute Part 6)

In this episode of TED Talks Guitars and Life, we’re heading back to the workbench to continue work on "Pistol Pete," the $52 Temu guitar kit I’m building for my son. This project is a special Oklahoma State-themed build, and today is all about the neck. We dive deep into the world of fret leveling and crowning. I’ll show you how to use a fret rocker to identify high spots and demonstrate that you don’t need high-end luthier tools to get good results. Using an affordable Amazon crowning file and the MusicNomad Fret Shield, we take this budget neck and give it a premium feel. Beyond the technical steps, we talk about why this build matters—creating a lasting memory for my son—and answer the age-old question: Is "skosh" a real word? Note: This project is a personal fan tribute and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Oklahoma State University. Just a dad building a cool guitar for his son! Key Topics Covered: Identifying high frets with a fret rocker. Budget vs. professional fret leveling tools. The proper technique for crowning and polishing frets. Using Lizard Spit and progressive sandpaper grits (320 to 3000) for a mirror finish. Cleaning and conditioning the fingerboard. The upcoming "dreaded" task: Wet sanding the neck finish. Timestamps 0:00 - Introduction: Guitars and Life 0:18 - Project Update: The "Pistol Pete" Oklahoma State Build 0:42 - Paint and Finish Details: Rustoleum and Tru-Oil 1:29 - Workbench Setup: Neck Supports and Yoga Mats 2:13 - Checking for High Frets 3:08 - How to Use a Fret Rocker 4:17 - Identifying Unlevel Fret Edges 5:46 - Why This Build is Personal 6:14 - Using the Amazon Crowning File 6:40 - Etymology of the word "Skosh" 7:46 - Re-checking Frets After Leveling 9:14 - Tool Philosophy: Right Tool vs. Affordable Tool 10:18 - Understanding Fret Buzz 11:33 - Marking Frets for Crowning 12:40 - Music Nomad S-File Demonstration 13:34 - Deploying the Fret Shield 14:25 - Polishing Process: 320 to 3000 Grit 15:51 - "Guitars and Life" Theme Song Break 16:40 - Reviewing the Polished Frets 17:45 - Fingerboard Conditioning and Cleaning 19:07 - Preparing for Wet Sanding Helpful Links (Amazon Affiliate Links*) Basic Amazon Crowning File: https://amzn.to/4sXQRJA MusicNomad Fret Shield: https://amzn.to/4tJp6Ve MusicNomad S-File https://amzn.to/4cnZbeB Lizard Spit Polishing: https://amzn.to/4tLubMR Jim Dunlop System 65 Guitar Fingerboard https://amzn.to/4ssSX35 24PCS Sanding Sponge Set https://amzn.to/4ss1mDY Disclaimer: This video is not sponsored. Some links are affiliate links. If you buy something I may make a small commission. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. ____ Shoutouts: @AOsAreaofOperations (Aaron) @2Yards (Yard) @Jayde-guitar (Jayde) @boomerbassmeme (Boomer) @lizardspit2508 @MusicNomadCare Checkout our playlist page for more series and journeys https://www.youtube.com/@TedTalksGuitars/playlists Special Thanks to our channel members "The Jacks" Want to support the channel? Feel free to explore Channel membership options: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBr6kaWeOvldTHvntB3tnMg/join Ted Talks Guitars & Life Merch Store: https://tedtalksguitars-shop.fourthwall.com/ Amazon Affiliate Link: https://amzn.to/3W3PZox *If you click on this link to shop at Amazon the channel will receive a modest financial commission from your purchases. Guyker Referral Link: https://www.guyker.com/?ref=tedtalksguitars If you use the link you will save 15% at Guyker Use the coupon code: TEDSMITH #guitarbuild #fretleveling #temuguitar #guitarmaintenance #diyguitar #lutherie #oklahomastate #pistolpete #guitarrepair #tedtalksguitarsandlife