Fender USA Telecaster Fret Sprout Repair & Maintenance

In this video, I’m working on a 2003 Fender American Series Telecaster from Corona, California. The main issue is "fret sprout" or sharp fret ends that make the guitar unenjoyable to play. I’m taking the neck off to properly file those edges, check for high frets, and give the maple fingerboard a thorough cleaning and polish. Video Timestamps 0:00 – Intro 0:36 – Background on this 2003 Telecaster 1:01 – Specs: 2003 Fender USA (Corona, CA) 2:50 – Identifying the sharp fret ends 3:03 – Play test: Checking the current feel & electronics 7:02 – Noting the tight output jack 10:12 – Removing the strings 11:45 – Neck Removal: Disassembling for better access 13:10 – Inspecting the neck pocket and 2003 date stamps 14:21 – Straightening the neck and checking for high frets 18:45 – Filing: Addressing the sharp fret ends 22:59 – Checking the smoothness of the edges by feel 28:34 – The plan for leveling and polishing 32:39 – Finished frets: Smooth and polished 33:08 – Cleaning and conditioning the maple fingerboard Tools Used Fret File: Fret Guru Board Guard: MusicNomad Fret Shield Conditioner: MusicNomad F1 Oil Strings: D'Addario 9.5s Truss Rod: 3mm Allen Key Tip: A bit of bar soap on the neck screws works as a simple lubricant to help them go back in smoothly. ____ Shoutouts: @AOsAreaofOperations (Aaron) @BCG5150GUITARS (Chris) @sparkyguitars971 (Sparky) 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 #Fender #Telecaster #GuitarRepair #FretWork #GuitarMaintenance #Luthier #TedTalksGuitars