StewMac Jaws2 Fret Press

Our Jaws2 Fret Press installs frets in slots that other fret presses can't reach:

• Over the guitar body on the fretboard tongue
• Over the neck's heel at the neck/body joint

Hammering frets over an unsupported acoustic guitar top is risky, but you can safely press the frets in with Jaws2.

Jaws2 features special soundhole cauls and a self-leveling upper caul that take the stress off the guitar top, so you can safely press the frets into place. Jaws2 is a great idea that was conceived by luthier Bryan Galloup and refined by master fretman Dan Erlewine.

Jaws2 includes:

• A customized bar clamp that features four set screws to give you control over the pressure and balance of the clamp as you work.
• Five interchangeable 2-1/2" brass inserts, grooved to fit over the fretwire crown. The inserts match popular fretwire radii: 7-1/4", 9-1/2", 12" and 16", and a special 6"-radius insert holds down the fret ends for gluing.
• Three wooden lower cauls are included: a contoured soundhole caul to span the braces inside a Martin-style guitar, a flat caul you can custom shape to fit over other bracings, and a felt-lined radiused caul to protect the back of the neck. Bonus: these wooden soundhole cauls feature an ingenious internal magnet that holds it on the clamp jaw, allowing fumble-free setup.
• Instructions

Why press frets? Pressing the frets can save time and produce more consistent results. That's why it's the method that's widely used in guitar production. Pressed-in frets are less likely to have loose ends and uneven heights, because there's none of the recoil produced by hammer blows.