Fret Tang — Lutherie Encyclopedia

Fret TangType: glossaryThe thin, barbed stem of fret wire that is pressed into the fingerboard slot to anchor the fret in place.## Definition The fret tang is the narrow, vertical portion of a fret wire that sits below the crown and is inserted into a slot cut in the fingerboard. Running along both sides of the tang are small barbs, sometimes called studs or teeth, that bite into the walls of the fret slot and hold the fret securely in place. The tang is typically about 1.2mm to 1.5mm deep and is made from the same metal alloy as the crown portion. The tang width, barb size, and slot width must be carefully matched. If the tang is too loose in the slot, the fret will lift or pop out over time. If it is too tight, pressing it in can cause the fingerboard to back-bow or even crack, especially on bound fingerboards where the tang ends must be trimmed. ## In Practice When fretting a bound fingerboard, the luthier must clip or grind the tang barbs flush on the ends so that only the crown overhangs the binding. This is known as tang nipping and is a time-consuming step that requires precision to avoid damaging the binding or leaving the fret ends unsupported. On unbound boards, the tang extends to the edge of the fingerboard. During installation, frets are either pressed in using an arbor press or specialized fret press caul, or tapped in with a fretting hammer. The fit between tang and slot is fundamental to fret stability. Some builders apply a small amount of thin cyanoacrylate glue to the slot before installation for extra security, while others rely solely on the mechanical grip of the barbs.