I used it on some stainless steel frets. It was ok but I think they are very hard and would ruin this file if used on them a lot. I wish they would stop making guitars with stainless steel frets. I much prefer the nickel frets. I am sure this file would be great for nickel frets. I like the grip on it. It is also nice to have bothe wide fret and thin fret all in one.

First know this tool is made in China. While that is not necessarily always a bad thing, it does play a roll here on quality control. Where this tool falls short with the item I received, is the diamond particles are not consistently the same size. It is specified to be 280 grit but there are some which are obviously larger, and those create significant scratches along the frets. Also some of the partial material is attached to the middle strip of the file, which is supposed to be clear of any diamond particles to create a safety zone. Is the tool usable? Yes, but proceed with extreme caution. Would I purchase it again? No, I would not.

This tool is amazing, especially if you're not a long time guitar tech and you're just learning how to keep your own guitar in shape. Definitely get this it takes the guesswork out of it.

Just got this fret file after I couldn't wait any longer for another company and different brand to get in stock. I think this will be my fret file of choice for a while. Just got done crowning a Les Paul and this was ao smooth and easy to use. Creates that perfect desired pin stripe on the fret. Rounding and polish was a breeze after using this fret file. It has some weight to it but not heavy. It feels great in your hands. Very happy with this tool. Highly recommend. Thanks Sweetwater and thank you as always, Sami Ross-Lamotte

worked perfectly.. the line helps u not overfile.. i just brushed it after every fret to make sure nothing was stuck on there.. then i used the tracers from music nomad as well to buff out everything

As close to fool proof as is possible. Works on all fret materials. Easy to use and intuitive in that once you know what fret wire is installed, you use appropriate side. I tried on an old parts caster to practice. Went very well. 2 guitars done and I would have spent more paying to have 1 crowned and polished. Still need materials to polish but if ur considering this tool, u likely already know/have those items. I am still wondering why it took so long to come up with this but probably wider use of SS frets. I am glad I got one.

A luthier for nearly 15 years, I bought this fret file because a youtube influencer I respect, recommended it. It just so happened that I was ready for a replacement anyway. So after a lot of deliberation, I purchased one of these files.

My professional opinion is that they're overpriced (and over-rated) as in NOT a good value. While I think the safety strip is a good idea, the execution of this file is poor to fair over-all, and I am not happy I spent $80 on a tool that I won't use.

It doesn't cut nearly as well as my old, almost worn out StewMac diamond fret crowning file. Nor does it cut as well as my cheap Baroque diamond fret cutting file, purchased on Amazon. It doesn't even cut as well as my traditional 3 corner files. WTH?

Does the Music Nomad S-File cut? Sure. Can you do the job with this file? Yeah...you can. But it's a chore. And at double the price of the Baroque diamond file, while still being inferior to my nearly worn out StewMac file, the S-File loses. I'm mystified as to how anyone could get good results using this file without ALOT of extra effort. I won't be purchasing another and will be giving this one away to one of my business competitors lol. I sure as hell won't be recommending it to anyone.

But yeah, don't buy it...There are better tools at half the price.

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Each user will have personal preferences, but being able to use this tool side-by-side with a number of other current diamond files, it falls somewhere in the middle.

Pro: Innovative, lots of nice features.
Con: Final crown width too wide (requires another file to finish the job).

Initial observations were very impressive, innovative design, over-molded grip, a "double-offset" file design, two unique fret-size file sides, a "spot" crown feature (offset file rounded nose), and the safety "S" crowning rib.

Then comes real-world use, and where I find this file to fall short in its current version.
The center safety rib allows the user to file pre-leveled fret(s) until the center safety rib contacts the leveled surface, then it skates removing no more fret material, seems good.
However, if the leveled frets already have 1/32" (1mm) wide leveled crown, this file won't do anything.
So, a different file will be needed to achieve the hairline crown.
I now see this as a "rough-in" file for worn or widely leveled (plateau) frets, as it won't achieve the hairline finish crown, and the need for another file to finish the crowning.

This would also explain why this file has a 240 grit diamond coating, which is rather aggressive, perfect for rough work, not so much finish work.

While I like the idea of this tool, I find needing another file to finish the job before final dressing and polishing. I can't use it on new fret installs, as the crowning work is too fine for this file.

I could see a few variations for a v2 or v3 of this file.
One idea would be to have a single fret width file, one side of the file would be as it currently is - a rough-in file.
The other side would have a ultra-fine center rib and 300 grit coating to achieve that hair-line.

Or, keep both fret-sizes on a future file, but just cut the center safety rib with to about 0.010" and coat the file with 300 grit.

I want to love it, but it's just not there.
I will find uses for this file occasionally, but not nearly as all-purpose as I had hoped, nor marketing had lead me to believe.

Your preferences may vary. Happy filing!

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Ok,so it "the Musicnomad S file" was designed for "nickel/silver" fret wire, well I can't wait to see how the "stainless steel" fret wire model holds up, cause this one checks all the boxes so far I've used it on two fret wire materials nickel/silver and stainless steel medium jumbo and Ventage (old school my personal favorite) and it's impressive,works exactly as advertised no problem, 3-21 fret necks down and there are more to come, I'm buying another one as soon as the waiting list shrinks (a lot-a bit),yep but it, or better yet wait till I get my next one, come on stainless steel version, oh and as you all know Sweetwater has the best reps in the rep business.

Great idea but half the diamond grit on one side came off after only 10 stainless frets. I realize stainless frets are hard on tools but not this hard. Music Nomad makes great products and I have used and own many of them. But hopefully this is a fluke in manufacturing.

I like doing work on my own guitars, as a hobby. I have done minimal fret work sand have done fret crowing with other tools and even trying my hand at using a file. I decided to get this since I like Music Nomad products and decided to try it since it has top of the crown with no file. I took my project guitar did a fret level and there where flat areas on all the frets. Started using it and it worked like a charm! You still have to take your time, learn how to use it but it is really easy to use. The fret were narrow not medium and once I got the rhythm of it, my results where great. I was surprised at the weight of it, it is not cheaply constructed, I like the plastic sides for gripping it. Since I do not do this work professionally and do not need to do fret work often I suspect this will a last me a long time. Thanks Music Nomad for another fine product!

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