Fret leveling or replacement?

[The New Guy]

How do you know if you need a fret leveling vs. something more serious like fret replacement? Some of my frets are showing some pretty good wear but I don't know much about it and when I take it in to have it checked, I want to have at least a little knowledge.

Thanks, Scott.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

Frets need to be levelled to match the lowest point on the neck. So you'll want to find the most heavily worn fret, and that's how high all of them will be if you have them levelled. If that's too low for you to play comfortably, then you'll need to get a full refret. Keep in mind that the difference in cost between a levelling and a refret isn't that much in some cases. Everyone charges something different, but in many cases, it's less than $100 difference between the two. So if you're not absolutely sure you can play on the frets once they're levelled to the new height, it might be worthwhile to just have it fully refretted.

Another option is a partial refret, if only some of the frets are worn. But once again, the work involved in doing this means that it won't be that much cheaper than a full refret.

Ryan

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

New Guy, I noticed you're in Nashville...do *NOT* take your guitar to Chamber's Guitars for work like that...they BUTCHERED my guitar that I took into them....5 months later, the frets were coming out of the fretboard!!! Take it to someone else, I promise. They even gave me hell about it over the phone and the tech that did the work threatened physical violence against me as he cussed me out stating that it wasn't his fault the frets were coming out of the guitar, when I hadn't even played the guitar before the frets were rising out of it. Avoid them at all costs

 

[rspst14]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

There's a very highly respected luthier in Nashville, but I can't remember his name. I'm sure one of the locals will know who I'm thinking of.

Ryan

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

Thanks for the help on this guys...and Capo I will definately stay away from Chambers!...you wouldnt know of a reputable luthier in these parts would you?

From what it sounds like I might as well get a full fret replacement, that way everything is fresh.

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

alright, if you wanna find someone to trust...go out to Antioch and hit up Guitar Heaven..it's just past the mall....great place, with great guys who will help you out..I don't know if they do that kind of thing, but I guarantee they can point you to someone reputable

 

[The New Guy]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

Capo...fantastic! I do business with them already! You're right extremely nice people...they also have one of the biggest in-stock pick up selections I've found...makes it very hard to leave w/o spending money! Thanks so much for the heads up!

 

[AniML]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

Depending on the type of guitar, wouldn't a neck replacement also be an option? Obviously you're not going to swap out a neck on a classic or collectable, but assuming you can get a matching neck, why wouldn't you?

 

[rspst14]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

Depending on the type of guitar, wouldn't a neck replacement also be an option? Obviously you're not going to swap out a neck on a classic or collectable, but assuming you can get a matching neck, why wouldn't you?

If it's a Strat-style guitar, that's certainly an option as well. A new Warmoth neck could be had for about as much as a refret would cost.

Ryan

 

[CapoFirstFret]

Re: Fret leveling or replacement?

I bought my Rectoverb from them....man I walked in 10 minutes before closing and had a Peavey cab for trade...now I live in Mississippi so i couldn't just come back tomorrow and I told him that,...they have a policy of no trade ins an hour before closing..but one of the guys heard my story and said he'd check the cab out for me (the reason they have that policy is because they don't want people coming in with a truck load of stuff 10 minutes before closing, but since all I had was a cab)....and we made the trade right there...they gave me $250 for it, great deal. plus a great price on the amp arleady.....hey, do they still have that blue suede coverd F-50? I doubt it, but I almost got it instead of my rectoverb, but I got what I wanted

good folks there