Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

[Pickngrin]

I have a Fender 1957 Strat reissue (MIJ) that I bought ~ 1989 or so (new). I consider it to be my first real guitar (not counting a piece of ****e Squier I owned before that...fine tuners stripped out, etc). Anyhow, The frets seem to be quite worn out. I am an amateur, not a gigging musician, but nevertheless I've played the thing quite a bit over the years. I've never had fret work done on a guitar, and don't know the big difference between refretting and fret dressing. I'd like to get this professionally done, of course, after I find a tech (I'm in central CT). Is a fret dressing appropriate for worn frets? I'm hoping not to spend too much but then again, hopefully this thing will play much better after the fact.

thanks

 

[TheProphet]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Anyhow, The frets seem to be quite worn out. Is a fret dressing appropriate for worn frets? I'm hoping not to spend too much but then again, hopefully this thing will play much better after the fact.

Yes a fret dress is one way of dealing with fretwear. It involves having all your frets levelled to the same height, then they are recrowned and polished.

Granted if your frets are really low it may be better to get a refret.

When you look for techs ask if they have an example of a guitar that they have done a fret dress on. I failed to do that my first time and ended up have my guitar returned to me with mangled frets. Luckily I learned my lesson and found a better person later. But really try and see the quality of the person's work and talk to them about it (you can begin to judge how good they are) ... references help as well if you can get one for a good tech.

But as to whether you need a fretdress or a complete refret ... only a tech can tell you that one.

 

[davguitar]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I really agree with everything the previous poster said. Be sure that whoever touches your guitar knows what they're doing. If they ruin your guitar with a poor fret leveling job, you'll definitely need a re-fret job and that can cost some bucks. I have that very same guitar you have, and it has the smaller vintage frets - sometimes called "nail" frets - so there's not alot of extra metal to lose.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I'm guessing you might be better off just getting a new neck. You can pick up something from Warmoth for the price of a refret. If you absolutely love the neck and don't want to part with it, that's fine. But if not, I always recommend at least considering a new neck as opposed to a refret when it comes to Strat-compatible guitars. You're probably looking at $200 for a refret, and $75 or so for a level/crown/polish. Many Strats have smaller frets, which means that it may be difficult to do a dressing and still have a playable neck when you're done. Remember, all the frets will have to be lowered to the point of the lowest spot on the entire neck. So find the spot on the neck that is worn the most and ask yourself if you could play comfortably if all of your frets were that high. If the answer is no, then go with a refret or a new neck.

Ryan

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Thanks for the helpful input....
I just took some photos of the guitar (this is my first time trying to post pics on a forum):

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Ah, good to hear. I realize that you're in Canada, but do you have any rough idea of what that might cost in the New England area? And will I then feel the frets once again? When I play this thing now, the frets seem to barely be there...
thanks again

A light dress and a good crown will fix that.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Ah, good to hear. I realize that you're in Canada, but do you have any rough idea of what that might cost in the New England area? And will I then feel the frets once again? When I play this thing now, the frets seem to barely be there...
thanks again

A fret dress that includes a level/crown/polish will generally cost anywhere from $50-$100, with $75 being the average in most cases. Fret work is not something you want to trust to the guy who quotes you the lowest price, unless you're absolutely confident in his abilities. I would recommend finding someone who uses a neck jig for doing fret work...it's not absolutely necessary, but it helps make sure that you get the best possible results. And finally, I would recommend trying out some guitars with larger frets, just to see how you like them. I'm just making a rough guess from your pics, but I'd say those are probably medium jumbos. You may find that you prefer the feel and playability of larger frets, in which case you might want to have the whole thing refretted.

Ryan

 

[Bob Zombie]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

If you go the refret route you might aswell splurge and get stainless steel frets. From what I hear if you do you'll never refret again.

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I brought the strat to a luthier today and he said it would cost $300 for the refret. I realize refrets on maple necks aren't cheap... but is that a reasonable price (I ask never having done this before)? That's actually more than I paid for the guitar brand new! He said that a fret dressing wouldn't help this neck.

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Wow, $225 CDN sounds way better than $300 USD! I think I'll call around...
thanks

Wow,I wish I could get $300.00 US for a refret.For a maple board we only charge $225.00Cdn,(frets and tax in),+ strings.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Yeah, $300 is a bit much...not totally unreasonable, but definitely on the high side. Usually that's about the going rate for Les Paul's with bound necks.

Ryan

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

OK, just when we thought the $300 was high... I went into another local music shop over the weekend.... $325 - 350!!!! That said, I had spoken to the luthier who quoted the $300 for quite awhile and would have more confidence in him (apparently has a good reputation too). I think I paid $279 for the guitar new! (or was it $379)?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

those prices are crazy...I can get a full refret, new nut, and a full on set up here for $200-250 on a bound Ebony board!

 

[TwilightOdyssey]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

Sounds like CT pricing to me ... that's even obsene by NY standards!
Try calling Mandolin Brothers in NYC; they may do a better deal for you, and the workmanship is 1st rate.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I have to agree with johnjohn .. unless theres something I cant see in the pics ..

cus Im thinking you could get away w/ a level (mill) and dressing .. granted I've not seen it myself .. but I've leveled frets w/ less meat than what I'm seeing in those pics

there is a plek machine in Balt. MD and in NY/NY

http://www.plek.com/index.php?master=Plek+in+USA&rubID=54&sprache=

pretty much the best level job you'll get but it runs $200 ... there are only a few of these in operation in the US .. so if you're close enough to get to one consider yourself fortunate.

good luck

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

WOW -- I need to find a place like that!

those prices are crazy...I can get a full refret, new nut, and a full on set up here for $200-250 on a bound Ebony board!

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I just found and called another local shop. The guy said ~ $225-250 (depending on how torn up the neck is -- I don't think it is). That sounds a lot better than 300, 350, and he said he has one he just refretted in the shop that I could see.

That said, I am torn on whether to go ahead and pay for a refret or just buy a new (Warmouth etc) neck. The downside of a new neck is it wouldn't say Fender on the headstock. Hmmmmm.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

I just found and called another local shop. The guy said ~ $225-250 (depending on how torn up the neck is -- I don't think it is). That sounds a lot better than 300, 350, and he said he has one he just refretted in the shop that I could see.

That said, I am torn on whether to go ahead and pay for a refret or just buy a new (Warmouth etc) neck. The downside of a new neck is it wouldn't say Fender on the headstock. Hmmmmm.

fender decals can be bought cheap .. so if thats the deciding factor .. it's a non issue. IMO

In fact I have a spare from a guitar I built recently.

 

[Pickngrin]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

oooooooooooooooh... so i could potentially buy a new replacement neck and have my guitar still looking like a vintage strat, vintage Fender strat logo and all?

fender decals can be bought cheap .. so if thats the deciding factor .. it's a non issue. IMO

In fact I have a spare from a guitar I built recently.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Re-fret vs. fret dressing on a Japanese Strat reissue (50s)

oooooooooooooooh... so i could potentially buy a new replacement neck and have my guitar still looking like a vintage strat, vintage Fender strat logo and all?

yep .. I do it for people all the time ... you'd be shocked at how many of the "fenders" out there are not fenders at all.

~G