Should I get a refret?

[Biu]

My Prestige RG has super friggin' huge frets that inhibits my speed (even the frets on Fatty Woo's RG are shorter) and I've found that the best fret size for my small, girly-girl fingers are the short, flat Gibson kind like on the LP Custom I used to have, my Epi Explorer, and my Ibanez SA160QM.

Sooo....would it be practical to get a refret on it? How much is it usually? Somehow, I'm guessin' it'd just be better to sell my RG and get a Warmoth or something :smack: But now that I think about it, getting a Warmoth would be pretty cool.

Anyways, if this isn't too much/is practical, maybe one of you forum dudes could do it for me? JohnJohn? I don't trust the guys in my town.

 

[seafoamer]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Have the bastards filed down, yo.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Yeah, get the frets crowned, so the big frets are leveled on top. Most of my guitars have Gibson or Fender Am Std type frets, but surprisingly, my fastest playing guitar is my G&L Invader which came with large frets that are leveled perfectly, stock from the factory. Because they're flatter on top, they're less prone to fretware as well. I never liked really tall frets, since I like to feel the fretboard, and I've never liked vintage frets, because I feel TOO much fretboard. Fret jobs are usually around $75, whereas refretting will cost closer to $300.

 

[theodie]

Re: Should I get a refret?

You could have the frets leveled down to your desired height then recrowned.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Jim Anderson is the head surgeon at the Notorious Guitar Hospital. which, is right there in sparks ... if you havent checked this cat out ... I would HIGHLY recommend him ... he's a bonified guitar GURU!

I just hope he's still working .. it's been about a year since I saw him.. good luck! ~G

 

[Biu]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Jim Anderson is the head surgeon at the Notorious Guitar Hospital. which, is right there in sparks ... if you havent checked this cat out ... I would HIGHLY recommend him ... he's a bonified guitar GURU!

I just hope he's still working .. it's been about a year since I saw him.. good luck! ~G

Whoa! How did you know that? Notorious Guitar Hospital is the smallest shop around here, but they do good work. I almost forgot about that place! :smack: Do you think it'd be under $100 for a fret level/crown there?

 

[Norman_T]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Before you do this are you sure that this is the best way to go. Would it not best for you to sell the guitar and get that Warmoth or other guitar before spending money having the frets levelled to your taste? You could have a problem if you were to sell the guitar - try and consider all the options, before making that decision.

 

[Forbes]

Re: Should I get a refret?

This is offtopic, but hows the bassman biu? Did you get it fixed by the tech? how does it sound?

 

[Biu]

Re: Should I get a refret?

This is offtopic, but hows the bassman biu? Did you get it fixed by the tech? how does it sound?

Unfortunately, I have to scrounge up $160 to have it fixed. The good news is, the tech has detected all the problems and is ready to fix it when I get the $$$. Can't blame the Ebay seller though, there's no evidence suggesting it was busted before shipping out and the tech says it was most likely the bastards at UPS that messed it up.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Whoa! How did you know that? Notorious Guitar Hospital is the smallest shop around here, but they do good work. I almost forgot about that place! :smack: Do you think it'd be under $100 for a fret level/crown there?

I found Jim way back in the 80's .. if my mind isnt failing me .. he was still in reno at that time (?).. and he carried pickups and parts .. and was SUPER informative and cool . I got my first Bill L 500 from him.

The only other option was bazaar guitars .. and while that cat has one of the cooolest collections of guitars I've ever seen .. it wasnt the place I wanted to leave a guitar.. or have fret work done etc.. no reason other than a gut feeling.

I'm not sure about his pricing .. but be prepared to have a pretty lengthy chat about what you're try'n to accomplish .. he likes to gather info .. he'll probably want to watch you play some too ..

at least your guitar will be in very good hands .. GURU I say!!

good luck bro .. let us know how you make out ~G

 

[strat_master]

Re: Should I get a refret?

hmm ya les pauls play like magic, i still will never understand why you sold your lp custom....

 

[Biu]

Re: Should I get a refret?

hmm ya les pauls play like magic, i still will never understand why you sold your lp custom....

Heh, Ibanez are just...ME Should I decide to get an LP again, it will be an Agile, for sure

Orbiter, I'll be sure to talk to him again. He is a cool guy, he taught me how to setup a Floyd Rose waaaay back when I was a beginner, FOR FREE! :saeek:

 

[strat_master]

Re: Should I get a refret?

What was wrong with the LP custom out of curiousity? I would kill for an Any gibson LP, but you sold your for an ibanez. IM saving up and scouringing money so i can buy a faded gibson les paul let alone a custom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Biu]

Re: Should I get a refret?

What was wrong with the LP custom out of curiousity? I would kill for an Any gibson LP, but you sold your for an ibanez. IM saving up and scouringing money so i can buy a faded gibson les paul let alone a custom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The neck was too thick for my liking and the neck access was a bit limiting for my style. But other than that, it was a great guitar, and if I could have both my Ibanez and Gibson, I definitely would.

Are you planning on going used for a Gibson? That's what I did. I think they are pretty overpriced.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Should I get a refret?

well a faded les paul new is onlt 999.99 so its not that expensive. I would go for a used standard but i dont know where i can find one, and i really dont trust ebay after all look what happened to your pooor bassman, you cant be sure if ups damaged it or the seller, so its a very unsure market and on something as pricy as a gibson i would not take that chance.

 

[strat_master]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Hey biu, how thick are the necks on the customs? ive played a standard with a 59 stlyed neck and its not bad. The slim tapers are also pretty good too. Id imagine the customs must be more rounded like a baseball bat? Ive never played a gibson custom before.

 

[usagi]

Re: Should I get a refret?

If you want something like Ibanez but aren't wild about the frets check out ESP. I played a couple of their guitars with extra jumbo frets and they feel almost as good as my Les Paul. I am bought an Ibanez also, for the tremolo. Sadly, I hadn't played the ESP yet. Something to think about if you'd rather sell the Ibanez.

 

[orbiter]

Re: Should I get a refret?

Orbiter, I'll be sure to talk to him again. He is a cool guy, he taught me how to setup a Floyd Rose waaaay back when I was a beginner, FOR FREE! :saeek:

thats sounds like him! very cool ... ~G