Time to refret

[2ndhandband]

Re: Time to refret

For what the fret job will cost you could get a warmoth neck with your choice of frets and radiusing and have change to spare. Do that, and keep the stock neck around in case you wanna sell. The refret is more $$$ than that neck is worth.

 

[jimlp]

Re: Time to refret

For what the fret job will cost you could get a warmoth neck with your choice of frets and radiusing and have change to spare. Do that, and keep the stock neck around in case you wanna sell. The refret is more $$$ than that neck is worth.

This is why Leo made them bolt on necks in the first place.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Time to refret

This is why Leo made them bolt on necks in the first place.

True story. Of course, Leo didn't even know how to hold a pick, so this explains his thinking. Wear the neck out, replace it. He had no idea that players would rather replace the body before a neck. Their connection is so intimate with that part of the guitar.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Time to refret

True story. Of course, Leo didn't even know how to hold a pick, so this explains his thinking. Wear the neck out, replace it. He had no idea that players would rather replace the body before a neck. Their connection is so intimate with that part of the guitar.

I've never felt that, to be honest. Three of my guitars... the three I use the most... are frankenstrats I built myself. The necks were all Warmoth, and I shop the "screaming deals" section of their website exclusively, which means I don' get to be too choosy. None of the three necks are the same, and I'm content to play on any of them. I don' have that "extension of my arm" guitar that some players rave about. I can' think of a single guitar that I would choose to refret as opposed to taking the cheaper and easier route of a neck replacement. As a matter of fact, I'm watching evilbay right now for a replacement neck for one of my session guitars... it's Ibanez parts on a custom body and the frets are getting worn down past the reasonable ability to dress them. I hate to part with that neck because it's a profile that Ibanez only made for a couple years around 2003 or so and I love the inlays... but I'm also way too cheap to spend $250+ to get a tech I trust to refret it when I can get a lightly used replacement for half that.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Time to refret

I can see where you're coming from for sure. I'm the opposite to where I'd be more inclined to glue a headstock than a lower horn that broke off a body for example. The neck to me makes the guitar, and it's so hard to find the ones I like, so I tend to stick with them once a good one comes along.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Time to refret

I've never felt that, to be honest.

but I'm also way too cheap to spend $250+ to get a tech I trust to refret it when I can get a lightly used replacement for half that.

Then you are in the minority of most players. I have no problem with that.
As for your old necks, someone will probably get a great piece, have it fixed by someone like me - and love it for years to come.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Time to refret

Unless you have some deep, meaningful emotional attachment to the neck, it's not worth doing much of anything to it".

Hey, MetalManiac - I just noticed your tagline, "Recycle, reuse".... doesn't really fit with your spew about trashing old necks and buying new ones, does it?

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Time to refret

Then you are in the minority of most players. I have no problem with that.
As for your old necks, someone will probably get a great piece, have it fixed by someone like me - and love it for years to come.

True story... I'm all about ROI. I'm not afraid to spend money on my rig... I'll be dropping probably 3K before the summer is out on my effects rig. But every dollar spent needs to count for something.

 

[MkIII Renegade]

Re: Time to refret

I've always been quoted $350-$450 to refret in my area....definitely enough for me to put it off when I have so many other guitars to rotate, not to mention the sea of cheap necks on ebay/online.

I've only done one refret in my entire life. Next time I do one, it will be with SS frets for sure.

 

[devastone]

Re: Time to refret

So, what guitar/neck is the OP asking about, that means a lot! If it was a MIM strat or something, yeah, replacing the neck with a Warmoth is huge step up, although, Warmoth necks usually need some leveling, crowning, and nut adjustment done, but all that is cheaper than a refret.

The last guitar I had refretted was an original JEM BFP, so replacing the neck was not a choice, I don't remember how much it cost, it's been a few years, so the number in my other post may be low, but I did ask for some extra care to be taken with that guitar, not to mention, 24 frets, clean up of the maple board, some refinish on the board (not on the back), and having to deal with the scalloped frets in the last few positions. So, it may have been well over $300, I just really don't remember

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Time to refret

I am really attached to this neck, and in general I play a different guitar, i need a few weeks to get used to the neck. So yeah, I would not want swap, here is some pics.

 

[dave74]

Re: Time to refret

Level and crown then I'd say. Those frets look still plenty big enough, although pics can be deceiving sometimes.

 

[2ndhandband]

Re: Time to refret

Dude, that doesn't look that bad. I don't think you're anywhere near in refret territory. It just needs a level/crown job.

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Time to refret

Absolutely - simple level and recrown, new strings and setup, intonate. DONE, baby! For lots less than new frets and refinish.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: Time to refret

I agree, those look really nice yet. In fact I wish some of my necks looked like that. You'll save a lot of money by switching to...

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Time to refret

Some of mine look way worse than that.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Time to refret

Well, my tech - who was road tech for Doobie Brothers for 20 years, said he cant intonate anymore as they are done. He quoted a refret - and it is way to steep for me at the moment. Luckily in bay area you have some options, there is another super guy i just found about - Garcia?GD dudes, Haggar, Joe Perry - that is suppose to be very reasonable so i pinged him will see what he says.

 

[kramersteen]

Re: Time to refret

What's the intonation have to do with it?

 

[Chris Pile]

Re: Time to refret

Well, my tech - who was road tech for Doobie Brothers for 20 years, said he cant intonate anymore as they are done.

Your guy is either: (a) a liar, or (b) an idiot.

Of course, guitars can be intonated - they don't even do it at most factories. They leave it to the local dealer or first owner to have done, because they might want to change the setup or string gauges (which affects intonation). With a little work, I have intonated flattop guitars, archtops with solid wood bridges, and all the rest.

I say AGAIN, your guy is either an idiot, or a liar.

 

[Dr.Mavashi]

Re: Time to refret

Ok, let me explain in a bit more detail. I wanted set up - I play on the low action side. And there are dents on some frets, and fret buzz, so i asked for a fret shave and set up with low action - his response was that he cant do both with out fret buz.