When to refret?
- Thread starter Ice Man
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Skarekrough
Guest
Re: When to refret?
I found that the fret levels were so low that I had no reference point when bending notes. I'd push them and never encounter the usual resistance that should be there.
Keep in mind a good quality refret can cost serious bucks. I had my 73 Les Paul Deluxe and 73 Strat refretted this past year and the bill for it all was close to $800. The work is impeccable on both of them and the fretboard of the Strat had to be refinished (maple) so it certainly was a challenge. But I paid well for that level of quality.
I found that the fret levels were so low that I had no reference point when bending notes. I'd push them and never encounter the usual resistance that should be there.
Keep in mind a good quality refret can cost serious bucks. I had my 73 Les Paul Deluxe and 73 Strat refretted this past year and the bill for it all was close to $800. The work is impeccable on both of them and the fretboard of the Strat had to be refinished (maple) so it certainly was a challenge. But I paid well for that level of quality.
psy
New member
Re: When to refret?
IMO you were taken to the cleaners. a local guitar-maker who is the "Official Custom and Repair Shop" for Gibson here in Vienna does it for EUR 148 (without binding) or EUR 188 (with binding). And this guy is not known for his low prices. Included are
- levelling of fingerboard
- adjusting neckbow, string height, intonation and nut
And I can tell you: I've never seen so perfectly shaped and polished frets before.
When I change frets? Whenever fret levelling would cause too low frets. It might happen that I feel uncomfy after the first fret levelling.
Skarekrough said:
IMO you were taken to the cleaners. a local guitar-maker who is the "Official Custom and Repair Shop" for Gibson here in Vienna does it for EUR 148 (without binding) or EUR 188 (with binding). And this guy is not known for his low prices. Included are
- levelling of fingerboard
- adjusting neckbow, string height, intonation and nut
And I can tell you: I've never seen so perfectly shaped and polished frets before.
When I change frets? Whenever fret levelling would cause too low frets. It might happen that I feel uncomfy after the first fret levelling.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: When to refret?
Its time for a refret when the frets are worn down so far the strings hit the fretboard when fretting a note.
Its time for a refret when the frets are worn down so far the strings hit the fretboard when fretting a note.
Boston Joe
New member
Re: When to refret?
I had my beater 70's Strats refretted years ago to improve playability--large stainless steel! On one neck, the original frets were in great condition, and I used it extensively for gigging and recording. But my demands changed and had them replaced with Dunlop 6100 Stainless Steel-- very large but not too wide. Your situation may not warrant that approach as yet, but for me it worked much better than trying to find another guitar that would suite me when all I had to do was just upgrade what I already had.
I had my beater 70's Strats refretted years ago to improve playability--large stainless steel! On one neck, the original frets were in great condition, and I used it extensively for gigging and recording. But my demands changed and had them replaced with Dunlop 6100 Stainless Steel-- very large but not too wide. Your situation may not warrant that approach as yet, but for me it worked much better than trying to find another guitar that would suite me when all I had to do was just upgrade what I already had.
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: When to refret?
It's time to refret when you've had the frets leveled 2 or 3 times and they're getting so low that you can't get the meat of your finger around the strings to bend them....so when you try to bend a note your finger starts to slip right off of the string.
Lew
It's time to refret when you've had the frets leveled 2 or 3 times and they're getting so low that you can't get the meat of your finger around the strings to bend them....so when you try to bend a note your finger starts to slip right off of the string.
Lew
rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: When to refret?
If you don't mind investing in some tools, it's not as difficult as you might think to do it yourself. For just a little more than what it would cost to have a luthier do the work, I was able to get all the necessary tools and a cheap neck to practice on. I agree, $800 to refret two guitars is too much, even if one had binding and one had to be refinished. It depends a lot on where you live too. As with most things, you'll pay a lot more to have a good luthier work on your guitar in a big city like NYC, as opposed to a having the work done by a good small-town guy.
Ryan
If you don't mind investing in some tools, it's not as difficult as you might think to do it yourself. For just a little more than what it would cost to have a luthier do the work, I was able to get all the necessary tools and a cheap neck to practice on. I agree, $800 to refret two guitars is too much, even if one had binding and one had to be refinished. It depends a lot on where you live too. As with most things, you'll pay a lot more to have a good luthier work on your guitar in a big city like NYC, as opposed to a having the work done by a good small-town guy.
Ryan
Re: When to refret?
It's hard to say for sure without seeing the guitar, but don't go for too long before refretting. I've done a number of old gibson's where the frets we're so low that gouges we're developing in the board. The higher the fret the less meat of your finger tip will contact the board.
As far as doing it yourself, it took me about twenty fret jobs before I thought my work was excellent. Of course now there are more books/tutorials etc. available. If you think it would be fun to learn definitly try it, just not on your #1.
It's hard to say for sure without seeing the guitar, but don't go for too long before refretting. I've done a number of old gibson's where the frets we're so low that gouges we're developing in the board. The higher the fret the less meat of your finger tip will contact the board.
As far as doing it yourself, it took me about twenty fret jobs before I thought my work was excellent. Of course now there are more books/tutorials etc. available. If you think it would be fun to learn definitly try it, just not on your #1.
Re: When to refret?
When I find that I need a full fret job on my #1 strat, I''ll just order either a warmoth strat neck or a mighty mite neck depending on how much money I have . If I can afford it, I'll get a warmoth neck made to my specs. If' I'm poor, I'll get a mighty mite V neck replacement for $99.
I go through necks fast. I really dig into my necks so theres a lot of wear and tear on the frets and fretboard.
Ah.... gotta love the bolt ons heheh.
Tom
When I find that I need a full fret job on my #1 strat, I''ll just order either a warmoth strat neck or a mighty mite neck depending on how much money I have . If I can afford it, I'll get a warmoth neck made to my specs. If' I'm poor, I'll get a mighty mite V neck replacement for $99.
I go through necks fast. I really dig into my necks so theres a lot of wear and tear on the frets and fretboard.
Ah.... gotta love the bolt ons heheh.
Tom
L
Lewguitar
Guest
Re: When to refret?
My '51 Tele was almost ruined by a repairperson who has since become one of the premier repairmen in the world, because it was refretted when he was just beginning and it was one of his very first refrets.
I was so bummed, when my '57 Strat needed a refret around 1970 I did it myself. I'm blessed to be a naturally talented wood worker, and I learned from the sloppy work he did on my '51 Tele and managed to do a better job then he did with the first refret I ever did.
But I would not recommend most people attempt to do a refret on thier favorite guitar without having refretted half a dozen crumby guitars first. Make all your mistakes refretting some funky Hondo, or similar guitar first.
Because you'll learn alot and make alot of sloppy mistakes the first or second time you refret a guitar.
By the third time, if you have the gift, you probably will be able to do a decent job...if you're good with tools and good with your hands and are the type of personality that can do careful and precise work.
If you're not that kind of personality then I would suggest not attempting to refret your own guitar.
rspst14 said:
My '51 Tele was almost ruined by a repairperson who has since become one of the premier repairmen in the world, because it was refretted when he was just beginning and it was one of his very first refrets.
I was so bummed, when my '57 Strat needed a refret around 1970 I did it myself. I'm blessed to be a naturally talented wood worker, and I learned from the sloppy work he did on my '51 Tele and managed to do a better job then he did with the first refret I ever did.
But I would not recommend most people attempt to do a refret on thier favorite guitar without having refretted half a dozen crumby guitars first. Make all your mistakes refretting some funky Hondo, or similar guitar first.
Because you'll learn alot and make alot of sloppy mistakes the first or second time you refret a guitar.
By the third time, if you have the gift, you probably will be able to do a decent job...if you're good with tools and good with your hands and are the type of personality that can do careful and precise work.
If you're not that kind of personality then I would suggest not attempting to refret your own guitar.
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rspst14
Tone Cat
Re: When to refret?
I agree, that's why I bought a cheap neck to practice on. I also invested in a fret press system and a fret bender, which makes the job much easier. A good luthier can do a perfect refret in only a couple of hours, start to finish. I spend a lot more time than that, just so I can make sure everything is perfect. Keep in mind that guitars with ebony fretboards, bound necks, or finished maple necks are more difficult to work with. Luckily, my Hamer is unbound with a rosewood board, so it was more realistic as a DIY project.
Ryan
I agree, that's why I bought a cheap neck to practice on. I also invested in a fret press system and a fret bender, which makes the job much easier. A good luthier can do a perfect refret in only a couple of hours, start to finish. I spend a lot more time than that, just so I can make sure everything is perfect. Keep in mind that guitars with ebony fretboards, bound necks, or finished maple necks are more difficult to work with. Luckily, my Hamer is unbound with a rosewood board, so it was more realistic as a DIY project.
Ryan
