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GMC Forum _ GEAR & PRODUCTION _ Re-fretting My Guitar

Posted by: wrk Oct 12 2008, 01:45 PM

Hi,

I have a few question about changing frets on my guitar and was hoping someone has experience with that and could give me some advice.

Since a while i have the feeling that it's time to change them as some of the frets are really thin and flat now, but the main problems are the sharp corners. The frets are more quadratic shaped than round on the top .. very often i get stocked somewhere when doing slides .. smile.gif

My questions are:
1. what does re-fretting cost? I have asked a luthier around the corner and he told me 235 € .. is a realistic price for that?

2. Can i do it on my own?

I consider more the option to do it on my own. I am normally not too untalented with stuff like this and i have two guitars were i should change the frets. The second one is unusable at the moment and i could use it to get my first experiences before touching my main guitar. The tools for that will cost me something as well, so i'm aware i will not really gain something, but i'm just interested in that.

Someone has done it before and could give me some advise .. or better, on which step i could run in problems?

Thanks !!





Posted by: ZakkWylde Oct 12 2008, 02:01 PM

I wouldn't try it on my own because you will propably make it worse, maybe you can trial and error on a cheap guitar before you try it on a good guitar.

The price (235) is ok if you have a fretboard binding (like on a les Paul) because it's far more difficult for the luthier to change frets without damaging the binding. For refretting a standard neck without binding a resonable price would be ~150 Euro

Posted by: wrk Oct 12 2008, 02:15 PM

QUOTE (ZakkWylde @ Oct 12 2008, 03:01 PM) *
I wouldn't try it on my own because you will propably make it worse, maybe you can trial and error on a cheap guitar before you try it on a good guitar.

The price (235) is ok if you have a fretboard binding (like on a les Paul) because it's far more difficult for the luthier to change frets without damaging the binding. For refretting a standard neck without binding a resonable price would be ~150 Euro


You are probably right ..
I would try it first on an OLP Axis i have. I bought it a while back online and it's a nice guitar for the price, BUT .. the one who did the frets wanted to do it extra nice and rounded the frets at the ends (e, E) that much that its impossible to keep the strings on the fretboard .. sad, but funny .. smile.gif

Both necks have the fretboard glued direct on the neck. One rosewood and the other maple, no bindings ... what would make it easier i guess.



Posted by: DeepRoots Oct 12 2008, 02:33 PM

I recomend this book:http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide-3rd/dp/0879309210/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_img?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0879302917&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0TD72ERAG41HG80WZK1K

I bought it so that i could do a fret job (will be doing it in the next couple of weeks i think)and also to help sort out my wiring. It really is a smashing book, lots and lots of info in there for a DIY job (make sure you get the 3rd edition though).

Posted by: Muris Varajic Oct 12 2008, 02:38 PM

I never did it by myself cause you need some tools for that,
and knowledge of course.
But I also never did any soldering too
so this doesn't mean a lot laugh.gif

As for the price,few guys here are doing it for 50-100 euros,
235 euros might be too much,not sure huh.gif

Posted by: wrk Oct 12 2008, 02:58 PM

QUOTE (DeepRoots @ Oct 12 2008, 03:33 PM) *
I recomend this book:http://www.amazon.com/Guitar-Player-Repair-Guide-3rd/dp/0879309210/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_img?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=0879302917&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0TD72ERAG41HG80WZK1K

I bought it so that i could do a fret job (will be doing it in the next couple of weeks i think)and also to help sort out my wiring. It really is a smashing book, lots and lots of info in there for a DIY job (make sure you get the 3rd edition though).


smile.gif .. Thanks DR, i just ordered this book. I'm glad you say it's a good one as it didn't arrived by now. Thanks.
I found this page, it's maybe interesting for you as well. http://www.stewmac.com/ .

QUOTE (Muris Varajic @ Oct 12 2008, 03:38 PM) *
I never did it by myself cause you need some tools for that,
and knowledge of course.
But I also never did any soldering too
so this doesn't mean a lot laugh.gif

As for the price,few guys here are doing it for 50-100 euros,
235 euros might be too much,not sure huh.gif


50 - 100 ? .. next holidays in Bosnia then !! ... smile.gif
Yes, tools are not cheap so there is no winning to make, but experiences.
I will get some more prices from other luthier, but i'm afraid including paris bonus it will not be in the range of 50-100 sad.gif



Posted by: Scott Gentzen Oct 12 2008, 06:18 PM

QUOTE (wrk @ Oct 12 2008, 09:15 AM) *
price, BUT .. the one who did the frets wanted to do it extra nice and rounded the frets at the ends (e, E) that much that its impossible to keep the strings on the fretboard .. sad, but funny .. smile.gif


My Roadstar's in at a luthier right now partially because it has the same problem...on the E strings on some frets, I slide off. Especially the low E.

The wear's not bad enough to totally refret the neck, but it's out getting them redressed.

Posted by: wrk Oct 12 2008, 06:54 PM

Here are some photos how the frets look right now:


This is my start. The frets look on a lot of different places on the neck like this. Maybe by now it would be enough to round the edges a bit, but the Frets are much more flat as it come out on the picture.


This is the OLP .. all along the neck on the high e string. Is there anything to do as to change the frets completely? I mean, the materiel is gone. Other than that the frets are new as it's a new guitar.


There was a good topic about frets and different fret size a while back, but i don't find it ... someone remember this topic?



Posted by: Ramiro Delforte Oct 12 2008, 07:12 PM

Dan Erlewine has some instructional videos about all the luthier stuff. Also he has a book that DeepRoots posted the Amazon link.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 13 2008, 06:42 PM

Those frets sure look worn out mate... I think you should probably go to all the luthiers in town and check some experiences with other people who already did fret jobs with then, so you can make the right decision. 230e seems expensive to me as well, here I can do it for 80-150e, so you might wanna do some more research.

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Oct 13 2008, 06:51 PM

That price is pretty expensive , you should check with other luthier to compare it.You definitely need to change them , but I really recommend doing it in a professional workshop in order to have everything done properly.

Posted by: wrk Oct 13 2008, 07:16 PM

Thanks for the advice .. the price is maybe a bit high, its what i thought ... never dealed with luthiers before, so i have no idea about prices.

Ivan, i think you are right to get some feedback from customers as well. The luthier i showed my guitar didn't seemed to be ... how i say ... supportive for this guitar. I'm sure he was hesitating to convince me that it's time to buy a new one smile.gif



Posted by: fretburn Oct 14 2008, 01:26 AM

QUOTE (wrk @ Oct 12 2008, 12:54 PM) *
Here are some photos how the frets look right now:


This is my start. The frets look on a lot of different places on the neck like this. Maybe by now it would be enough to round the edges a bit, but the Frets are much more flat as it come out on the picture.


This is the OLP .. all along the neck on the high e string. Is there anything to do as to change the frets completely? I mean, the materiel is gone. Other than that the frets are new as it's a new guitar.


There was a good topic about frets and different fret size a while back, but i don't find it ... someone remember this topic?


wrk,
as a fix for the high e slippage, have you considered a shim of any type?
simply re-aligning the neck would solve this problem, and if done with proper tone wood, would not result in any noticeable loss of sound quality. I had a similar problem with a guitar that i built, because of neck pocket shape, and a shim solved the problem
also, your frets do not appear to be in a condition that would require a full re fret job, are any of them actually separating from the fret board? If not, often the frets can simply be re-filed back into the preferred rounded shape, which would be a much more do able fix for a non professional

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Oct 14 2008, 01:52 AM

Well mate, I don't know what guitar you have, but usually fret job is only applied to hi end models in order to prolong their life. There isn't really any need to do a fret job that costs ~150e on a 250e priced guitar, unless it has some sentimental value.

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