Guitarists: Have you had a guitar "refretted?"
- Thread starter Jeff7181
- Start date
Fritzo
Lifer
- Jan 3, 2001
- 41,920
- 2,161
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It's pretty labor intensive, so it's not worth it on a low end guitar. Prices will be $150-$250. A $300-$500 guitar is considered in the "disposable" category, meaning if it needs work done, you're supposed to get a new one
Personally, I like worn frets. What's happening that you decided you need new frets?
I was wondering the same thing. I took my guitar in to a local music shop to get re set up after changing string gauge. The idiot filed grooves into my frets so that the strings wouldn't vibrate against the lower frets. ARG!!!
No, it was a reputable music shop, not sure if the guy was smoking crack that day.
So, you say filing frets is not bad, what exactly happens when frets are filed? What do they do?
ThePresence
Elite Member
- Nov 19, 2001
- 27,727
- 16
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I don't know if it would do damage as long as when you pressed down on the string, it didn't buzz. My guitar does this and it annoys the hell out of me. It makes it practically unplayable if I drop it half a step or anything.
My only concern would be with what happens if you change back to your original gauge and now the grooves are too big and the string can vibrate inside the groove? It seems more like a medicine for a symptom rather than for the cause.
I'll try and get a pic of it today to show you what they did. It wasn't on every sting, just the B and high E strings. They were vibrating a bit, I had presumed they'd just raise the strings some how, but they did this rather.
It's not that the grooves are 1/8" deep ditches through every fret though, they are much shallower than that.
It's not that the grooves are 1/8" deep ditches through every fret though, they are much shallower than that.
I've toyed with the idea about getting the frets of one of my RG's scalloped, but I didn't think it was worth the cost.
- Aug 21, 2002
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Originally posted by: Fritzo
It's pretty labor intensive, so it's not worth it on a low end guitar. Prices will be $150-$250. A $300-$500 guitar is considered in the "disposable" category, meaning if it needs work done, you're supposed to get a new one
Personally, I like worn frets. What's happening that you decided you need new frets?
I get some fret buzz when I play around the 20th-22nd frets on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings cause I rarely play up there so the frets around 20-24 are fractions of an inch higher than the lower ones, so I suspect that's why it's buzzing.
I bought it used... and the guy who had it before me had it tuned to drop C and basically only played in one spot... so the 1st-7th frets on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings are pretty worn.
I wish I could take a picture to show you, but I loaned my digital camera to someone and haven't gotten it back yet.
Rock Hydra
Diamond Member
- Dec 13, 2004
- 6,466
- 1
- 0
Originally posted by: Jeff7181
Originally posted by: Fritzo
It's pretty labor intensive, so it's not worth it on a low end guitar. Prices will be $150-$250. A $300-$500 guitar is considered in the "disposable" category, meaning if it needs work done, you're supposed to get a new one
Personally, I like worn frets. What's happening that you decided you need new frets?
I get some fret buzz when I play around the 20th-22nd frets on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings cause I rarely play up there so the frets around 20-24 are fractions of an inch higher than the lower ones, so I suspect that's why it's buzzing.
I bought it used... and the guy who had it before me had it tuned to drop C and basically only played in one spot... so the 1st-7th frets on the 4th, 5th, and 6th strings are pretty worn.
I wish I could take a picture to show you, but I loaned my digital camera to someone and haven't gotten it back yet.
XD, sounds like what's going to happen to my guitar.
I'm usually playing Drop C, Drop D, or Standard tuned down 1 step.
- Aug 21, 2002
- 18,368
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I'm leaning towards a new guitar either way... lookin at a Gibson SG Special... brand new one this time, no more used crap for me. Or maybe something else with a fixed bridge this time. I don't use the trem ever... it's just an annoyance right now. Having to bend strings further to reach the desired note... having to spend 10 minutes tuning the damn thing when I change strings... palm muting pushing the notes sharp... the trem springs vibrating, causing feedback.
*EDIT* Anyone have a Gibson SG Special and would care to share their opinion of it?
*EDIT* Anyone have a Gibson SG Special and would care to share their opinion of it?
Fritzo
Lifer
- Jan 3, 2001
- 41,920
- 2,161
- 126
Any Gibson is going to be built with quality. If you buy it new and take care of it, it'll last forever. I personally don't like the 59x series pickups Gibson uses (I like pickups a bit "hotter"), so I always drop a set of Burstbuckers in my new axes (Type II and III are my preference).
You'll also notice the frets on Gibson necks really stick out. These will wear down over time. When they're broken in, you'll never want to get rid of it
Scarpozzi
Lifer
- Jun 13, 2000
- 26,391
- 1,780
- 126
I usually use Martin Marquis Mediums... They're heavier guage and keep the buzzing to a minimum, but really work on making those fingertips tough.
I've never had a guitar refretted, but I'm sure YMMV depending on where you go to get it done. I would only have it done if your guitar's frets are really crapped out. Most of the time, the problem isn't the frets, it's a warped neck...so refretting won't help those kinds of problems.
Be sure you know what's up before you pay the money.
I've never had a guitar refretted, but I'm sure YMMV depending on where you go to get it done. I would only have it done if your guitar's frets are really crapped out. Most of the time, the problem isn't the frets, it's a warped neck...so refretting won't help those kinds of problems.
Be sure you know what's up before you pay the money.
- Aug 21, 2002
- 18,368
- 11
- 81
Originally posted by: Fritzo
Any Gibson is going to be built with quality. If you buy it new and take care of it, it'll last forever. I personally don't like the 59x series pickups Gibson uses (I like pickups a bit "hotter"), so I always drop a set of Burstbuckers in my new axes (Type II and III are my preference).
You'll also notice the frets on Gibson necks really stick out. These will wear down over time. When they're broken in, you'll never want to get rid of it
They feel tiny compared to the jumbo frets on my Ibanez's Wizard neck.
I've been looking at an EMG-81 to replace the bridge pickup in mine cause that's really the only pickup I use. My style is rather narrow right now. I haven't been able to find an Ibanez similar to mine with an EMG-81 in it, so I'm not really sure how good it will sound... I've been told it'll sound more bassy than it should because my guitar body is made of basswood.describe the "grooves."
are they wide or narrow? do they affect PLAYABILITY? understand that a worn fret tends to get narrow grooves, too, especially down on the neck, where you play mostly chords. i have a one-year-old deluxe american stratocaster that already has fret wear of this type, simply because i play a lot and play HARD. my old mexican strat has lots of wear, all over the neck, but PLAYABILITY has not yet been affected.
are they wide or narrow? do they affect PLAYABILITY? understand that a worn fret tends to get narrow grooves, too, especially down on the neck, where you play mostly chords. i have a one-year-old deluxe american stratocaster that already has fret wear of this type, simply because i play a lot and play HARD. my old mexican strat has lots of wear, all over the neck, but PLAYABILITY has not yet been affected.
alkemyst
No Lifer
- Feb 13, 2001
- 83,769
- 19
- 81
This is like shoes, they wear into the wearer. Same with guitars. Fortunately it's not a hard fix to get a restart.
Almost all guitars will buzz at certain points though...it's like how bikes have 21+ gears but some are unusable....however, with a guitar if you play there, or just take a file to it, you are golden.
My older Martin HD-28 had a definite wear pattern.
alkemyst
No Lifer
- Feb 13, 2001
- 83,769
- 19
- 81
You need a pro to do it really right, you can undo it...it's called refretting
After a refret there usually is some filing also. Again depending on value of the instrument chooses the money you are going to pay for the level of workmanship.
On a sub $500 guitar it's usually replace it or sell it to someone that just wants to stick it in a room.
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