[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference napalm::guitar

Title:GUITARnotes - Where Every Note has Emotion
Notice:Discussion of the finer stringed instruments
Moderator:KDX200::COOPER
Created:Thu Aug 14 1986
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3280
Total number of notes:61432

71.0. "Fret work..." by PARSEC::MELENDEZ () Wed Oct 22 1986 18:26

    I have an old guitar which needs new frets, as the first step to
    a major overhaul. Does any one have any information about doing
    fret type of work? Any information would help. 
    
    Miguel...
    
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
71.1A few referencesMAY11::WARCHOLThu Oct 23 1986 01:1212
    There is a good book called GUITAR REPAIR by Irving Sloane that
    has a section on refretting. Its usually carried by woodworking
    supply stores, that's where I got my copy. I think I remember seeing
    it  at  Woodcraft, 41 Atlantic Ave. Woburn, give them a call to
    be sure.
    
    There is also another book called Classic Guitar Construction by
    the same author. It's an excellent way to learn what makes a good
    classical guitar if you are ever in the market for one. He also
    goes over fret installation.
    
    Nick
71.2do it yourself?PRISM::CLARKThu Oct 23 1986 13:029
    If it's a nice guitar, I wouldn't want to use it to practice
    re-fretting. Take it to a competent luthier. The guy at Mac
    DUff's in Shrewsbury (mentioned elsewhere in this notesfile)
    does excellent work. Re-fretting may cost you a hundred or so
    bucks. If you do it yourself and you do it wrong, however, you
    can end up pulling chunks of wood out of the fingerboard and
    other horrible things.
    
    -Dave
71.3Seek professional help!FXENG1::TTESTAThe future's so bright, I gotta wear shades!Thu Oct 23 1986 13:3711
	Yes, do not attempt to do this job yourself. Go to a dealership who has
a *reputable* repairperson or luthier. (Luthier = one who builds fretted
stringed instruments.) 
	A reasonable charge is ~$10 per fret or a complete refret job for
~$130. (Although usually not every fret needs to be replaced.)
	If you truly value your guitar, you wont be afraid to do minor work and
adjustments yourself, but fret work is major surgery! Leave it to a *reputable*
professional. And don't be ashamed to get second and third opinions on what
exactly needs to be done, how much it will cost, and how long it will take.
				Tom (I-don't-do-frets!) Testagrossa

71.4Five dollars....PARSEC::MELENDEZThu Oct 23 1986 16:017
    ref .3
    
    The idea is to learn to do the work, not to have it done. The guitar
    has a value of $5.
    
    Miguel....
    
71.5Guitar repair thoughtsPISCES::KELLYJFri Nov 14 1986 16:3918
    I have installed frets on a couple of guitars...it's not difficult,
    but requires patience, some knowledge and skill, and specialized
    tools.  If this is your first attempt at guitar repair, I might
    recommend you start on something a little less challenging (say,
    installing a new bridge or repairing a sprung brace).
    
    Many books exist to help the guitar repairperson; get one of them
    and go for it!  The first guitar I took apart (a 1964 Montgomery
    Ward Airline ES style) never quite made it all back together, but
    I learned a huge amount.  Consider buying a junk guitar for practice:
    yard sales, pawn shops, etc. sometimes carry $10 specials.
    
    Luthery is a painfully slow, financially disastrous undertaking...but
    it's fun!
    
    Regards,
    Johnny Jupiter
    
71.6high spotSEND::PARODIJohn H. Parodi DTN 381-1640Mon Mar 13 1995 13:5622
    
    This looks like as good a topic as any...
    
    My 15-year-old Takamine (FG370SH, typical 6-string acoustic, no
    cutaway) has developed a high spot on the 13th fret under the high E
    string. It plays the same F note whether you fret it at the 12th or
    13th fret.

    It developed the same problem about a year ago but it went away after I
    loosened the truss rod between 1/4 and 1/2 turn. This time, that trick
    didn't work. There is a barely-visible ripple at the problem spot when
    you sight along the neck.

    What's the right thing to do? Take it to a luthier? Buy a fret file and
    knock the high spot down? 

    All advice welcome, whether I take it or not...

    Thanks,

    JP
    
71.7KDX200::COOPERRevolution calling!Mon Mar 13 1995 14:014
    Free advice is always worth what you pay for it...
    
    So, I say DON'T try to file the frets yourself...Let someone
    else do it - Like Rich MacDuff in Shrewsbury.
71.8MPGS::MARKEYSend John Thomas some doughnutsMon Mar 13 1995 14:097
    
    Well... there's no rocket science to frets, so if you know where
    the problem is, file away I say. Of course, if you bugger it up
    in the process, the secretary will disavor any knowledge of your
    actions... :-)
    
    -b
71.9MSBCS::EVANSMon Mar 13 1995 17:265
Take it to a luthier.

Jim

71.10Get a professional's opinionSPEZKO::FRASERMobius Loop; see other sideMon Mar 13 1995 17:2911
        I'd agree  with  the  previous  comments  about  taking it to a
        luthier, unless you  consider  it a beater [:*)] in which case,
        hack away!
        
        Seriously - from your description it's tough to tell - could be
        anything from a fret tweak  to  a  neck  reset,  given that you
        mention a slight wrinkle in that area.
        
        Andy
        

71.11SEND::PARODIJohn H. Parodi DTN 381-1640Tue Mar 14 1995 08:575
    
    Thanks, folks. I've decided to go with that old aphorism: if you
    want something done right, hire a professional.
    
    JP