Fret Problem

[Highway Star]

Today I was restringing my guitar when I noticed that the first two frets have grooves in them, right where the high E and B strings would be. I restrung the high E and tryed to play it, and it didn't sound right. I can't believe I never noticed this before. Is there a quick fix to this problem, or do I have to buy a whole new guitar? :(

Thanks in advance.

[socialmisfit]

sounds like you need to have a fret dressing done on it. how bad/deep are the grooves?

[Highway Star]

sounds like you need to have a fret dressing done on it. how bad/deep are the grooves?

The grooves aren't really, really deep, but the string sits nicely inside it. :(

Pardon my ignorance, but what's a fret dressing?

[socialmisfit]

a fret dressing is done by taking the strings off and making sure the neck is flat. then the fretboard is protected by tape, paper, etc, and the frets are "filed" down slightly and re-crowned. this takes a little bit off of the fret, but restores the correct curvature of the fret. they are then finely finished, buffed and polished, and come out like new again. this can only be done 2 to three times, generally, and depends on how bad the problem is, as a fret dressing takes a small amount of surface from the fret each time it's done. when there isnt enough fret left, then the only option is to replace the frets altogether, an expensive last resort.

best thing to do is take the guitar to a tech and ask about it.

here's a pretty good example of what a fret dressing consists of :D

http://www.fernandezmusic.com/Classical%20Guitar%20Set-up.html

[fused]

Social has covered this very well for the most part.


Since I'm currently doing this for about the dozenth time since I've started playing over 30 years ago....I'll share this with whomever can benefit:

I'm currently having a 1980 gibby paul completely refretted.
A base refret is aprox $200.
I chose the most jumbo 18% nickle dunlop fret possible. Chose nickle cause I like the feel.

Another option was available for stainless steel for an additional $100.
The extra cost is due to the hardness of the steel basically requiring buying the tech a set of files as these frets will destroy the files.

I went the extra mile and added a Graphtec nut, a new Gibby Tunamatic bridge and due to the plating problems with the tone bar, a new tone bar as well. This adds a little over another $100 to this refret.
Not required in many cases.

Included in the base refret is cutting the nut and bridge and a complete action setup.

Basically, I'm having the guitar restored to new (or better than new) playing condition.

And additional charge ($40) may be added if the fretboard requires planing prior to installing the new frets. Its looking like the neck is in great shape so this probably won't be a problem.

This is the third refret that this guitar will have in its working life.

As for the tech, I have known this guy for over 30 years. He's been doing this kind of work for close to 40 years.
The tech I used to have to do my work has retired (he deserved it..but I will miss his great work).

So I asked to see this this guys work...it is extremely professional. The fret ends were extremely smooth, to the point where you can't tell where the ends are....they blend in with the binding. Crowns are very well done, smooth and even. Guitars that he's done, that I got to see, were extremely easly to play...you don't want to put them down. THIS is what you want to find in a tech.

When he's done with this guitar, I have a 1980 Ibanez GB-10 that is ready for its third complete refret as well. The less expensive guitar got to go first.

Not to bore you with these details, but these are some of the things to consider when taking your guitar in for fret work. Sometimes you can get away with a simple touch up job. Sometimes, you should just bite the bullet and get it completely redone. You'll enjoy it more in the end. But do find the right tech for the job. There's nothing worst than a botched fret job. You'll just end up having it done again by someone else.


Of course, take into consideration the cost of the instrument. If you're thinking about a $200 guitar, by all means, get another guitar.
If you're talking a guitar worth a grand or more, this is a normal occurance if it gets played a lot. Mine do.

hope this helps some.

fused

[KeithB]

Holy cow! Couldn't you just replace the neck? Or is the neck attached, like one chunk of wood for the whole thing?

[fused]

Holy cow! Couldn't you just replace the neck? Or is the neck attached, like one chunk of wood for the whole thing?

Keith

If you're referring to Highway Star's post, he may only need a few frets.
Unless the grooves are all the way up the fretboard, then he may need to
go for a refret. Without actually seeing pics of the guitar, its
difficult to determine from here.

Also you'll see posts telling newbies to take a file to their
fingerboards. If its a junk guitar, and you just want to learn, go for
it. If its a really nice guitar, take it to a pro. Cause if you just
take a file to it, chances are extremely high that you'll be taking it to
a pro in the end anyhow. Save yourself the aggrivation and maybe some
blemishes on your nice axe.


If you're referring to my post:

Why replace the neck? This neck is near perfect, enough so that I wore
out the frets playing it so much.

Besides, its a set neck. Although that can be replaced, fret wear is a
normal thing on any guitar. Just like strings, frets are a wear item.
And when you have a guitar that you want to keep, its worth getting the
work done right.

Besides, lets say you do replace the neck...that doesn't guarantee that
you'll get a good replacement neck. When I hunt for a new guitar, the
neck is the most important part of that process. There are millions
upon millions of nice looking, great sounding guitars out there. But
there's aren't as many great necks. In many cases, you can make a guitar
sound better, in most cases you can't make a crappy neck play that much
better. Not like a naturally nice neck.

And fretwork on a new guitar is something that should be considered as
well. Ever go to a local GC and notice how many guitars have this
prickly feeling at the ends of the frets. Thats a junk fretjob.
New doesn't even guarantee good workmanship. This is another argument
for finding a good tech and having the job done right.

I've known guys who bought a new guitar only to have the frets yanked
and new ones put on. They didn't think having rough ends would bother
them...until they owned the guitar for a while. But its cheaper for the
manufacturer to put out rough work. Why do you think they can sell some
of these guitars for a few hundred bucks? Cut corners and it can be
done.

We could do a book on fretwork alone. Interestingly enough, most people
don't pay much attention to this, but yet will think somethings wrong
with their axe. They can't put their finger on it...or actually, they
can, they just don't know it.

fused