Refret?

[GreenAsJade]

How advisable or otherwise is it get my recently acquired 96 Strat Plus refretted?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3625/3661864081_0852564f28.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/gregories/3661864081/)

I bought it on an impulse on Ebay. Everything is great except it seems to my inexperienced eyes/fingers that the frets have been "flattened", presumably to take out wear(?) but they just aren't high enough for comfort... when I bend, I'm scraping the wood, and I can't get "under" the string to bend it cleanly separate from its neighbors...

[Peeb]

Yep. Sounds like refet time to me.

[GreenAsJade]

Thanks - sounds simple. I have to say I'm apprehensive. How do luthiers get the frets out and put new ones in without wrecking the fretboard? Is this a risk, or is it "standard procedure, don't sweat"?

[hobosox]

i dont think its that big a deal at all, but its a bit expensive from what i understand.

[Peeb]

Maybe $10+ per fret. I would not try it myself- leave it with an accomplished luthier.

[GreenAsJade]

I wouldn't dream of doing it myself. I was worrying if it's a safe thing to ask a Luthier to do ... whether it's easy (like rewiring say) or risky even for a pro?

[fused]

This is EXACTLY one of those things that you should ask a pro/Luthier to do.
Risky? Well anytime you pull frets and press in new ones, its risky.....even if just a little.
I've had three refrets done each on two of my gibsons, one refret on my Gibby L5, and three on a George Benson sig iby....

The last two refrets were with the frets glued in, not pressed and I LOVE the results of those. I'll be getting that method from now on.

But frets are a "wear" item that will eventually "wear out" and require replacement and a Luthier is the right person to ask/beg/threaten/bribe....to get them to do a good job on your beloved guitar :)

fused