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Brought my beloved '94 MIJ jaguar in today to get what I though would be a fret level/dress but the tech said they were to worn to do much but replace them, and that it wouldn't be worth it to spend money on a fret level when there is hardly anything there.

It plays OK, I brought it in mainly to get a new nut as the other one was fretting out. Still a bummer to hear though. It plays allright, though bending kind of sucks. Maybe someday ill get it entirely redone.

Bummer. How much would a refret cost?

Thom wrote:Bummer. How much would a refret cost?

I'm guessing more than a new neck from Warmoth would cost. Which is always an option, but of course, the neck you have right now is probably a big reason why you love the guitar. Maybe someone on these forums does refrets for less than your local joint charges.

cobascis wrote:Brought my beloved '94 MIJ jaguar in today to get what I though would be a fret level/dress but the tech said they were to worn to do much but replace them, and that it wouldn't be worth it to spend money on a fret level when there is hardly anything there.

It plays OK, I brought it in mainly to get a new nut as the other one was fretting out. Still a bummer to hear though. It plays allright, though bending kind of sucks. Maybe someday ill get it entirely redone.

Didn't you just swap to Colbolts ? hahaa...

Are you sure the frets needs replacing and not just dressing ? - usually you can do this a few times before needing a complete refret. I would take it to someone else for a second opinion. I just had a fret dress on my jag for £40 all included.

///and if it does need work save up and pay for it... throwing away and replacing a neck because of the frets being worn would be daft. It sounds like you like it, so it's worth it in regardless of value...

wetbelly wrote:

Thom wrote:Bummer. How much would a refret cost?

I'm guessing more than a new neck from Warmoth would cost. Which is always an option, but of course, the neck you have right now is probably a big reason why you love the guitar. Maybe someone on these forums does refrets for less than your local joint charges.

that paul guy did some nice work

These frets are like dented paper, I'll post some pics when I get home from school.

theshadowofseattle wrote:that paul guy did some nice work

This Paul guy?

haha. Brilliant.

My local tech charges £100+ for a complete refret, price depends on what frets you choose so its not too bad.

I was told the same about my Jazzmaster. Tech said "play it another 5 years or so and then have it refretted". No chance to get a new neck that is equally decent and worn in cheaper than a refret.

I had an even worse experience. My tech DID actually do a fret level/ dress, on my MMII.
Afterwards he said I wouldn't be able to get away with another one, next time it will need a refret for sure.

But the problem is, the frets may be level, but they're still really, really small.
With these little teeny frets, I find it relatively difficult to get decent vibrato.
And if I want to do something about it, I would have to pay for a refret. After recently paying for this fret level/dress.

Better to have refretted it in the first place.

so my tech was nicer to me when I asked for a fret leveling. He told me it wouldn't make sense instead of taking the money.

As it turned out, yes.
My guy didn't do it malevolently, of course, I would have paid him more if he did a refret.
Perhaps he and I just have different standards for what is acceptable in this regard.
Lots of people are focused primarily on the lowest possible action, and don't feel they need as much help on bends from the frets as I prefer. Others don't bend much at all.

when i was doing fret stuffs it was 10 bucks a fret for rosewood, 15 for maple. but, there were times when it would be more, i.e. vintage fenders shot there frets into the side so pulled them out ruined the fretboard. and acoustics can be tricky, i remember doing a refret on an ovation and charged about 20 a fret for a few reasons.
the main one being, it was an ovation, and i hate ovation.
and i had told him that he was better off buying a new ovation rather than the work but he just really liked that one.....
my old 59 musicmaster neck had the og frets and when i gave it a level and dress they were..... LOW but it still played decently.

Settled for a new nut... Don't mind dented frets but these are like REALLY dented.

The frets on my '98 CIJ are pretty dented too. It's one of those things that LOOKS a lot worse than it actually is. Doesn't really cause any fret-out/choking problems.