This may sound kind of amateurish, but how does one know when it's time to get their guitar re-fretted? I've got a '99 AmDlx Fat Strat that I've had since '99 and some of the frets show some wear. My second fret looks like it's taken a few dings, but hasn't. Everything sounds good and in tune- as far as my ears can tell. I'm sure it's not cheap to have done, so I don't want to take it some where to get done if I don't need it, and I'd rather not look like a fool. About how much does a job like this cost? Thanks!!

Your guitar does not need a refret. A level and crown maybe, and that should be around $100. A refret signficantly more, but I do not know the costs. If the fret dents/wear are bothering you can level and crown now to fix it

The way to tell when you need a level and crown is when you have dead notes. This indicates that the fret you are playing is lower than the next one up the neck and muting the string from vibrating. You need to refret when there is not enough fret left to level them again.

My Ventura had several dead notes, for years I learned to play around them until I got a new guitar. I had the Ventura leveled and crowned and it plays like a dream again. The next time it will need a refret though.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

Agreed on the level and crown... my '91 ultra was in a similar state not long ago, with many frets having developed sharp edges as the crown wore down.

I ended up taking it in for a PLEK setup (detailed in the "Plek'd?" thread here somewhere) and couldn't be happier with the result. It's a little more expensive (about $140), but your guitar will be as perfect as it is capable of being afterwards.

As long as you still have about 0.5 mm of fret wire left above the fretboard you should be able to dress the frets rather than replace them.

A good fret polishing with some 0000 steel wool, that can be done in an hour or so rather easily by yourself, can help a lot too. I played my 94 MIM so much in the first few years that many of the frets had sharp edges from being worn down so much. And more so in the place where I play more often, between the 5th and 12th frets.

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area.......so consider that for price.

I've had my frets dressed for $150.

They told me it's $350 for replace the frets.

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"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne

I really appreciate everyone's help! Thanks so much. I love this place!!

Wow I have had so many level and crownings it is ridicules. I love to bend and like everyone else stated you develop dead spots where you fret out or in a lot of my cases big gouges in the fret wire. I only had my Beck strat 3 years before it needed a dressing. If you are near NY the best place for a refret is 30th st guitars just unbelievable work. It cost me $300 for my 62 reissue tele in 2004 but I would think it is much more today. What you need though should only run you $100-$150 tops.

You guys are paying through the nose. You could get it plek'd for less.

http://www.philtone.com/plek.html

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No no and no

Hi gatornavy: for a visual guide, here's a couple of pix of an old and abused neck. Frets that look like this can be recrowned for more playing life:



Frets that look like this, especially that G string position on the left, probably are at the point they need replacing. Those gouges are getting so deep all the frets would need to be filed almost flat to level them:



Some would disagree with that, however. After all, some people like very low frets.

Be aware, even if some of the lower position frets need replacing it doesn't mean the whole neck has to be refretted. If the tech can match the existing fret wire (which he should be able to) then it is often fine to just replace a few of the lower ones and then level and crown the whole neck as usual. Less expensive than a complete refret.

Good luck - C

The cost of living the the San Francisco area is one of the costliest in the country. Houses, food, gas, and yes........frets.

_________________
"I won't be wronged, I won't be insulted, I won't be laid a hand on. I don't do these things to other people, and I require the same from them."-John Wayne