Recutting the nut is not a way to lower your action. The nut must be cut just right to prevent strings being sharp when fretted on the first 3 to 6 frets. Any lower and there will be fret buzz on those frets then it is new nut time at a 60 dollar cost.

The forward neck bow must be set right first or fret buzz will be present on the frets around the center of the fret board.

The frets must be level to allow lower action also.

Sometimes someone shims the neck by putting a thin piece of material in the neck pocket.

The best thing to do is have a pro tech look at the guitar and tell you what is what.

I find most people think the action can be lower than the norm on a strat. Bolt on neck have limits to how low you can go and still get a clean clearance of the strings needed to perform. I find most people that don't understand the nature of a guitar want the action lower than obtainable

Plecking is the latest thing in getting the best action. $200.

I would guess a good setup with fret leveling would allow you to get as good of action as that guitar is going to get. It is unusual to need refretting unless the guitar has been played many many many hours.

Thomas

method of attachment is a moot point. Action is determined by bridge height, and angle of the neck plane. That most bolt-ons are designed around a lower bridge, and a parallel to body neck angle, a la Fender is why they typically have the kind of action they have. Gibson Lp's by contrast use a higher, from the body bridge, and a back angle on the neck. either could be achieved regardless of method of attachment.

Glue VS. bolts has nothing to do with action at all.

the rest of your post seems pretty sound to me. there are no Pleks near me, but I would love to try getting one of my guitars done, and see how it is. I hear nothing but good things.

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Absolutely the nut is cut to the first fret height. Forward and backbow should never be used as a action lowering method. The fact that all 3 actions do lower or raise action is secondary. It's not why you adjust them.

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No no and no

I'd fix up the current neck and if still not happy, sell it and get another neck. Just sayin'...

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

Don't leave home without it!

True, but if the nut was set too high, you would want to lower it... and that would (whether you intend to or not) lower your action ... at least in the upper frets... That's pretty much common sense to me...

But I do understand where you are coming from... it shouldn't be a way to get lower action if the nut was cut and set correctly..

You feel old? If I remember right you're still two or three years younger than me, Twelvebar. So now I feel flippin' ancient!

And I SO know what you're talking about, too...

Cheers - C

Cajun you do not say if you have ever had the frets dressed on that guitar already. If you never have than it is a no brainer to just get them dressed which will also make the neck a lot faster though you may have to get used to bending a bit with less wire. On my 62 reissue Tele I went through 2 dressings then had the guitar re fretted in 04. I do not know how old your guitar is or if it is your #1 but there was not even a hesitation on my part to get a refret as I played that neck for 15 years and it was broken in like a glove.

I just bought the guitar.. It is new to me for about 1 week... It was not well taken care off at all... I had to replace all the wiring/pots/switch also...

Anyway, my tech will be doing whatever fret/neck work that is necessary... It will likely be the first fretwork this guitar has ever seen...

I vote total refret on the old neck. If you like that one. Otherwise, buy a new neck.

Where did the reFret come from ?

Anyway, it doesn't need a re-fret... Just some fret work... dressing... level crown...

Oops, did I say re-fret. I mean re-dress. Yeah that's it.

i noticed you put the fret work first therefore get that done if the frets are too worn down get the re-fret

If you're talking getting the necked completely re-fretted, that's a great price. I've had estimates, where I live, of $350 to re-fret a guitar. About $150 to have the frets dressed.

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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

The bottom line:

$150 < $250. So, if you are satisfied with your current neck, this is your answer. Conversely, if you feel at least $100 dissatisfied with your current neck or simply want a change, well, then here's your answer.

Of note is the fact that it will probably cost you an additional $100 (+/- a few $) on top of the price of said new neck to have it and its components properly installed and tweaked for optimum performance with what would be left of your existing guitar. Even at this, it is still a gamble that you'll like it better than the old one once all is said and done.

The decision has to rest with you alone.

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You dig?

Okay you are just getting them dressed which should not call for a neck replacement. I do not know if you ever had your frets dressed which most of us more than likely have had done many times. But you said you like your action real low and with a fret dress you will definitely love how much faster your neck is going to be. I used to know guys who would get there frets dressed on a brand new ax just for that reason. The only drawback might be getting used to bending on the neck as it will not be as easy. As far as a refret I have only had that done on one guitar and it cost me $300 7 years ago in NY. I had it done at 30th Street guitars, and Matt the owner is a wiz and did a really unbelievable job. I am just wondering what the hell it would cost today.