I have a strat plus, gun metal blue with a maple neck. I bought it, I think, around '88 or '89. Serial number E931031. This guitar has been played a lot and somewhat banged up. I get some string buzz and suspect that the frets are worn and/or the neck needs adjusting. I am thinking that perhaps a good repair person could make her as good as new. Is it better to repair or get a new neck?

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 9607188338

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 0321214626

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 2832619922

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 6381826898

Thanks Nevin,

I added some photos (hope the photo thing works). I am guessing a fret dress is not replacing the frets but filing them down? Does putting new frets have a down side?

Also, the primary value of my guitar is being played but I guess I am a bit surprised and happy that it is slightly collectable. If I put a new pickguard (white pearl) and try to repair the worn spots on the neck and other dings is this a bad idea for its "value"

just curious .. when was the last time you had it intonated and neck adjusted?

Beautiful guitar by the way

The common consensus of opinion is that a maple board will suffer about 5 refrets before it needs a new fretboard.

I think from looking at the photo's that your frets are in fairly good nick, I've seen a lot worse on a lot newer instruments.
Maybe they want a bit of leveling, maybe just a crown and polish. Though I see little need for re-crowning, it's not really accurate to judge without handling the guitar. A ideal fret crown is a perfect half circle shape on top of the fret. Plenty of guitars don't have that from new, a nice even rounding of the fret top keeps things feeling smooth when playing. So a nice rounding of the sides of the fret leading onto the top of the fret is good enough.

You may want to get the wear spots in the lacquer addressed. Though I don't know how to do that without removing the frets, somebody somewhere will.

Personally I'd take it round a few trusted, local repair people (ask your mates for recommendations). See what they have to say about it and get a price for a setup and re-crown from em.

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No no and no

I am with the rest here, keep it stock and a player guitar. Like Niki said, the frets have a lot of life in them. You just need a good guitar tech to level, crown polish and adjust the guitar. I could not make out the color for you but go to page 2 of my website (listed below in my signature) and check the colors there and tell us which one it is.

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Xhefri's Guitars
www.xhefriguitars.com

Welcome!

You have plenty of meat left on those frets. A grind and polish (G&P) would serve them well though. As far as finish blemishes, etc, don't bother as you will devalue the instrument and new ones will continue to come. Get the aforementioned G&P and a complete setup. You'll be amazed at how much that guitar has yet to give including how much you'll enjoy it too.

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You dig?

Thanks for all of your responses, I have never taken this guitar in for any service or repairs and it certainly appears that it is due for some fret work and adjustment. I am in Mesa AZ and will check around for a good tech.

Again, you guys rock!

some more pics, but taken in the daylight

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 1447577682

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 9462053282

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 3109717874

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 3465737010

http://picasaweb.google.com/ricinro/Gui ... 2524423602

gun metal blue. In your strat plus section, under "de bodies" it is the first picture. I recently added some pictures that show the color. Your site Xhefri, is fantastic!

EDIT:

oops, I always thought I had gun metal blue but after reading your site closer it appears as if I have blue pearl dust. Wonder how I have had that wrong for twenty something years?

I wouldn't worry about fretboard wear at all. The idea is not to dig the strings into the fretboard when you play anyway. That worn oil soaked look is what people pay for on a vintage instrument.

Hi, ricinro —

I have a '91 ultra that I've played fairly constantly since I bought it the following year. I took it in for a Plek treatment about 18 months ago as many of the frets had worn flat on top and had sharp edges that cut into my fingers if I slid too vigorously. There was also a persistent buzz on the high E string when played open, which I thought may be a problem with the Wilkinson roller nut — specifically the older dual roller model (like yours) as opposed to the one with the individual ball bearings.

My frets were in worse shape than yours appear to be. In my case, the buzz seemed to be an issue with the first fret, and any problems I may have had evaporated with the fret level, crown and setup that is all part of the Plek process. The guitar plays better now than I ever remember it having done so, although it's always been a great, reliable instrument. I'm not saying you need to go to the trouble and expense of a Plek setup (though the price is not that bad, really, and the only "trouble" is finding someone who has a Plek machine), just that I agree with those who have suggested that a decent re-crown and setup will probably have your guitar feeling good as new. It looks to be in generally good shape! Nice.

The only thing I would be inclined to do is clean off the gunk on the fretboard... wear spots on a maple neck are hard-earned and should be displayed with pride (in my opinion), but grime just looks dirty on a guitar with a modern finish that retains its crispness. I should do the same on the ultra, but the ebony fretboard hides the dirt... and I think I'll wear my fingers away before I'll make any impression on the fretboard... heh. I keep an orangewood stick (as used by nail artistes to push back the cuticle) handy to clean off stubborn bits of crap.

Thanks for the plek tip, It sounds like the perfect solution to restore better than original playability. The nearest place for me to "plek" my guitar is in Los Angeles which is about seven hours away. The cost is about $200 (us). Sounds like I need to convince the wife that she needs to visit disneyland to sell the trip or I ship the guitar even though shipping would abuse the guitar. Perhaps the local shop would be good enough.

http://www.plek.com/en_US/home/

http://www.westwoodmusic.com/index.html

Thanks for the excellent advice!

Definitely go with a closer option, I'd say... Plek is good, but its main virtue is that it's reliable in the hands of a capable operator (as anyone who has forked out for that kind of CNC kit would want to be) so you don't need to think too much about what you'll be getting. Chances are there will be a substantial wait list, so you'd probably have to ship the guitar at some point unless you can/would want to swing two trips. I know Mrs mondo wouldn't go for that... heh.

I've noticed that friends here in Australia get great results from asking people who build guitars for a living to do setups and general rejuvenation... builders won't let anything out of their shop until it's as good as it can be!

Thats a cool guitar you have there! people pay big bucks to get their guitars looking like yours!
As others said the frets look ok to me, it probably just needs a good setup.