Hey Guys/Gals
I am new to this forum. Does anyone have a contact for Fender Custom shop. I have my Dad's 1963 Strat that desperately needs some fret work, the finish has been beaten off and it has been left with a clear laquer. I know that it does have much monetery value but my Dad loves it and he bought it new, I would love to have the guitar restored to it's orginal glory or perhaps a worn version of that and I would like to contact Fender to see if it is something they could do. Thanks
J

Fender, neither the general factory nor the Custom Shop, will repair/refinish/refret any guitar. You will need to find a factory autorized service center (http://www.fender.com/dealers/service_centers.php) or independent luthier to do the work you want done.

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Bill

+1

I would consider stainless steel frets so it would almost never have to be re-fretted again. And I would find someone you trust to not only do the job right, but to not all of a sudden inform you that it was "lost", "stolen" or "damaged beyond recovery".

Yes, find someone you trust , someone honest , not someone can stole your expensive vintage parts for replace by other .

Thanks for the advice. I will check in my local area and research quality trustworthy luthiers. I will also see if I can post some pics of the guitar. Thanks for the advice. Cheers

Surely not stainless frets on a vintage strat,my five cents. Get some normal frets.

Did you mean it is worth something as it is?

leave it as it is... please.

+1 shaky

The OP said that the guitar needed fret work. That doesn't mean it needs to be refretted. If it were me, I would want a good luthier to assess whether a good fret leveling and recrowning might make the guitar more playable.

If it did need to be refretted, I don't think using SS frets will hurt the value more than using regular frets.

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Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

Leo didn't use stainless steel frets (don't even know if they were available in 63). If it needs to be refreted, it should be done with vintage correct frets. And yes, I believe SS frets would definitely hurt its value.

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Bill

Hi williamsj: interesting thread. For starters, I'd certainly second taking time to find a reputable tech/luthier, if only so you know the job will be done well. Although it sounds like the guitar is fairly beaten as a '63 it probably still has a raised monetary value that's worth protecting. And from what you say it likely has emotional value to you too, and that might be the most important thing. Worth taking care with.

Far as stainless steel frets are concerned, I see both sides of that discussion. In itself, refretting old guitars is not supposed to hurt their collector value significantly, though I suppose that depends on the individual collector. If anyone knew the guitar had SS frets on there I'd have though that could hurt the value some, though on a heavily worn instrument I doubt it would make much difference compared to other factors.

There again, having finally now done some stainless steel fret installation myself I secretly wonder how many people could tell what the new frets were, assuming you could find vintage sized SS wire. You sure as hell can tell the difference when you're working on the metal - it is bionically hard stuff - but for looks, feel and sound I bet most people wouldn't notice what was on there if you didn't tell them. Of course, guitar forums are full of people who claim they can hear a vital difference. Hm...

Cheers - C

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I would suggest using regular frets. I've heard bad things about Stainless Steel.

As for a good luthier, I would use Phil Jacoby at Philtone.com.

He is reputable, will take work from out of town and he does excellent work. He also has a Plak, which is very handy properly setting a guitar up.