Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Good day. About a year ago the very last fret (20th or 21st) on my strat got 'creased' in the middle somehow. At a show, in order to keep the strings from not buzzing against the bent fret, I just peeled it out of the fretboard leaving just the slot. My question is, will I have to get a complete re-fret, or will a good tech be able to replace the single fret. Also, because it's been so long since it happened, is it even possible? The guitar is an American Standard Deluxe Fat Strat (with the 2 noiseless and 1 HB pickups). Thanks for your help. Mike. Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 That should be a relatively easy job for a competent repairperson, especially so being the last fret. Do you still have the one you removed? If so, take it with the guitar, it might be useful, and if not, no harm done, right? Hopefully, it came out cleanly and the wood isn't damaged there. Even if it is, it shouldn't be too hard for an experienced tech to patch up. What happened- something hit the guitar there? Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 To tell you the truth, I have no idea what happened. It was on a stand in the studio the night before the show, and when I packed it up I must not have noticed. I bet it 'mysteriously' fell off it's stand or something. It looked like it was hit in the middle though, as if it hit a ledge or corner of some sort. Do you have any kind of idea on how much a typical fret replacement goes for? $$? Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alguit Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Have you considered refretting it yourself? The Stewart-MacDonald catalog sells fret wire and anything else you would need. It could be a great exprerience. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 I'd try it, but would be scared of screwing up the whole thing. Plus, I think I'd need to match the other frets, which I think I remember reading are jumbo's or something. Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DIAMOND DUST Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 I had my LES PAUL jr refretted and, a bone nut put on for 250$. But that was in 93. http://b-cordova.dmusic.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Yeah, but this is just one fret... and the last one at the end of the fretboard! Too easy, if I had the tools (and it was me) I'd do it myself. If it was me (and I still didn't have the tools), I'd just have someone qualified do it. It shouldn't be much money at all! Certainly less than the cost of the needed tools to do a top-f;ight job, I'd think. Then again, I'm one of them "Tim-the-Tool-Man-Taylor" sorts when it comes to buying tools... Shouldn't be too much at all. Don't be afraid to ask! Get it fixed, maybe the lutier/tech'll notice some other little things with your frets and the guitar'll play better than ever! It's not gonna cost you anywhere near half of that $250.00, even half of half is more like it and in the ballpark, maybe less, hard to say exactly. Call a few reputable shops that do such repairs nearest you; and let them know on the phone that you're calling around for ballpark estimates. If they're funny about giving you an estimate before seeing the guitar, cut'em some slack, that's fairly understandable. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 Thanks. I'll try calling around. I did call one place here in town a few months ago, and they mentioned that I'd have to get the whole neck refretted. Maybe I didn't mention that it was the last fret to them. I don't know. I do feel better knowing that it is possible to get one fret replaced, as I don't have the $$$$ or the tools for a complete refret. Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you would need a complete refret!! That would be ridiculous, like a shop telling you that you need all four tires replaced when fixing one repairable flat! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue Strat Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Hey Kev, What's with the Alaskan/Northwest thingy for your avatar? What is it? BlueStrat a.k.a. "El Guapo" ...Better fuzz through science... http://geocities.com/teleman28056/index.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 it kinda looks like a skateboard to me... Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reachjkh Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Originally posted by Cactus Mike: ...they mentioned that I'd have to get the whole neck refretted...What a load of crap. Daddyray could probably replace that fret in 15 minutes. If he's lurking around here he can correct me if I'm wrong. You just measure the height and width of the fret and replace it with the same size and dress it. That's all they need to do. Hey you white boy there Go play that funky music "ok...what's it pay?" first smoke, then silence your very expensive rig dies so gracefully Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cactus Mike Posted December 5, 2003 Author Share Posted December 5, 2003 I had the guitar for about a year before this happened, and gig pretty regularly so I assume that a fret leveling and stuff would be needed too, which I can understand, but a complete refret seems dumb. Mr. Plow, That's my name. That name again, is Cactus Mike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 5, 2003 Share Posted December 5, 2003 Originally posted by bluestrat: "Hey Kev," "What's with the Alaskan/Northwest thingy for your avatar? What is it?" Originally posted by Cactus Mike: "...it kinda looks like a skateboard to me..." http://www.stoningtongallery.com/images/season_icon.gif (Click on the pic) It's some very cool Native American-styled painted sculpture by Jean Ferrier, from the collection at the Stonington Gallery. (It's also my first attempt at an off-Forum avatar image, as I fiddle around and figure out how to do some of these things.) I originally came across this when doing searches for things related to various writers in Guitar Player magazine, and one of the artists represented at the Stonington Gallery- a particularly gifted artist and craftsman, I might add- was also named Art Thompson. Now I want to find stuff rooted in Iroquois/Six Nations/Northeastern Native American traditions and culture, as I live here. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolead Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite: There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you would need a complete refret!! That would be ridiculous, like a shop telling you that you need all four tires replaced when fixing one repairable flat!Kev, I understand your logic here. But I popped a tire on the curve and it WAS necessary to replace all the tires. Cactus Mike, If your frets are already well-worn, I'd suggest replacing all of them anyway. Otherwise it still might be in your best interest to replace the top several. I asked a dealer in my town about refretting, and he said I couldn't just replace one fret if I screwed it up (this is when i was thinking about crowning my own frets) and he said you would have to replace at least 2 or 3 above and below the fret that was messed up. Shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Originally posted by revolead: Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite: "There is absolutely no reason whatsoever that you would need a complete refret!! That would be ridiculous, like a shop telling you that you need all four tires replaced when fixing one repairable flat!""Kev, I understand your logic here. But I popped a tire on the curve and it WAS necessary to replace all the tires." Been there, done that, too! But I'll point out that my analogy refers to a repairable flat. I believe that a good repairperson would be able to adequitely replace and dress the last, 21st-fret on a Strat without any other refretting, as long as they were thoughtful and careful. I highly doubt that the 18th- through 20th-frets are particularly worn, and the correct fretwire with a dress and polish would be pretty easy to match to them with the correct tools. A 6"-scale or a small machinist's square would easily allow comparison to the 20th fret as you go. If a partial refret in one area of the neck- a not uncommon procedure- is possible, then a single end-of-the-'board refret can't be all that tricky! Hell, some people dress to a simulated "compound radius" by filing the fret-crown's middle area progressively flatter as you go up the neck; referred to as "an old repairman's trick" to combat fretting-out during blues-bends by Dan Erlewine. The 'board still has the same radius, the frets just lose material in the middle, flattening out. If that can be done, this sure can. Price-gouging chislers who take advantage of people suck! A repairperson who gives good service for cheap or free on a little quickie-job will always get repeat customers for more expensive jobs, as well as more customers by word-of-mouth referrals. Getting someone over a barrel just diminishes the enthusiasm that people have for the instrument. Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chipotle Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 I bought an old strat neck at a garage sale that was missing the first fret. I took it to Gary Brawer in San Francisco and he put another in, no problem. I think it was around $30. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolead Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Hmmm...interesting points you all make. I don't really know what to think. I'm sure that repair guy was trying to get extra money out of me no doubt, however he was courteous enough to recommend I try DIY fre crowning, and then if i messed it up come back to him. I might second thought my suggestion to replace all of them. I guess I'd look at the condition of the other frets. Shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caevan O’Shite Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Just so's ya knows, I'm not trying to contradict you or be argumentative here, Revolead. I just don't want to see anyone get taken. Too much of that going on in the world. Long live the Revolution! Ask yourself- What Would Ren and Stimpy Do? ~ Caevan James-Michael Miller-O'Shite ~ _ ___ _ Leprechaun, Esquire _ ___ _ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daddy ray Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 yes, one fret can be replaced about 45 minutes work on a good day have fun now! whatever the mind of man can concieve & believe it can achieve! study it as a science/practice it as an art! luck...that's what happens when preparation & opportunity intersect properly percieved every situation becomes an opportunity Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
revolead Posted December 6, 2003 Share Posted December 6, 2003 Originally posted by Caevan O'Shite: Just so's ya knows, I'm not trying to contradict you or be argumentative here, Revolead. I just don't want to see anyone get taken. Too much of that going on in the world. Long live the Revolution! It's cool Kev. I know you aren't. And I agree with a lot of what you said, I just was pointing out what I would do. Shut up and play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randy E Posted December 7, 2003 Share Posted December 7, 2003 Yep..Single frets can be replaced, as well as partial fret jobs, which are common. Leveling and recrowning is a pretty easy business. I have been doing my own frets awhile now, due to Music Store guys who pissed me off to the point I do ALL my own work!! Stew Mac has got Fret Presses or just the Caul(actually installs the fret) and special blocks to level frets, then a pretty inexpensive 3 tip fret crown tool. My advice is ..If you are gonna play guitar a while, its good to know how to do this stuff. With the right info, a couple of tools, and a lil luck, you can do it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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