Refret or new neck?

[Gibsonman63]

Any recommendations for great fretwork in Houston? I bought some reading material and a few tools from StewMac, but I would want to try a few cheaper guitars before I worked on any of mine. I am coming to the conclusion that learning how to do this well enough to be satisfied with the results will seriously cut into my amplifier building time.

The name that keeps coming up is Ron Pace, but I hear the lead times are pretty long.

[Herec]

The neck has some cool wear, like a weird stain occupying the first fret position that looks exactly like the stains on Clapton's Brownie, like below. Really makes me lean towards refretting. I also cracked the headstock almost off at one point (there's a story there), and had a really good repair job on it. If I do refret, I will have officially put more money in parts into this guitar than I originally paid for it.

[img:640:480]https://cdn2.content.compendiumblog.com ... _w640.jpeg[/img]

(That's Brownie, not my guitar)

[boots]

Does anybody know of a place to get a good fret job in Albuquerque (closest), Denver, Phoenix, or somewhere in that general area?

My 1990 American Stat has needed a fret job for a long time, but it is my only electric guitar, and I just keep playing it.

I'm scared to try re-fretting myself - I'd be really bummed if I messed up the neck. That guitar is my Baby!

[vibratoking]

Michael Miller
1128 Farragut Avenue
Colorado Springs, CO 80909-3728
(719) 632-8270

He did two for me. I was very happy and I am VERY picky.

[Zippy]

Ask whether the fret job will require sanding/refinishing the fingerboard after pulling the frets if keeping "the look" is more important to you than leveling the fingerboard.

Whoops, there goes the mojo!

[Teleguy61]

The neck has some cool wear, like a weird stain occupying the first fret position that looks exactly like the stains on Clapton's Brownie, like below. Really makes me lean towards refretting. I also cracked the headstock almost off at one point (there's a story there), and had a really good repair job on it. If I do refret, I will have officially put more money in parts into this guitar than I originally paid for it.

If you're willing to go out of town a bit, Gary Hicks at Liberty Music in Framingham is terriffic.
Did my old strat for me and it has never played better, ever.
508-877-5272-he's there Tues-Thurs.

[butwhatif]

I've done fretwork for over 40 years, and haven't seen a guitar yet that i couldn't make play right fretwise. There are more ways than one to level frets on tough necks. This is learned through experience. I have cured many that were already through other shops. You can't expect a machine to be human, no matter how it's programmed.

[galtjunk]

Does anybody know of a place to get a good fret job in Albuquerque (closest), Denver, Phoenix, or somewhere in that general area?

My 1990 American Stat has needed a fret job for a long time, but it is my only electric guitar, and I just keep playing it.

I'm scared to try re-fretting myself - I'd be really bummed if I messed up the neck. That guitar is my Baby!

Bill Richardson at Studio Gutar Works.
106 Morningside NE
Albuquerque, NM
505-265-9102
studioguitar.com

I trust him with my 53 Tele.
Tell him Steve sent you his way.