Worn Frets on my G&L

JeffR · Post by **JeffR** » Wed Apr 20, 2011 8:17 pm

Hi,

I had the shop set the intunation (sp?) on my guitar and said that my frets were really worn. I have a 1986 G&L ASAT and and the frets do look worn but since I haven't seen another G&L I didn't think they were as worn as what he said. He seems like a very knowledgeable person and also seems very honest. He has worked on a few G&L's and even commented that "this thing plays great and he loves the pickups".

He said that he isn't really equipped to do a full re-fret since he doesn't work on many G&L's at all but said that someone in San Luis Obisbo could do a great job for about $200. I was just wondering if a re-fret costs about $200 or so. He also said they look like jumbo frets, can't remember if that is the exact thing he said though. He did see a very slight bow in part of the neck and he took that out. But he was impressed with my guitar and really liked playing it. I want to keep it, and I will, but don't know if it is worth paying to have this re-fretted. It is a 1986 ASAT and this is the first year after the Broadcaster and I hear this year is worth a bit more than some a few years younger.

I really like this guitar and even like it as much as the Stratocaster I had, and I really liked that guitar. Does anyone know of someone in the San Jose, Ca area that has experience in doing re-frets on a G&L?

Thanks,

Jeff

pauliewalnuts · Post by **pauliewalnuts** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 4:53 am

A complete refret is usually around $250-$300 here in the NY area. Chances are you can have the frets leveled, crowned & polished for about $125 including a set up. G&L uses huge frets so theres usually plenty of meat on them to level down. Post a close up pic!

sirmyghin · Post by **sirmyghin** » Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:25 am

If there are some deep gouges the frets might be done and you will need a full refret. In my area a refret runs 300$ or so, 350 for Stainless (which in my experience doesn't wear at all, but I am sure for some heavy handed players would also wear).

darwinohm · Post by **darwinohm** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:35 am

If I were having a refret, I would consider stainless steel frets.--Darwin

westsideduck · Post by **westsideduck** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 7:53 am

If you don't think they are as worn as he said and there are no deep divots and it plays great, without any fretting out or string buzz then don't re-fret untill you have a problem with playability. Post some close up pics of the fretboard. If it does need a re-fret 200 bucks ain't a bad price for a pro job.

gary

samad · Post by **samad** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:46 pm

I have the same problem with my asat 1988,frets had been dressed.
But now its too low,my fingertips is touching the board all the time,so bends are quiet a pain.
Refretting here in spain are really expensive, cheapest i found is around 400euro + 2 or 4 weeks of waiting.
Im going to try to do it by myself,I bought the dunlop 6100 frets, it cost me 15 euro.
There are loads of videos of refretting in youtube u can watch.
Wish me luck.

Post by **Craig** » Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:08 pm

JeffR wrote:Hi,

I had the shop set the intunation (sp?) on my guitar and said that my frets were really worn. I have a 1986 G&L ASAT and and the frets do look worn but since I haven't seen another G&L I didn't think they were as worn as what he said. He seems like a very knowledgeable person and also seems very honest. He has worked on a few G&L's and even commented that "this thing plays great and he loves the pickups".

He said that he isn't really equipped to do a full re-fret since he doesn't work on many G&L's at all but said that someone in San Luis Obisbo could do a great job for about $200. I was just wondering if a re-fret costs about $200 or so. He also said they look like jumbo frets, can't remember if that is the exact thing he said though. He did see a very slight bow in part of the neck and he took that out. But he was impressed with my guitar and really liked playing it. I want to keep it, and I will, but don't know if it is worth paying to have this re-fretted. It is a 1986 ASAT and this is the first year after the Broadcaster and I hear this year is worth a bit more than some a few years younger.

I really like this guitar and even like it as much as the Stratocaster I had, and I really liked that guitar. Does anyone know of someone in the San Jose, Ca area that has experience in doing re-frets on a G&L?

Thanks,

Jeff

Hi Jeff,

You might contact C.B. Perkins Co. in San Jose. They are a long time G&L dealer and have one or more luthiers on site.
I have used their service once in the past for a string change and full setup on my Ric 12-string. I was very happy with the results.

Here their contact info:

C.B. Perkins Co.
5807 Winfield Blvd #B6
San Jose, CA 95123
Tel: (408) 578-3428

Hope this helps.

samad · Post by **samad** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 3:15 am

My only concern is to apply or not to apply heat on frets.
As the majority of the luthiers are using this technique to full out the frets.
My question is, is there any chance that the apply heat to the frets, would
any negative effect to the 2 piece neck glued together?
Any advice are well welcome.

TIA.

sirmyghin · Post by **sirmyghin** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 8:38 am

As they heat the fret directly, it is going to soften the glue around it much faster than anything else as heat conduction isn't the greatest through wood. Just leave it to a trust luthier and everything will be fine.

Post by **Craig** » Thu Apr 28, 2011 11:15 pm

sirmyghin wrote:As they heat the fret directly, it is going to soften the glue around it much faster than anything else as heat conduction isn't the greatest through wood. Just leave it to a trust luthier and everything will be fine.

However, G&L does not glue in their frets, so if heat is used just to soften the glue then heating is obviously unnecessary.

Hope this helps.

sirmyghin · Post by **sirmyghin** » Fri Apr 29, 2011 6:47 pm

Craig wrote:
sirmyghin wrote:As they heat the fret directly, it is going to soften the glue around it much faster than anything else as heat conduction isn't the greatest through wood. Just leave it to a trust luthier and everything will be fine.
However, G&L does not glue in their frets, so if heat is used just to soften the glue then heating is obviously unnecessary.

Hope this helps.

Good to know, thanks Craig.

samad · Post by **samad** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 1:19 am

Thank you very much craig,I was quiet dubious about using the solder iron.
Maybe someone with experience could give me some more tricks to do the refret job.
Im quiet decided, must be a good and bad experience, just like marriage.
Yeah i like to marry my guitar.

JeffR · Post by **JeffR** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:25 pm

Hi,

I'm going to attempt to post this pic of my frets. I had to use my macro setting and this is the first time I've tried to post a pic here so I hope it works.

[img][IMG]http://dc311.4shared.com/img/LXj6JHqq/0.6987858350024563/pic_2.JPG[/img][/img]

[img][IMG]http://dc346.4shared.com/img/86oFzY5D/0.44292935823896884/pic_2_2.JPG[/img]
[/img]

I don't know how many pics I should post or how many are allowed on this site. But thanks for any help or advice you can give me.

Craig,

Thanks for the lead to the shop in San Jose. It is hard to find a G&L dealer around here.

Thanks,

JeffR

yowhatsshakin · Post by **yowhatsshakin** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:40 pm

There is no real limit on the number of pictures you post. We're all ladies and gentlemen here on this forum. I simplified your pic to be inside a single [timage="640,480"] tags and the image addresses ( see post below). Apparently, this site is not able to establish the default size for your pic and using this tag you can force it. It shows the following message when using [img] tags: 'It was not possible to determine the dimensions of the image.'

There are some restrictions on the how pictures above 1000x1300 pixels need to be posted where you need to use a similar approach as used for your picture. Instructions fand more info on posting picture you'll find in the READ THIS FIRST - G&L Porn!!! post.

Hope this helps,

- Jos

Edit: Took out originally blurry picture in this post. Wasn't using the correct image address.

JeffR · Post by **JeffR** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 8:47 pm

Jos,

Thanks for the help. I'm not sure if the pic is too blurred to tell if the frets are worn though.

Thanks,

Jeff

yowhatsshakin · Post by **yowhatsshakin** » Sat Apr 30, 2011 9:01 pm

Hi Jeff,

I went through the exercise myself again and figured out to use the image URL and the correct size. The result for your picture looks like this in that case:

JeffR wrote:

Note again that if this site would have been able to figure out the correct size, you would have been able to include this pics just using the [img] tags
- Jos

sirmyghin · Post by **sirmyghin** » Sat May 07, 2011 9:06 am

A picture of the faces of the fret would likely be a better indication of what condition your frets are in. From the side, I can't tell you much, not even height wise given the photo is too dark.

steevlak · Post by **steevlak** » Sat May 07, 2011 9:14 am

Yeah, it might be tricky to right, but you'll need a good bit of light to be able to see the wear.

Guitars by Leo (aka "GbL")

Worn Frets on my G&L

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