I took my guitar into the shop yesterday to get a fret job. I got the call later that day that it will need 8 frets replaced and will take around 1 to 2 weeks. Yikes! I miss it already! It is like having a child in the hospital except you cannot go and visit it!
My question to you is how often does your fretted instruments need worked on? Last time I had this done was back in '97. It was only the first three frets back then.
I am also finding that it is usually the first, second and third string area that gets worn down.
On 2002-07-31 09:19, hillfolk22 wrote:
My question to you is how often does your fretted instruments need worked on? Last time I had this done was back in '97. It was only the first three frets back then.
Laura
My Whyte Laydie banjo was made in 1903. I’m pretty sure it’s never had a fret job. It needs it though. I’ve had more than 20 years.
Laura,
That’s agood reason to play nylon strings. In 30 years i’ve never needed to get fret work done. Those steel strings are murder in the frets.
Mike
I got my guitar probably 4-5 years ago as a christmas present from my Mom, and I’ve only had the strings replaced twice… (but I usually don’t play really regularly…)This last time I took it in, I got the strings replaced, and the guy did some neck adjustments, as well as some other standard maintenance such as oiling…
So I probably, on average, take it in about once every 2 years.
All the years I played in rock bands I can only recall one guitar player having a fret job. He owned an import and wanted heavy frets like Gibson.
I’ve seen frets dressed where they would lightly file or sand all the frets taking a small amount off the entire fretboard or file an area that had a high spot but nothing more serious than that. These were professional conditions where the guitarist played 2-3 hours each day. They could go several years before needing any attention.
Laura, you must be one mean bad-to-da-bone guitarist!
Are you using stainless steel strings? I hear they are rough on frets.
My most loved Strat is 12 yesrs old. It is played a LOT. I have never had it refretted. My luthier has only needed to level & dress the frets. Did you get a second opinion? A fret leveling is less that $50 and a complete fret replacement S/B less than $150.
Even my 40 year old Gibson Melody Maker hasn’t needed a fret replacement.
Maybe it’s the capo? I don’t use one (learned to transpose in my head while playing long ago, bc every time I put a capo on the guitar I had to retune, which annoyed me). I had a little fretwork done on my '69 Gibson sometime in the 70s, but it hasn’t needed anything like that since.
Don’t go into shock now but I can relate. Most classical guitarists need a fret job about every 3 years. That’s a lot of practice and performing with nylon.
A good fret job in the Bay Area is about $300 last time I checked. You have to pay that for the kind of work that is perfect and guaranteed. I am sure we pay more here like everything else.
Most guitars need fretwork of some sort but the people don’t realize it. When you live on the guitar for 4-6 hours a day, you notice everything.
When you still have enough meat on the frets, its possible to replace a few then the whole fretboard is milled down to even it out. But after a while, they will be so flat that the instrument becomes sluggish. When you get the new job, its very exciting because you have so much bounce back.
We have one of the finest guitar-repairmen in the wide world, John Mello, here in Bay Area. He has restored antique instruments and works on classical guitars for the finickiest of customers like me. If you reach a point of needing major work with a very valuable instrument, I urge you to contact him. I have seen hundreds of his repairs, played his own guitars etc and I have never seen better work. Of course I get no cut for recommending him but I rue the day he retires.
It does depend on the player. Are you pressing harder than you need to? The strings you use can have big effect also, but sound gets in the way here. If you are partial to heavier gauge then thats that, but you may want to try a lighter string. The string material has an effect as well, 80/20 Phospher Bronze is harder then a pure bronze and will wear the fret down quicker. I personaly find phoshers to bright so I use regular bronze light guage by John Pearse. They are great strings, feel and sound fantastic.
When you say the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd string are you talking about the low strings? These are usualy the ones that do the most damage and they would actualy be the 6th 5th and 4th.
I used to do a ton of refrets back in my luther days, and they are quite common. More often then not though you should be able to get at least one redressing out of them before they need to be replaced, unless you let them get real bad. That repair tech may be taking you for a ride. Sorry to say but it might be the truth. Of course I can’t say for sure unless I saw them…OK I’ll shut up now.
I wish I were a mean bad-to-da bone player.
But I am not. Just average player.
I use Martin Studio Performance light Phosphor bronze strings. They hardly ever break.
Now I am beginning to wonder!!! I am friends of the son of the luthier to whom is Martin certified. The last fret job I got was filed down and redressed. My impression with this time is he will be putting new ones in. Hmmm… for that price… I am going to give him a call…
Like I mentioned before the first, second and third string… which is the lighter guage first three strings… frets had major grooves in the first four frets. (talk about a running sentence!!) Which created a major buzz…Couldn’t stands it no longer.
Hmmm… how can you press too hard?
I do not think I am pressing down too hard.
The fingers are not bleeding.
I do have major grooves in my finger tips when I am done playing.
Not sure if I would like using nylon strings. I love the sound of steel.
There are even different grades of fretwire by softness and width so that could be a factor. Just play what you want and consider fretwork the price of having fun!!!
I’ve played a Martin guiter since 1968,
light steel strings, and never had
a fret job–I played it a lot. It needs
a fret job, but only at the top of
the neck near the guitar body–and I
can play it fine anyway. I think you
ought to get a second opinion.
I have had a Yamaha 12 string for almost 8 years now. Still have the original frets. I play it fairly often, but not as often as 5 hours every day.
I also end up with gooves in my fingers, guess I’m pressing too hard on the strings, and probably squeezing to hard with my thumb.
I use the guitar alot in worship, and it’s sure hard to play the guitar and the whistle at the same time. Talk about multi-tasking!!
I just bought a Yamaha Silent Violin - VS120 (no frets, so I won’t have to have them replaced). Got it for half price, had my first lesson which went very well.
On 2002-07-31 13:31, The Weekenders wrote:
Most guitars need fretwork of some sort but the people don’t realize it. When you live on the guitar for 4-6 hours a day, you notice everything.
My late grandfather (may he rest in peace), a fine fingerstyle guitarist, definitely spent hours a day on his guitar, and didn’t get fretwork done. He was nitpicky about his music, too. I now have his 1950’s era Gibson electric, which is in good shape, despite constant playing.
On 2002-07-31 17:40, The Weekenders wrote:
There are even different grades of fretwire by softness and width so that could be a factor. Just play what you want and consider fretwork the price of having fun!!!
You know I am beginning to wonder that.
When I got my Martin around 94, I had to have it refretted by 97. Did not play it half as much as I do now. And you could see noticable fret wear.
So perhaps it is something Martin has done recently to their newer guitars.
