I Only Want a Fret Job With a Happy Ending.

[ElKabong]

So I bought this '75 LPC almost new in '76 and have played the snot out of it since then. The neck finish is not pristine. That's OK. But the frets are pretty worn. So, I contacted Gibson on the cost of a new fret-job. It's like a $grand that I would happily pay.

I'm thinking about driving this thing personally down to Memphis and sitting in the waiting room while the work is done. I'm thinking about breathing down the neck of the guy while he's refretting my baby. Am I wrong? I've never had a guitar refretted. Any regrets out there?

 

[Dogs of Doom]

will they plek it?

there's that guy in Nashville, that does plek, that supposedly does the best fret work, maybe get a quote from him...

 

[Im247frogs]

If it needs new frets it needs new frets. Do you really think taking it to Gibson is the way to go? there has to be someone else that can do the work just fine. Expect a wait. There's 1000's of guitars in the repair queue in NYC since covid started. Neither Gibson or anyone else will let you camp in their shop or parking lot.

 

[Dogs of Doom]

will they plek it?

there's that guy in Nashville, that does plek, that supposedly does the best fret work, maybe get a quote from him...

here you can find a pleker...

Plek Finder - Plek

Advanced Luthier Tools

plek.com

Glaser is the TN guy. I see Sweetwater does plek, in-house too... not sure if they have a full re-fret service though.

 

[RLW59]

Does the Gibson quote include saving the nibs (fret end binding)? That's a high price even for saving the nibs, but insanely high if they're gonna lose the nibs and extend the frets over the binding.

 

[ElKabong]

will they plek it?

there's that guy in Nashville, that does plek, that supposedly does the best fret work, maybe get a quote from him...

Yeah, it will be plecked. He quoted me a grand. This guitar, in particular, I don't think I'd trust to anybody else.

 

[NickkiC]

Is that quoted price for stainless steel frets? I had a ‘78 done with stainless steel, nut, Plek , new bridge & tailpiece back in late 2020. In shop for 8 weeks =$700. I supplied the bridge & tail, nibs are gone.

 

[ElKabong]

No, nickel fat frets. They'll live longer than me

 

[Rocktane]

The extra cost be for the happy ending.

 

[Im247frogs]

RetroFret in Brooklyn has a waiting list till the first week of august just for initial consultations. Didn’t get a price but I’m assuming w the idiotically high end sales they do, their fret work must be top notch

 

[FleshOnGear]

The extra cost be for the happy ending.

I dunno. Luthiers have rough hands, may not be so happy after all.

 

[ElKabong]

RetroFret in Brooklyn has a waiting list till the first week of august just for initial consultations. Didn’t get a price but I’m assuming w the idiotically high end sales they do, their fret work must be top notch

Never heard of them.

If it needs new frets it needs new frets. Do you really think taking it to Gibson is the way to go? there has to be someone else that can do the work just fine. Expect a wait. There's 1000's of guitars in the repair queue in NYC since covid started. Neither Gibson or anyone else will let you camp in their shop or parking lot.

That's OK, I'll be waiting across the street

 

[NickkiC]

Just don’t micro-manage and piss-off the tech.
Why so anxious?

 

[ElKabong]

Just don’t micro-manage and piss-off the tech.
Why so anxious?

Not anxious. I just want a happy ending

 

[NickkiC]

I can relate. Personally, I go through love/hate periods with the re frets on my guitars. The "newness feel" of the frets and finger board takes a while for myself to reunite with them, playing wise. Just a matter of breaking, playing the new work bak in tune.