Refretting

[foal30]

sadly the P Bass is on it's last legs in this regard
who has actually had this done to one of their prized possessions?

is their any dangers of having this done on a 'vintage' instrument? I want to be able to play the thing, not put it away for posterity.

[ryanmaiden]

I haven't had it done, but am seriously considering it for one of my guitars. Alan Farrow (Fretted Instrument Repair) has all the fancy tools for re-fretting, and he'll only replace the ones that need to be replaced, and will tidy them all up with a fret levelling and crowning. Peter Stephen in Lyttelton is also highly recommended, he's probably the most well known luthier in these parts, you're probably well aware of him.

[Jazzbass]

I refretted my '72P by myself.
Very easy job.
Hardest bit is levelling and smoothing out the edges.

[foal30]

Dr DIY

I couldn't deal with cornice mate. A refret is way beyond my capabilities.
http://www.nzmusic.com/node/16002

[Jazzbass]

LOL!
Ask a kid, mate!!

[sonicfantom]

Pay a pro to refret for a small price... Or ask a kid to whack away like your '76 Precision is a 2x4?

Hmm.

In terms of "vintage value", it depends on whether you're selling to a player or a collector.

Players put more emphasis on how well it... plays... (you wouldn't want to buy a pristine '51 Precision that plays and sounds absolutely crap, would you? Neither does anyone else.) If I ever buy a vintage, and it's hard to play from fret wear, it's getting a refret (and damn the collectors moaning about me ruining a "high-grade collectible classic".)

Collectors will generally knock the price down for every single modification, ding and paint fade that takes it further from "NOS" condition.

If the luthier is worth his salt, a refret will be almost indistinguishable from how the frets were brand new (except for the fact that you can play the thing properly now).

[foal30]

I can't see myself parting with the Precision, really cool bass.
2nd hand shop special too... lucky day that one

[sonicfantom]

In that case, give her some TLC and get a pro to refret.

This is just from me, but I'd rather pay someone else to do an excellent job than risk damaging my pride and joy.

[lettsbasses]

The general consensus here is spot on. Although refretting a guitar is not a big job, it does require a few specialized tools (fret hammer, fret nippers, flat mill file, angled mill file, fret dressing file, many grits of sandpaper/wet'n'dry, truss rod key, masking tape, long straight edge etc) all of which equates to maybe a couple hundred quid. You could get it done by a pro for way less than that. The most important tool you will need to achieve a decent fret job is experience which is priceless.