Evening out the edge of frets - how big a job

Blueingreen

I had a Gibson refretted a couple of years ago.  In my naivety I thought the job was done to an ok standard at the time.  I wasn't playing the guitar much because Strat types were a better fit for projects I was involved in. 

Now I'd like to start playing the guitar again and I've realised the ends of the frets are not very well finished giving the neck a slightly rough feel. It's nothing very major but I'd ideally like to get them smoothed out. 

How significant a job would that be, and what would be a ball park cost?

Funkfingers

First things first. Does your Gibson have neck binding? If so, do the ends of the replacement frets overlap the binding?

richardhomer

I'd probably react violently to anyone trying to sign any of my guitars....

And a word of warning - any PRS guitar within a one mile radius of Paul Reed Smith IS going to get signed. He just can't help himself....

RandallFlagg

richardhomer said:

I'd probably react violently to anyone trying to sign any of my guitars....

And a word of warning - any PRS guitar within a one mile radius of Paul Reed Smith IS going to get signed. He just can't help himself....

Beyond random! Reply of the year for me! LOL'd

richardhomer

RandallFlagg said:

richardhomer said:

I'd probably react violently to anyone trying to sign any of my guitars....

And a word of warning - any PRS guitar within a one mile radius of Paul Reed Smith IS going to get signed. He just can't help himself....

Beyond random! Reply of the year for me! LOL'd

Posted on wrong thread - blame lack of sleep, due to heat...

Blueingreen

Funkfingers said:

First things first. Does your Gibson have neck binding? If so, do the ends of the replacement frets overlap the binding?

There's no binding.  I think there was before the refret but I wasn't bothered about replacing the binding.

Sassafras

richardhomer said:

I'd probably react violently to anyone trying to sign any of my guitars....

And a word of warning - any PRS guitar within a one mile radius of Paul Reed Smith IS going to get signed. He just can't help himself....

And I thought French existentialists were confusing.

usedtobe

Not too big a job. Should get it done in an evening..

Sassafras

'Hot dog' frets are my favourite fret ends but they're a lot of work.

rico

@Sassafras how did you manage to get your merkin into that photo?

Sassafras

rico said:

@Sassafras how did you manage to get your merkin into that photo?

I was leaning into it and it's a big merkin.

BigMonka

Blueingreen said:

Funkfingers said:

First things first. Does your Gibson have neck binding? If so, do the ends of the replacement frets overlap the binding?

There's no binding.  I think there was before the refret but I wasn't bothered about replacing the binding.

They took binding off then didn't replace it?? Doesn't sound right to me. Have you got a photo of the fret ends you're talking about?

Blueingreen

BigMonka said:

Blueingreen said:

Funkfingers said:

First things first. Does your Gibson have neck binding? If so, do the ends of the replacement frets overlap the binding?

There's no binding.  I think there was before the refret but I wasn't bothered about replacing the binding.

They took binding off then didn't replace it?? Doesn't sound right to me. Have you got a photo of the fret ends you're talking about?

I'm probably talking out of my hat.  I don't have the guitar as it's with a luthier for a totally unrelated repair.  I had been thinking of asking him to do this at the same time.

I'm getting confused between binding and nibs.  The nibs are gone. The binding I'm pretty sure is still there and also pretty sure the frets are overlapping it but I can't check just now.

Alvin

Are they rough or sticking out slightly ?    If just a bit rough , some fine wet and dry paper (P2400 ?) run along the edge on a flat block will polish them up  .

   If sticking out you can run an oilstone along them a couple of times to take them back to the wood then polish with the wet and dry . It is an easy and quick job to do but be carefull . An oilstone will take them down very quick so you don't need to apply any pressure . Be carefull of the angle , don't over do it as you can easily remove to much playing surface on the fret  . Just listen to the sound , you will hear it grinding on the metal , then when the sound goes dull you are done - you are down to the wood  (or lacquer) .
   This works better on unfinished rosewood or ebony and also if you have binding as if you go into the surface it won't have any clear to damage and will blend in smoother .
 
   If a lacquered (maple) fretboard you will also see the whitish colour of the lacquer when you start cutting into it . This is where you have to make a judgement as how far to go . You don't want to go down to bare wood unless you were going to respray it  but you could apply wax over it if you did (it would be difficult to spray at a later date if you did this ) . 
   When i have done this on lacquered boards  i usually stop just before as i touch the lacquer , the frets may still be sticking out slightly  but generally only noticeable when you are looking to find it and not when playing and that's the important part .      Then finish them with a quick polish with the fine wet and dry .   You can also use a fine file to round them off before the wet and dry,  it just depends on how much effort you want to put in .
 
    This might seem like hard work but it really isn't , i did this recently on a new guitar and it took less than an hour and i was taking my time   .
  

Blueingreen

Thanks, that's useful information, although I'm too cack-handed to attempt this myself. I'm thinking, first should I get it done or would it be too expensive to justify given it doesn't really affect the playability of the guitar (in fact I didn't even notice it at first); and second is it something I need to go to a specialist luthier for or should any reasonably competent luthier be able to do it.  From what you say it sounds like the latter. I'm going to ask my guy for a price and see what he says.

Blueingreen

Follow up to this I paid £40 to get the frets properly evened out.  Lesson learned - I won't be using the luthier who did the refret again.  His credentials were good, he was a decent guy to deal with, price was good and the job was substantially ok but he didn't take the trouble to finish it properly and it's cost me time and money.

57Deluxe

I misread the OP as 'An Evening out with the edge of frets..'.

Another great band name!