Does this need a fret dress?

Asomodai

Hello all. 

I picked up a very cheap PRS SE Soapbar model. 

Its pretty beat up but plays and sounds quite nice. However I did notice that one of the frets under the G string is incredibly worn. The others are worn as well but not by this much. It still frets ok for the moment. 

Is this something the can be dressed out or would it require the fret to be replaced (or even a partial refret). 

It looks a little worse in real life then it does in the photo. 

https://imgur.com/SIfZHUw

WezV

Plenty or room for a fret dress 

Henrytwang

Looks like a light fret dress would sort it out, although it would probably play okay as it is.

ICBM

Yes, it would be a good idea, and as Wez said there is plenty of fret height left. The wear always looks worse than it is, and you won't really notice the frets being much lower.

Funkfingers

^
What they said.

If the majority of the wear is on the lowest four frets, the guitar has a bad case of beginneritis. A fret rocker tool will demonstrate how bad things are. A light fret dress and reprofile should see it right. Minor attention to the nut slots may also be appropriate.

Asomodai

Thanks for the advice gents. I have levelled some high frets before, but never a fret dress. I'll have to have a think whether this is something I can tackle, or just move on as it owes me little money.

ICBM

Funkfingers said:

If the majority of the wear is on the lowest four frets, the guitar has a bad case of beginneritis.

Not necessarily - the worst I've ever seen was on a 60s Gibson acoustic which was literally worn down to the wood in the G and D major positions, very heavily in C major, and almost nowhere else.

Played for forty years by a professional Scottish country/ceilidh-band guitarist...

57Deluxe

yeah - will be the better for it and you will then not be able to put it down!