Turned in my ASS for a refret...

[B2D]

Wandered into my local luthier shop today, and had a talk with the owner about my Axis... couldn't get it to play just right the way I liked, so I turned it over to a pro.

There was a little bit of a hump in the neck in the upper register, and the buzzing could've been fixed with a fret topping, but that would've taken the frets down lower than I would have been comfy with.

We came to the conclusion that for my style, leveling the fretboard and a refret with 6100's would be best. gonna be 2-3 weeks as they're backed up, but I'm feeling good about it.

An ASS with 6100s and Duncan Blackouts... thing is gonna be a Metal Machine when it gets out of the shop!!!

[megaroel]

damn thats sounds like a beast in the making i would lovr to know hoe that beast sounds with blackouts.

[panther_king]

Did ya get the stainless steel?

[B2D]

Did ya get the stainless steel?

Not this time. I'm not totally 100% sure I'm going to keep this guitar long enough for me to need them, so no reason to spend the extra $$ at this point.

Before I started using stainless steel frets, my frets would last for about 5-6 years and need a dressing or two in that time frame. If i own and play this axe long enough to need a refret, then I'll get stainless. 6100s feel about as good as stainless when they're polished, though.

[the24thfret]

Can you tell me more about the fret choice? I'm a novice to part numbers and especially fret variations.

[B2D]

Can you tell me more about the fret choice? I'm a novice to part numbers and especially fret variations.

Dunlop uses a 4-digit numbering system for their fretwire, and the different numbers correspond (though not directly) to different sizes.

Dunlop isn't the only choice, of course, but their product numbers for their fretwire seem to have caught on... don't ask me why.

Here's a copy of the chart we used today to pick my wire:



The luthier measured the 22nd fret on my Axis, which was clean and had very little wear and found it to be .097 wide x .045 high. That's close to the 6105 fretwire if I remember correctly (which is not on that chart, this is an older one).

The 6100 wire I chose is big, hard wire. You usually find it on "heavy metal" guitars but I've seen it on all kinds of axes. I think SRV liked 6100 or 6000 size on his strats. 6000 is so big it's almost like railroad tracks, haha. It's really easy to play on for me, bends and vibrato are especially nice. I have to be careful to not press down too much during slides, though.

I chose Dunlop for this refret because it's readily available, though I'd like to try JESCAR fretwire as well, i hear that stuff is VERY nice.

[LawDaddy]

I put some jumbos on my RW ASS after wearing my originals down after a few years, love them. I'm a bendy-blues player, and like the speed bumps.

[B2D]

I'm interested in hearing what you think of the frets once it's done.

On one hand, i'd like to get some 6100 stainless frets on my SuperSport but on the other hand, the fretwrok from the factory is just great and I hear the price is right for a factory re-fret.

I still dont know what I'll do when the time comes for a refret.

I actually did call the factory to see what a factory refret would cost, and while the price was VERY good, they told me they'd only refret the guitar with the fretwire it comes with stock. That fretwire is just a little bit on the small side for my taste.

[straycat113]

Hey B2D if you dont mind what was the price for the refret. Since you are in Cali and I am in NY prices in both states are pretty equal. I last had a guitar re fretted 8 years ago at 30st guitars in NYC and Mat did an amazing job on my Tele and it cost ne $300 which was cheaper than what I was quoted outside of the city. Just wondering what they are up to today.

[PaoloGilberto]

I will definitely go for stainless when I will refret my JP .
I think the stainless steel frets is one big minus for the JP in my opinion.
of course the guitar is for JP made and for sure he does not care about this having as many guitars as he wants
But for me , at the price this guitar is in europe , that is a concern.

My bigger problem is there are no qualified luthiers in Romania where I live.
that is for electric guitars luthiers , because in my town works 2 weeks /month one of the world's renown violin luthiers (Markus Barbarossa)

there are some people here doing this kind of luthier/tech job, but sometimes it ends great sometimes it turns to be a disaster.

when the time comes, I will ask here on forum , maybe the members who live in Europe can help me with a close location with a professional Luthier

[B2D]

Hey B2D if you dont mind what was the price for the refret. Since you are in Cali and I am in NY prices in both states are pretty equal. I last had a guitar re fretted 8 years ago at 30st guitars in NYC and Mat did an amazing job on my Tele and it cost ne $300 which was cheaper than what I was quoted outside of the city. Just wondering what they are up to today.

It's gonna run me $300 bucks, and that includes a refret, fretboard planing, new nut, and setup.

Only one place here will even bother with stainless frets, and it's a $400 job for that.

[the24thfret]

It's gonna run me $300 bucks, and that includes a refret, fretboard planing, new nut, and setup.

Only one place here will even bother with stainless frets, and it's a $400 job for that.

B2d I'm hitting you up with a PM now...

[B2D]

B2d I'm hitting you up with a PM now...

Hitcha back.

[tommyindelaware]

wow thats alot of doe......
why wouldnt you send to ebmm ????

It's gonna run me $300 bucks, and that includes a refret, fretboard planing, new nut, and setup.

Only one place here will even bother with stainless frets, and it's a $400 job for that.

[B2D]

wow thats alot of doe......
why wouldnt you send to ebmm ????

Because they will only refret the guitar with the fret wire size that came on it as stock. That may be fine for most people, and their price on a factory refret was VERY good. However, the stock ASS frets are a little on the small side for me to begin with, and a redress and crowning would've taken the frets down to a level that would've been very uncomfortable for me to play.

Additionally, they're gonna plane out a small rise in the upper register of the fretboard, cut a new nut, and do a full setup for me. It is a lot of $$ to spend on a refret, but these guys do top-notch work and are one of the few shops I trust with my Balls.

Here's their site: The Guitar Shoppe - Laguna Beach, CA 92651