Axis Re-Fret

[jem5150]

I'm fortunate enough to own 3 Axis guitars and 2 Van Halen signatures. I love these guitars..simple, effective and play incredible. My favorite Axis is starting to show some major fretware. I'd like to refret the guitar instead of a grind and polish because I find the frets on the small side to begin with. Does anyone have any suggestions on who I should use for this job ? Thanks... Great forum too, I'll try and post some pics.

 

[silverburst]

Where are you located? Roger Sadowsky and Peekamoose in NY are fantastic, Gary Brawer in SF is excellent, but really slow.

 

[Quarter]

I hear they go a good job over in Repairadise

 

[glockaxis]

Silverburst, who would be a good tech to go to in the LA, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside area? I haven't heard of a decent one here in the Palm Springs area so I'm expecting to travel to the areas listed above. Thanks

 

[silverburst]

Hiya. Locally, I would go with Steve Soest (I think in Dana Point), or James Trussart in Echo Park. Steve Soest is #1 in my book.

Rex

 

[silverburst]

Or...why not call EBMM to see if they could do it. They built it in the first place and every new guitar and bass I buy from them has kick-ass fret jobs on them. The worst they could do is say no.

 

[fsmith]

I hear they go a good job over in Repairadise

Absolutely. Send it back to EBMM and let Jon work his magic. He did the refret on my AL and did a fantastic job. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Great price and fast turn around.

fred

 

[tommyindelaware]

+1 for sending it to reparadise !!!!
JUAN GUITAREZ .
the best place you can send it is back to where it was made.
& they will give you a VERY fair price .
he's done 2 of my geetars......& he's simply the best you can get !!!!

Absolutely. Send it back to EBMM and let Jon work his magic. He did the refret on my AL and did a fantastic job. I wouldn't go anywhere else. Great price and fast turn around.

fred

 

[kbaim]

Hiya. Locally, I would go with Steve Soest (I think in Dana Point), or James Trussart in Echo Park. Steve Soest is #1 in my book.

Rex

That's 10 minutes from me!

Still, I always feel better when SLO does it.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

Where are you located? And more importantly.....Pics!!!

 

[jem5150]

Thanks guys I think I'm going to give EBMM a call and see if they'll do it. I'll post pics soon.....

 

[King Hazel!]

+1 for sending it to reparadise !!!!
JUAN GUITAREZ .
the best place you can send it is back to where it was made.
& they will give you a VERY fair price .
he's done 2 of my geetars......& he's simply the best you can get !!!!

+ 1 more for sending it to Juan! He's put the love on a bunch of my guitfiddles and he damn sure is simply the best you can get!!

 

[geektard]

Does anyone have any suggestions on who I should use for this job?

Have you ever consider Plek? I mean since you're gonna refret the whole thing...

who would be a good tech to go to in the LA, Orange County, San Bernardino, Riverside area?

I highly recommend Michael Tuttle in Santa Clarita. Amazing fret job!

 

[jazzbo jim]

Have you ever consider Plek? I mean since you're gonna refret the whole thing...

I thought Jon's last name was "Smith" not "Plek"...?

 

[tommyindelaware]

i guess if you want a robot to do yer neck........you counld always send it to ebmm & let ursula do it.......

not too many top guitar manufacturers offer masterfully done factory refrets !!!!!

if u send it to ebmm there will be no wondering if it will turn out well....& if the robot was properly programed for the ernie ball geetar. not to mention that u will probably save some money.

plek is a great thing....don't get me wrong.......but as great as it is.....it's FAR from mistake free. believe me there ARE horror stories and band refrets from plek users. i personally have fix a couple myself. nor is it as good as a factory ebmm refret by a master to factory spec..
i'd leave the plek to have it's way w/ fender.....prs.....gibsons & such. you know.....companys that don't offer factory refrets.

 

[geektard]

I thought Jon's last name was "Smith" not "Plek"...?

[spin] uhmmm... it's his middle name- yup, Jon "Plek" Smith... [/spin]

Seriously, you guys all sent the guitar back to Jon for refret (when needed)? I mean, I'm like, 3500 miles away from Reparadise, I'd think the chances between an experienced local luthier & UPS screwing up my guitar are about even...

BTW, isn't Ursula the machine does the body polish in the factory?

 

[fsmith]

[spin] uhmmm... it's his middle name- yup, Jon "Plek" Smith... [/spin]

Seriously, you guys all sent the guitar back to Jon for refret (when needed)? I mean, I'm like, 3500 miles away from Reparadise, I'd think the chances between an experienced local luthier & UPS screwing up my guitar are about even...

BTW, isn't Ursula the machine does the body polish in the factory?

Absolutely! I've sent 3 guitars back to SLO for different reasons (1 refret) just so I could get a little bit of Jon's TLC. The cross country trip didn't bother me in the least. Maybe I've been lucky but I've shipped guitars to all points on the globe, Canada, UK, Australia and have never had a problem.

The choice is yours, but if you want it to come back factory fresh then send it out and let Jon take care of it.

And yes, Ursula is the buffing robot... talk about a cool piece of machinery!!! I was amazed when I saw it in action.

fred

 

[Colin]

do you have to send the whole guitar to EBMM, or can you just send the neck?

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

You probably could just send the neck, but then you would have to do a set-up, and possibly shim, adjust the nut etc. For the sake of the hassle, you might as well send the whole guitar!

 

[Larry]

Tim's got a good point. If it was me I'd send the whole thing.