refreting a luke

[gerry d]

Hey everyone, my Luke is in need of a refret as it is my main guitar and gets played more than any other.. I was wondering has anyone refretted theirs with a slightly larger fretwire and what where the results..? I love the guitar but always felt the frets were a little small and low for me... any thoughts..?

 

[Lou]

Do you really need to get a refret? A fret level is usually appropriate and can be done several times before frets need to be replaced. Since you are not a fan of the lower frets, a refret might be better in your situation. Since you are thinking of going bigger, a new nut will be needed as well.

 

[gerry d]

well I had the guitar stoned once, the frets are quite low and I have other guitars with bigger frets which feel nicer when bending strings, don't get me wrong the Luke is a far superior instrument and sounds incredible but sometimes I think for me in any case a taller and wider fret would feel nicer, I have a friend with a JP and his guitar feels great even though it is a completely different neck.. I'm interested to find out if anyone else here has done this and what the end result was, I know this was made to Luke's spec's so thats what we get and I respect that.. great guitars these EBMM's..

 

[Lou]

A refret is not too big of a deal on these guitars because there is no binding or anything to complicate. Find yourself a good repair guy who you trust and it should be an easy job for someone with the experience.

 

[glockaxis]

Can't you send it in to EBMM and pay they for a refret? It might just do a factory refret but I believe it is possible. Jon can you clarify?

 

[kbaim]

Wondering if Tommyindelaware has refretted his Luke with bigger fretwire? I think he once mentioned he prefers a particular brand that's bigger than the one eb uses.

 

[beej]

Wondering if Tommyindelaware has refretted his Luke with bigger fretwire? I think he once mentioned he prefers a particular brand that's bigger than the one eb uses.

I do recall the same thing. Of course Tommy's got skills ... can't say I'd tackle a refret on one of my axes

 

[jongitarz]

Can't you send it in to EBMM and pay they for a refret? It might just do a factory refret but I believe it is possible. Jon can you clarify?

We would do a refret, but with the same wire

 

[tommyindelaware]

i think the luke may be the only ebmm model that uses the smaller 50's style fretwire. even a new luke has smaller frets that aren't very tall. thats the way luke wants it.........& it dang sure works for him !!!!!

i REALLY like the stew-mac #155 fretwire. Medium Fretwire at Stewart-MacDonald
it's narrow like the luke"s original fretwire......but a fair amount taller....resulting in easier string bending , and 2 or 3 more fret dressings before refreting is needed again.
luke fretwire is not very tall to begin with. the advantage of shallower frets is better intonation when aggressive playing is happening. the taller the wire.....the more careful you have to be to not squeeze the notes sharp.
my luke is still stock though.

Wondering if Tommyindelaware has refretted his Luke with bigger fretwire? I think he once mentioned he prefers a particular brand that's bigger than the one eb uses.

 

[tommyindelaware]

We would do a refret, but with the same wire

one coming your way hopefully this week. my main geetar.
my right elbow is ate up w/ tennis elbow. i did a fret dressing last week on dr. bongo's bongo ........ & boy did i pay on the gigs w/ my picking pain.

 

[Tim O'Sullivan]

I have Stewmac 149 Wire on two of my Axi' and I really like the way it feels.