I have a '72 Deluxe Les Paul, the kind with the mini humbuckers. I actually bought it right about 72. I'm a major DIY person, both in electronics and other maintenance, and over the years have learned to do a good job maintaining and modifying this guitar, including fret leveling and re-dressing. Fortunately the Gibson frets seem to hold up well, but I've now leveled and redressed the frets 5 times over it's life. Needless to say, with Gibson frets being wide and low to begin with, there are only so many times you can do this, and I've now reached that point. And you can't just replace the neck as you can with a sttatt, so that's not even an option (At least I've never heard of replacing a Les Paul neck.)
So now I'm faced with the major dilemma of re-fretting. Besides the normal expertise, time and patience this requires, I think this fretboard is made of the kind of very hard wood Gibson once got in trouble for using, Ebony I think? In any case, any wood this old probably requires some kind of special penetrating oil treatment to even attempt to remove the old frets without splitting up the wood. Then there's the inlay (vinyl?) on the sides of the neck, which would be a pain to remove and probably just as much a pain to replace.
So maybe this is now out of my league. I love this guitar, and wouldn't mind investing is having an expert do it, but it makes sense for me to start here and get some education:
1. Would it even be possible for me to get the original size fret wire, side inlay material, a new nut?
2. I know the neck can't be removed, but maybe I could somehow remove the whole fingerboard and replace it? Then all I'd have to do is replace, followed by the usual fret leveling and dressing?
3. back to just re-fretting the existing fingerboard. If, as I'm starting to think, this is out of my league, about how much should I expect to pay?
Obviously that last consideration is important. I hate to be disloyal, but I'm not some collector looking to "restore and antique"... I just want to play the thing, and I'm not some pro with unlimited funds. Plus, there are some good copies out there (Sorry Gibson), sold significantly cheaper than my Les Paul cost me even back in '72! So if its going to cost more than a new instrument, I have to consider keeping my Les Paul for special situations for home use only ( while its frets are still usable), then buying a copy instrument and customizing it as I wish.
Opinions, as well as pointers to instructional videos, or even offers (probably better by private message) are welcome. I'll attach a couple of photos, if the forum will let me.
