Unusual fretwear on my Epiphone

[jadm110]

I don't think that I could get a picture up to the forum that would show any definitive proof or way or the other. I have seen the postings from 2005-2008 I don't know where the EP/ LP's where made in that time . mine was made in Indonesia and assembled in Nashville in 2012. From what I could read on the internet this seemed to be a good production period.

( may-be not as good as I have read)

 

So for the Epiphone Les Paul owners out there how did you resolve this problem? did you go for the fret leveling , then finally a fret replacement? It would seem that you would have more into the guitar than it's worth.

[LPS1976]

I don't think that I could get a picture up to the forum that would show any definitive proof or way or the other. I have seen the postings from 2005-2008 I don't know where the EP/ LP's where made in that time . mine was made in Indonesia and assembled in Nashville in 2012. From what I could read on the internet this seemed to be a good production period.

( may-be not as good as I have read)

 

So for the Epiphone Les Paul owners out there how did you resolve this problem? did you go for the fret leveling , then finally a fret replacement? It would seem that you would have more into the guitar than it's worth.

 

the LP's would have been made in Indonesia, China, and Korea. none would have been assembled in the USA. the only Epiphones assembled in the US in this time period (2000's) would have been Lennon Casinos or JLH Sheratons.

 

do the frets on yours have indents where the strings were pressed down? you may be able to get away with replacing damaged frets rather than all of them and then having them leveled and crowned. if you could remove the strings or loosen them to get an up close picture of the frets that might be able to give a visual of the wear your talking about.

[jadm110]

mine was made in Indonesia and assembled in Nashville in 2012.

it has a sticker on the back head stock saying assembled in Nashville ( it could be fake) I hadn't considered it

 

I will have to contact epiphone with the # and ask where it was made

[LPS1976]

mine was made in Indonesia and assembled in Nashville in 2012.

it has a sticker on the back head stock saying assembled in Nashville ( it could be fake) I hadn't considered it

 

I will have to contact epiphone with the # and ask where it was made

 

are you sure it doesn't say "set up and inspected in the US"?

[Pinch]

Ricochet:

 

I inspected mine, and I've played it a lot since I bought it in Feb. I'd say my wear is normal - you can tell it's been played, but that's it. No different from other I've owned in the past.

 

And btw, entirely agree with you - when my Epi needs a re-fret, I'm not chancing the sound on stainless steel. I want it EXACTLY like this.

[Steve112]

It's my favourite by far. I pick it up whenever I feel like it, which happens a lot! Also I'm too lazy to plug it in and just **** around with it for an hour playing acoustically and really milk those notes. Alltho I consider myself a lighthanded player that may have contributed to the wear somewhat. Still, I'm a bit baffled. The last guitar that showed this kind of wear I played for 20 years...

Well, there ya go, you've given the reason it is showing wear. I've a year and a half old Dot that is my go to player at home. Always out of the case on a hanger right beside me. I reach for it every day, my most played guitar. I'm taking it to my tech next week to get a fret level, crown and polish. When a guitar is played a lot, 1 - 2 years is more than sufficient to warrant a fret job. I've seen no reason to suspect Epiphone of using inferior fret-wire, they seem to wear about the same as my two Fender Strats.

Just noticed the necro-thread........Doh!

[jmendoza]

Fret wear will depend on the materials the fret and string are made of, the fret width and the string gauge, and the amount you play. Wider frets will tend to wear less, smaller strings will cut into the fret faster, hard alloy strings will wear the frets more. I found my 2005 Peerless Regent needed a fret dressing and had flat spots, so after I did that, I changed the strings from .011 to .012, and went with TIs because they are a softer alloy. You are lucky to have enough time to play guitar enough to wear out the frets!! Virtually all steel string guitars, with the exception of those using stainless steel frets, use an alloy that is softer than the strings. The reason is because strings made from a soft alloy of steel don't sound very good.

[bobouz]

the only Epiphones assembled in the US in this time period (2000's) would have been Lennon Casinos or JLH Sheratons.

And just to be totally clear, this does not include the "inspired by" series (built in China or Indonesia).

 

The USA series Lennon Casino & Hooker Sheraton both had a body built in Japan by Terada, which was then shipped to Gibson in Nashville for installation of Gibson hardware & final assembly. Initial year of construction was 2000. These are generally considered to be the highest quality Asian-made Casinos & Sheratons produced to date, and are the only foreign made Epiphones to have truly been assembled by Gibson in the USA.

[Cougar]

Yes, all my guitars show some fret wear on close inspection, but the Epi seems to have unusual fret wear for the year that I have played it under 10 hours a week.

 

In my eyes, that's quite a bit of playing, Dave! Of course, I'm not gigging...

 

...sure the frets may need a level or crown job done but unless they are completely damaged a total re-fret seems extreme.

I inspected mine, and I've played it a lot since I bought it in Feb. I'd say my wear is normal - you can tell it's been played, but that's it. No different from other I've owned in the past.

When a guitar is played a lot, 1 - 2 years is more than sufficient to warrant a fret job.

 

Right, on all counts. Any guitar, over its lifetime, will need work done on it to keep it well set up (especially acoustics, and especially 12-strings ).

[Pinch]

When my LP Plustop Pro needs a re-fret down the line (apparently "medium jumbo" frets), what fretwire should I ask for, by the way? I want pretty much the exact same fret size and sound, with high quality fretwire. Any experts out there have any suggestions?

 

Yup, it's a bit premature to say the least, but... you know. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I think it's starting to show some wear already, and it's a bit early for that. We'll see how it looks six months from now.

[Miguello]

My unknown year Epiphone SG has low spots under the strings mostly in the first five frets or so. Of course I have no reference, since I have owned it less than a week, and don't know how much it got played, or how hard.

[Johnny 6 String]

Well, there ya go, you've given the reason it is showing wear. I've a year and a half old Dot that is my go to player at home. Always out of the case on a hanger right beside me. I reach for it every day, my most played guitar. I'm taking it to my tech next week to get a fret level, crown and polish. When a guitar is played a lot, 1 - 2 years is more than sufficient to warrant a fret job. I've seen no reason to suspect Epiphone of using inferior fret-wire, they seem to wear about the same as my two Fender Strats.

Just noticed the necro-thread........Doh!

 

 

 

Necro thread but it is getting a bit of attention so...I've a number of Epi's from '98 to 2010, I've yet to encounter any that truly need a re-fret (not to say it can't happen), but from my experience a level, crown, and polish is usually all they need (sometimes just a good polish). Of coarse if they've been leveled a number of times or shaved down to get rid of divots from hits then a re-fret could easily be required. I normally play at least a couple hours a day (or more if I can).

 

Johnny