Fret Dressing?

[Californiaman]

Wondering if anybody has had their frets dressed?

How much should I be willing to pay to have my frets done?

Not something I want to do myself.

[AXE®]

$35. $55.

[stein]

$35. $55.

Dang thats cheap.

 

For some reason..85-100 bucks comes to mind, only had it done once, maybe twice. But I honestly don't remember.

[AXE®]

I do my own but the local luthier and techs do it for that range depending on the condition of the frets.

 

Takes about an hour. Including the polish.

[stein]

I do my own but the local luthier and techs do it for that range depending on the condition of the frets.

 

Takes about an hour. Including the polish.

That makes sense. I figure 40 min to an hour...plus, you have strings and action, minor nut work.

 

100 bucks seems more than fair for an hour's work. But I know there are a lot of guys who work for less...especially if they aren't claiming.

[rocketman]

Got my Sonex done for $40 which included fixing the neck. It was torsionally warped, which is way beyond my abilities to fix. Fortunately, it's a bolt-on neck. He put some thin slices of wood in there to set it straight. Plays like brand new now.

[Dennis G]

$35. $55.

That sounds about right. I had my Wildkat setup a few months ago, along with a few other things (Gotoh bridge, etc.). Fret dress was included and it seems to me that was about right given the other stuff I had done.

 

And yeah, I think unless you have the tools and experience, this is best left to the pro's. I do a lot of my own stuff, but...

[tazzboy]

Yes I've had it done. My local did one on my guitar for free after he did setup that cost me $55.

[This_Dying_Soul]

I prefer Ranch. :P

[sneddy72]

I'm lucky enough to have a friend who will do refrets/fret dress for a couple of beers , he would normally charge £40 for a fretdress & polish

[LarryUK]

Imtaking my Les Paul in next week for it. I don't like the flat tops. I'm having them crowned and he's going to make me a new pick guard for my Charvel.

I might have a batch made and sell them on EBay as you can't buy them anywhere. The matt black one is ugly.

[pfox14]

It really depends on how much wear the frets have. Around $75 should be right

[Californiaman]

Well, I want to get my ES-175 done. It was built in 1988 so it's due. I play the hell out of this guitar and it just might be time. I don't see any obvious pitting or valley's in any of the frets. It's time for a tune up.

Thanks AXE® for the information.

You, as always, are the man.

[stein]

Well, I want to get my ES-175 done. It was built in 1988 so it's due. I play the hell out of this guitar and it just might be time. I don't see any obvious pitting or valley's in any of the frets. It's time for a tune up.

Thanks AXE® for the information.

You, as always, are the man.

I don't like to do a fret dress unless it is needed. There is only so much materiel to begin with, so I don't think it makes sense to do it just because it won't hurt.

 

I don't get obvious dents any valleys, mostly because I use a lot of vibrato. But as they wear, I will get buzzing on some frets that I don't on others. HOW bad it is IS the question as to fret dress or not. As soon as it gets a fresh dressing, the wear starts again anyway. So..if I did a fret dress every time a few fret got a little worn, there would be none left.

 

So, the question there is how much is the action raised to compensate, and what is there to gain in a dressing to make it worthwhile?

[AXE®]

A level and a slight crown may be all you need.

 

Same price less invasive.

[RaysEpiphone]

My Ibanez is in the shop for a set-up right now, don't know if my guitar dude is going to dress them or not, I looked at it not long ago and there where no string trenches on it so maybe not. Ive had an old (1960's) guitar's fret's dressed before. Sorry I can't remember if it was an extra charge (likely it was).