| Author |
Message |
Fg100
Username: Fg100
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 9:35 am: | |
Does it?
Can one tell if a guitar had its frets replaced? |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 12:28 pm: | |
Its kinda easy to spot a crappy binding job-look for uneven fret ends, split bindings, missing "tabs", frets with ends overhanging binding, and the lighter colored top edge of binding-a dead giveaway-now a real good pro job is way harder to spot... |
Bigmike
Username: Bigmike
Registered: 10-2002
| | Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 1:22 pm: | |
If you're a hardcore vintage collector and a '58 Strat has been refretted then the answer is probably yes (in the collector's mind). But if the person doing the fretwork is my guitar tech as a PLAYER I'd be very satisfied. Though on a '58 Strat he'd be reluctant to touch it because of the purist angle mentioned...
There aren't a lot of good techs that can do a righteous fret job. |
Fg100
Username: Fg100
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 5:15 pm: | |
Thanks for the comments Dave and Bigmike.
As a player I think that if it's needed it should be done.
I see a kind of tendency to depreciate re-fretted instruments. I agree that pickups, tailpieces, bridges, knobs and so on really change the originality... but the frets.... Wouldn’t it be like saying that a very collectable old Ferrari lost its value because the tires are not the originals from the factory? |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, May 28, 2005 - 10:19 pm: | |
Fg100:
Personally, I agree with you that vintage, but very payable instruments should not be "De"valued because of refretting. Hey, they weren't meant to be disposible items.
The one thing that will slightly devalue is if they alter the binding. Those that had the tabs on the end are too cool to lop off. But a good luthier will charge extra to retain them.
OTOH, I think you got to give extra credit to a guitar that has survived it's lifetime and still has the original frets. |
Fg100
Username: Fg100
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 9:07 am: | |
Oh yes! If it has the original frets still in playing conditions, bravo! No doubt!
Another question. You mentioned the extra work to keep the binding. What is the normal procedure, to put a new binding or is it possible to keep the original binding? (take and put back) |
Johns
Username: Johns
Registered: 02-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 10:40 am: | |
Fg100:
When I wrote binding, I should have been more specific. I meant the "tabs" on the few models that had them originaly. Although, I'm sure that other circumstances may cause even a non-tabbed, original binding to fail or become damaged and need replacing during a standard refret.
It was explained to me that the frets are more easily removed from the side, rather than pulling straight up. That's why removing the tabs is the normal procedure.
I have a 2617, 2622 and Scruggs with the tabs intact. The Scruggs could use a refret, but I don't really have the money to pay for the extra work needed to retain the tabs. I have another Scruggs that has had a refret and the tabs were removed. When I get to refret the first Scruggs, I want to do the job right. |
Dave_g
Username: Dave_g
Registered: 01-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:18 pm: | |
John, Your instincts are right here-save the tabs-I think astheticaly and from a collectors standpoint it is important to preserve them-afterall the tabs are a "Hallmark" of a quality build... |
Fg100
Username: Fg100
Registered: 03-2004
| | Posted on Sunday, May 29, 2005 - 12:46 pm: | |
Man I had never noticed that detail (tabs), I looked at some pictures in another thread... I can imagine how much work it is to remove the frets without breaking the tabs, and then fit new frets, again, without breaking the tabs...!!
What are/were the models that have/had tabs? |
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