Members Siwash Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 My first position Cowboy Chords frets are flattening out a bit. How can you tell when you need new frets? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lz4005 Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Look at them from the side and the top. If they're really noticeably shorter or more flattened than the frets higher up on the neck (whichever ones you play on the least) then they're worn out. A caliper/depth gauge might help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members herbie d Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ha,ha! When I take them to the guitar tech do get the frets dressed because of string buzz, and he says, "Dude, there's nothing left to dress, and the finish is gone between the frets, as well". I eat frets, the Telecaster I gig on is on it's 5th set. This last time I had SS frets put in. He says I won't have to change those again. They look like the day he put them on 2 years later.Really... When the frets get worn to a point, if you bend strings much, you push more wood the thinner the fret are. (as when worn down) If you don't bend strings much, just taking the guitar to someone to adjust the neck and dress the frets can make a huge difference. Alot cheaper than a fret job as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StringJunky Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 When your truss-rod starts interfering with your bends, you need new frets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ha,ha! When I take them to the guitar tech do get the frets dressed because of string buzz, and he says, "Dude, there's nothing left to dress, and the finish is gone between the frets, as well". I eat frets, the Telecaster I gig on is on it's 5th set. This last time I had SS frets put in. He says I won't have to change those again. They look like the day he put them on 2 years later.Really... When the frets get worn to a point, if you bend strings much, you push more wood the thinner the fret are. (as when worn down) If you don't bend strings much, just taking the guitar to someone to adjust the neck and dress the frets can make a huge difference. Alot cheaper than a fret job as well.+1 For me a guitar needs taller frets when I bend and the string feels like it's trying to slip out from under my fingertip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RevRomansky Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ha,ha! When I take them to the guitar tech do get the frets dressed because of string buzz, and he says, "Dude, there's nothing left to dress, and the finish is gone between the frets, as well". I eat frets, the Telecaster I gig on is on it's 5th set. This last time I had SS frets put in. He says I won't have to change those again. They look like the day he put them on 2 years later.Really... When the frets get worn to a point, if you bend strings much, you push more wood the thinner the fret are. (as when worn down) If you don't bend strings much, just taking the guitar to someone to adjust the neck and dress the frets can make a huge difference. Alot cheaper than a fret job as well. Amen, brother. If you DO get a refret job, consider using jumbo bass frets. More bang for the buck, you're fingers will adjust within a week, and it just might last for the life of the guitar. Nut adjustment should be included in the price, usually don't need a bridge saddle adjustment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Terry Allan Hall Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 Ha,ha! When I take them to the guitar tech do get the frets dressed because of string buzz, and he says, "Dude, there's nothing left to dress, and the finish is gone between the frets, as well". I eat frets, the Telecaster I gig on is on it's 5th set. This last time I had SS frets put in. He says I won't have to change those again. They look like the day he put them on 2 years later.Really... When the frets get worn to a point, if you bend strings much, you push more wood the thinner the fret are. (as when worn down) If you don't bend strings much, just taking the guitar to someone to adjust the neck and dress the frets can make a huge difference. Alot cheaper than a fret job as well. I've been considering SS frets next refretting, myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Grant Harding Posted August 30, 2011 Members Share Posted August 30, 2011 I can second the SS frets - I've been playing them on my main electric (the one that gets the most abuse) for several years now and there's not a mark on them. The feel is really great too, probably because of the lack of imperfections. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members herbie d Posted August 31, 2011 Members Share Posted August 31, 2011 Yea, they feel really slippery. I love them as well. Its funny alot of guys told me they make the guitar sound more trebley. I asked the guitar tech about this, and he said, "yea, maybe a little. Do you have tone controls on your amp?" I looked down at my feet and said,"ah...yea). That guitar screams!I've been gigging alot on the new Martin 000-15m I got. I bet those frets don't last long. I wonder if they'd ruin that guitar. I mean I mostly play it amplified. IDK. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kwakatak Posted August 31, 2011 Members Share Posted August 31, 2011 I suspect my Larrivee is ready for a new set. I don't do much string bending but the "cash register" region of the neck shows some visible wear underneath the top 4 strings. Not that they were any good to begin with. The OEM frets Larrivee uses are nickle and they don't dress the ends well at all either. I'll have to check out some SS frets for it. Has anybody here ever done their own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members herbie d Posted August 31, 2011 Members Share Posted August 31, 2011 Yes. One of the sets on my tele I did myself. Was not easy, had to buy more tools than I thought, took way longer than I thought. It was sort of a nightmare. SS would be the worst to try as a 1st I think. Very hard material.I'll try my hand at it again some day, on a beater guitar. I suspect my Larrivee is ready for a new set. I don't do much string bending but the "cash register" region of the neck shows some visible wear underneath the top 4 strings. Not that they were any good to begin with. The OEM frets Larrivee uses are nickle and they don't dress the ends well at all either. I'll have to check out some SS frets for it. Has anybody here ever done their own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FretFiend. Posted August 31, 2011 Members Share Posted August 31, 2011 Back on topic... How can you tell when you need new frets? You need new frets when the divots in them are too deep, or they are filed too low from previous repairs. Again, something a tech or luthier knows best. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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