Is $500 too much for a 1978 maple board Stingray Refret?

Baird6869 · #1 12-23-2011, 04:53 PM

A bit more context....

I have a 1978 maple board Stingray and the frets are toast. Worn out, uneven fret height and the bass is unplayable. Also, the bottom of the neck has a twist and swelled over the years.

So... To refret, plane, refinish the fretboard AND colour match the board (it has seriously yellowed over the years) is going to cost me $500.... But the bass will likely be perfect.

I bought the bass for $800, so I will be into this bass for $1300 after the refret. I love the bass and won't be selling it.

Would you spend the $500? I really love the bass and want to do this right. Other options are to pass on the colour matching (save $100) or just get refret (no planing, just different height frets) for $250 or so.

Is $500 too much? The place I am considering have do the work is the best in the country and do the highest quality work.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Thanks and happy holidays!

narud · #2 12-23-2011, 08:31 PM

500 is too much imo. 350-375 seems reasonable. id question a place charging extra to true the board during a refret. i know guys like lull and sadowsky put a premium on their name and status in the industry, but there are guys out there that do just as good of work. for reference, i paid 175 to get my 78 jazz trued and refretted from the 12th fret up. tinted poly to match the rest of the neck. i had the work done at national resophonic guitars.

honesty, even at 500, i would put the money into that bass in a heartbeat. thats a bass thats worth having perfect.

64jazz · #3 12-24-2011, 05:30 AM

Our local guru quoted $400 to do my Strat last year (no color matching) and considering the level of his work, it seemed a fair deal to me. There may be cheaper options in your area but considering the instrument, I'd just pay the $500 and have the job done right. Supporting local business is something I tend to focus on and that frequently carries a bit of a premium, too.

JLS · #4 12-24-2011, 08:07 AM

Nope, not for a neck that effed up.

Baird6869 · #5 12-24-2011, 08:22 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Decided to have the work done.

The 12th fret in Toronto has always done great work for me in the past. I can get the work done elsewhere for $350, but the piece of mind of knowing it will look/play great is worth the extra $150 to me!

Now the 3-4 week wait begins. Damned nitrocellulose!

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Happy Festivus, etc. :-)

Johntheson · #6 12-24-2011, 09:29 AM

I can tell you this much; Dan Erlewine wants $750 to do a maple board Fender; and that doesn't count S&H. Now I thought that was too high, and opted out. I was able to buy a new neck for that, to have as a spare, and am going to still refret the other neck a bit later,

happyg · #7 12-24-2011, 01:49 PM

Is the peace of mind worth it? IMO it is. Since you aren't selling the bass, I think you make the right move. Post a picture when it comes back. I'd love to see it.

Baird6869 · #8 12-24-2011, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by happyg

Is the peace of mind worth it? IMO it is. Since you aren't selling the bass, I think you make the right move. Post a picture when it comes back. I'd love to see it.

Will do. Thx...

grendle · #9 12-24-2011, 03:35 PM

They sound about right. A straight refret here in FL by 2 different reputable shops is $275. + $225 for replaining, recutting the slots , and color matching sounds about right.

If you love the bass, which you probably do to have kept it for so long, go for it.