Do SX basses have glued-in frets?

[fourstringbliss]

I'm planning on refretting an SX bass neck - would the frets have been glued in? Do I need to heat them with a soldering iron before I pull them?

[Mastermold]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I'm planning on regretting an SX bass neck - would the frets have been glued in? Do I need to heat them with a soldering iron before I pull them?

Don't know, but my luthier said the frets kept popping out of mine when he was doing a dress.

[esa372]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

I'm planning on regretting an SX bass neck...

...for how long?

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by esa372

...for how long?

Did I say regretting?

I meant refretting! Darn autocorrect!



I might end up regretting the refretting, though...

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by Mastermold

Don't know, but my luthier said the frets kept popping out of mine when he was doing a dress.

It doesn't sound like they are, then.

[JasonLamb]

yes, always use heat to allow the fret to come out easier.

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by JasonLamb

yes, always use heat to allow the fret to come out easier.

Be very careful doing this on a maple board. You'd be surprised how quick a fret can get hot enough to scorch your fret lines for you.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

Be very careful doing this on a maple board. You'd be surprised how quick a fret can get hot enough to scorch your fret lines for you.

Yeah, that was my concern! I don't want to scorch the wood or the finish. My soldering iron has an adjustable heat setting - how hot should I make it for heating the frets?

Would it just be better to put a back bow in the neck with the truss rod? I saw that Dan Erlewine did this with clamps for taking the frets out of a maple fretboard.

[bassbully]

Originally Posted by Mastermold

Don't know, but my luthier said the frets kept popping out of mine when he was doing a dress.

Nice!

[Rip Topaz]

Originally Posted by fourstringbliss

Yeah, that was my concern! I don't want to scorch the wood or the finish. My soldering iron has an adjustable heat setting - how hot should I make it for heating the frets?

Would it just be better to put a back bow in the neck with the truss rod? I saw that Dan Erlewine did this with clamps for taking the frets out of a maple fretboard.

I'm not honestly sure so I'll wait for someone with more experience about the truss rod. That sounds kinda scary to me.

As for the temp, it depends on the glue used. In this case it was probably some weird glue we've never seen before. Start low and wiggle the fret lightly back and forth to loosen it.

[fourstringbliss]

Originally Posted by Rip Topaz

I'm not honestly sure so I'll wait for someone with more experience about the truss rod. That sounds kinda scary to me.

As for the temp, it depends on the glue used. In this case it was probably some weird glue we've never seen before. Start low and wiggle the fret lightly back and forth to loosen it.

Scratch the backbow idea - dumb.

I have fret pullers so I probably won't need that much glue if any. Is the heat just for glue? I had a badly seated fret in my other SX and I pulled it with no glue issue (although there might have been some under the tang).