I bought a defretted Mahogany/Ebony L-1000 today. Does anyone know the proper size for the fret wire?
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1980 G&L L-1000
- Thread starter Craig_S
- Start date
Just saw the photo in another thread. Nice looking bass !
Let me know how the refret goes...
I have an '82 L-2000e here that the teeth were pulled on.
Even the good luthiers are balking at refretting it.
They say it is a lot tougher than it might look, and that the original fret is easier than trying to resurrect a board with the teeth pulled.
Would actually love to find a jazz neck for this baby, and get it bumpin' again !
Let me know how the refret goes...
I have an '82 L-2000e here that the teeth were pulled on.
Even the good luthiers are balking at refretting it.
They say it is a lot tougher than it might look, and that the original fret is easier than trying to resurrect a board with the teeth pulled.
Would actually love to find a jazz neck for this baby, and get it bumpin' again !
It won't be the first time I've done the job. The last one, like this, went off without a hitch. It was a rosewood board, though.
I'm not sure why they would balk at the job, unless your fretboard was damaged. Is it a maple board? Is it torn up? Are the slots chipped out? Did someone try to re-cut the slots with a hacksaw (I've seen it before)? I don't get it, at all. The frets have to be pulled for a complete re-fret, anyway.
I'll let you know how the refret goes. I ordered the materials from AllParts today.
I'm not sure why they would balk at the job, unless your fretboard was damaged. Is it a maple board? Is it torn up? Are the slots chipped out? Did someone try to re-cut the slots with a hacksaw (I've seen it before)? I don't get it, at all. The frets have to be pulled for a complete re-fret, anyway.
I'll let you know how the refret goes. I ordered the materials from AllParts today.
On this one, the teeth were pulled, and fairly sloppily.
Then the slots were filled with something.
Looks like a lined fretless, now.
I was going to try it myself, but every luthier I talked to told me how difficult it would be.
None of them looked at the neck, but they did say trying to recut the slots would be the hard part.
I have done my own repair work for years, but never a refret of a pulled tooth neck !
Then the slots were filled with something.
Looks like a lined fretless, now.
I was going to try it myself, but every luthier I talked to told me how difficult it would be.
None of them looked at the neck, but they did say trying to recut the slots would be the hard part.
I have done my own repair work for years, but never a refret of a pulled tooth neck !
I re-cut an old Peavey once that had the slots filled. The filler was a bit harder than the wood, so I had to be very careful not to move off the slot. It can be done, though. You just need to be very careful and very patient. It would cost a lot to have someone do it for you.
The slots were never filled on this bass. The wood is chipped out in places, though.
The slots were never filled on this bass. The wood is chipped out in places, though.
Fret board chips filled, fretboard leveled, frets installed then leveled, crowned, polished, nut installed, slots filed, bass set up... MAGIC! (Not quite. It took some time, fo sho.) 
I think I'm going to really like this bass! It plays and sounds great! 
It is well worth the work that went into it. 
I found AllParts is very quick to ship. My order arrived in three business days. I also found the TUSQ nut material cuts very nicely.
All in all, this project was a fun one, until I cut the E string slot too deep and had to build it back up with TUSQ dust and CA glue.
I take back everything I ever said about G&L basses.
I think I'm going to really like this bass! It plays and sounds great! It is well worth the work that went into it. I found AllParts is very quick to ship. My order arrived in three business days. I also found the TUSQ nut material cuts very nicely.
All in all, this project was a fun one, until I cut the E string slot too deep and had to build it back up with TUSQ dust and CA glue.
I take back everything I ever said about G&L basses.
Chef
In Memoriam
I was a repair man, a good while ago. It had been a LONG time since I cut a nut. I was off a touch. I just eyeballed it. Oh well. It's good practice for the next one. hehe!
Chef
In Memoriam
It's what happens when one gets a bit too anxious to play the instrument. I'll install another one, eventually. It's not bothering me right now.
Do you think you could do me a favour? I am making a body with a G&L pickup. I want to get the same location as the L1000. Can you measure from the nut to the front of the pickup for me and tell me what the measurement is?
It would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
It would be much appreciated.
Thanks!
Thanks. The bass looks a little better now that I've polished it some. The tarnish came right off the tuners and saddles. I bit of rubbing compound and some buffing got the finish looking a bit better, too.
It's 27 3/4" from the nut to the front of the pickup, measured with an aluminum yard stick.
It's 27 3/4" from the nut to the front of the pickup, measured with an aluminum yard stick.
Beautiful L-1000 Craig_S!!
Can I ask what you used to polish the bass?
And how did you get the tarnish off the tuners and saddles?
What is rubbing compound?
Sorry for all the questions but I want to spruce my L1000 up a bit.
Great job on the G&L!
Dave
Chef
In Memoriam
