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A refret is expensive but this is my HOBBY!

NickInMesa

NickInMesa

Jan 1, 2009
3,397
51
57
Mesa, Arizona
#1
I just left my Jazz bass at the luthier for a full setup which includes a refret. The man has an awesome reputation and is one of the best in the country.

$300 for a refret... yup... but hey... Life is short.

And it is probably a better investment than my 401(k) has been the last 2 years.
 
#4
This luthier will no doubt be up to the challenge. Perhaps someone less 'known' could have provided the needed refret for $100 less. You've got a long-term or otherwise loyal relationship with that luthier, eh?
 
#9
Dave Kerr said:
Maple fretboard? Most shops will charge a premium for those.
Click to expand...

No it is a maple + rosewood but he has a solid reputation.

Simply put: the bass had a refret done a while ago by the former owner, but the neck is not the best Japanese neck he's seen. He still said it was much better than most American or several $3000 custom basses he's seen. It's a Japanese 62 RI by the way.

My teacher's bass is simply the best bass I ever played. Not one dead spot, no fret buzz, the action is like butter and I am very fast anywhere on that neck.

So I decided "I want this playability" and I took the bass in the shop and it was either a $50 setup, with fret buzz from the 12-19th fret, in this case I could have had a partial fret work to correct the buzz in that area for around $200, or do the whole thing for $300.

Now, I could have shopped around and tried to save $50 for the same job, or take it for a simple setup around the corner, but I am NEVER happy.

I know, it's pricey, but I love this bass.
 
#11
It really depends on the bass... I, for one, wouldn't spend that kinda $$ on MIM fender or a squier (unless, for some reason, I had some attachment) -- but a nice bass, sure. Stuff costs money, and the dude doing this time-consuming project needs to pay *his* bills too!
 
#12
NickInMesa said:
I just left my Jazz bass at the luthier for a full setup which includes a refret. The man has an awesome reputation and is one of the best in the country.

$300 for a refret... yup... but hey... Life is short.

And it is probably a better investment than my 401(k) has been the last 2 years.
Click to expand...

Did you really need to mention 401(k)?

I am so tempted to just close mine!!
 
#13
NickInMesa said:
Now, I could have shopped around and tried to save $50 for the same job, or take it for a simple setup around the corner, but I am NEVER happy.

I know, it's pricey, but I love this bass.
Click to expand...

I'm just a hobby guy myself, and have done a couple refrets (one with SS frets), so I can appreciate the amount of work and skill involved to do the job right.
 
#14
300 bucks!!! that's seems cheap, if the guy really is "one of the best".

My local 'famous' guy quoted me 600 for my vintage Jazz. He has done a fret job for me once before, which turned out amazing, but I'm not sure I want to pay that price again.

Another local vintage shop that does refrets quoted me 350, and they do pretty good work, but not quite like famous guy.

I'd make sure to see what basses he's already done.
I once bought an old Fender that a vintage dealer did a refret on, and when I got it, it looked like a beginner did it.
 
#15
BigOldHarry said:
It really depends on the bass... I, for one, wouldn't spend that kinda $$ on MIM fender or a squier (unless, for some reason, I had some attachment) -- but a nice bass, sure. Stuff costs money, and the dude doing this time-consuming project needs to pay *his* bills too!
Click to expand...

No, not a Squier, a CIJ 61 RI, still between $350 and $700 depending on the condition. I totally dig this bass. Ask my band mates, they laugh at me, so much I am enthused.

Caca de Kick said:
300 bucks!!! that's seems cheap, if the guy really is "one of the best".
Click to expand...

He does not advertise himself as one of the best but he told me it would be one month unless I bother him weekly, then it's 2 weeks :)

Seriously, I have seen his work and heard his name several times and the Bass Place in Tempe also recommended him.

I also totally clicked with this dude (no, not in a sexual way, you know what I mean).
 
#16
A refret means having higher frets, which means needing a higher nut (new nut or shim) and higher bridge. Depending on how long you've gone before a fret level and if you've had a setup in between levels, you'll nut a truss rod adjustment as well. I have only done a few of these type jobs myself, and there is no way I'd tackle that much work for less than $300
 
#17
NickInMesa said:
I just left my Jazz bass at the luthier for a full setup which includes a refret. The man has an awesome reputation and is one of the best in the country.

$300 for a refret... yup... but hey... Life is short.

And it is probably a better investment than my 401(k) has been the last 2 years.
Click to expand...

There's a long learning curve, and tools cost money. You're getting a great deal.

You can always find it cheaper. If you want a fret job bad enough, you can always find someone bad enough to do one.

Some clown in the bay area advertises fretmills for $35-45. You can only imagine...
 
#18
Bass is ready to pick up.

Mwahahaha! (So happy)

Luthier said the bottom of the neck was looped up, and that he had to sand it a bit and he also ground a bit off of the lower frets.

Gee, man, are you the perfectionist of what?

I want butter, man, butter.
 

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