• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Getting re-fret - some luthier comments

Rayjay

Rayjay

OH! When drum stop, VERY BAD!!
Supporting Member
Sep 27, 2014
4,108
16,587
49
Lahaina, Maui, HI
#1
Just dropped my bass off to get a refret. It's a Fullerton Reissue 62 jazz, made in 83 that had been converted to fretless at some point. These are such great necks I decided to take a chance bringing it back to full glory. I decided to use a new to me luthier, but took my time picking him for his lack of reluctance compared to the other guys I asked, and for his recommendations from some friends. Good experience but he had some interesting comments during the meetup.

First of all, nice guy, and he had a big collection at his house of mostly basses. No red flags with the house or the shop setup or any of the repairs I saw.

But first he was a bit baffled by the concentric pots, which he never saw before. He thought they were a mod.

He asked about me "taking it apart" but he meant it had no pick guard (Jaco style). I had to explain I liked the look and intended to use it like that, and have the pick guard if I change my mind.

Then he was concerned about the frets I bought (Dunlop 6230 nickels) - specifically, that they would match the radius of my bass's board. Well, to the best of my knowledge, a fret will conform to the radius regardless of what it is. Am I right?

Also, he asked if I happened to know the radius (if it was 12" or 9 1/2"?) so I said pretty sure its vintage spec 7 1/4" - but he was quick to retort they never made them that tight. I didn't bother to argue.

Then he asked if I was having him refinish the body. No! I said only what we had discussed which was fret only and anything related (new nut etc). Glad we discussed that....

Not exactly deeply concerned but that's where my bass is now! I'll update in a few weeks. Should be ok, right?!?
IMG_8682.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pontiac Thrasher, bassbrad and Hurricane Jimmie
#2
Rayjay said:
Just dropped my bass off to get a refret. It's a Fullerton Reissue 62 jazz, made in 83 that had been converted to fretless at some point. These are such great necks I decided to take a chance bringing it back to full glory. I decided to use a new to me luthier, but took my time picking him for his lack of reluctance compared to the other guys I asked, and for his recommendations from some friends. Good experience but he had some interesting comments during the meetup.

First of all, nice guy, and he had a big collection at his house of mostly basses. No red flags with the house or the shop setup or any of the repairs I saw.

But first he was a bit baffled by the concentric pots, which he never saw before. He thought they were a mod.

He asked about me "taking it apart" but he meant it had no pick guard (Jaco style). I had to explain I liked the look and intended to use it like that, and have the pick guard if I change my mind.

Then he was concerned about the frets I bought (Dunlop 6230 nickels) - specifically, that they would match the radius of my bass's board. Well, to the best of my knowledge, a fret will conform to the radius regardless of what it is. Am I right?

Also, he asked if I happened to know the radius (if it was 12" or 9 1/2"?) so I said pretty sure its vintage spec 7 1/4" - but he was quick to retort they never made them that tight. I didn't bother to argue.

Then he asked if I was having him refinish the body. No! I said only what we had discussed which was fret only and anything related (new nut etc). Glad we discussed that....

Not exactly deeply concerned but that's where my bass is now! I'll update in a few weeks. Should be ok, right?!? View attachment 7529724
Click to expand...
Specs:
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7682.png
    IMG_7682.png
    1,009.3 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_7683.png
    IMG_7683.png
    909.9 KB · Views: 7
  • IMG_7684.png
    IMG_7684.png
    910.3 KB · Views: 5
  • IMG_7685.png
    IMG_7685.png
    961.8 KB · Views: 6
  • IMG_7686.png
    IMG_7686.png
    1,012.5 KB · Views: 10
#10
As a luthier myself, these things frighten me.

Not being aware of even the most basic aspects of a Fender of this level of renown is something which qualifies as a red flag.
Not considering fret wire being bent to match a radius is VERY odd. Granted, I see some wire being sold pre radiused and cut - and I'm not sure if this is what you provided - but this is still something which triggers alarms for me.

Personally, I'd be very worried about what could transpire.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pontiac Thrasher, GKon, Fun Size Nick and 4 others
#11
Have you seen any of their fretwork? How did it look/feel/play? Some people are good at doing things but not good at explaining them. And we're just reading on the internet. You did say other work there looked good.

I'm not a luthier, just a repair guy. It so happens I am doing a partial refret on a Taylor 314ce (guitar) this weekend. Had to measure and match up existing fretwire first, remove the worn frets, knock the nut off, clean and dress the board, and start installing new ones. After I'm done with that, they'll still need to be leveled and crowned and the nut put back on, possibly shimmed. Different job, but those questions they asked are puzzling to me. Maybe the guy is just curious..?

If you brought that neck to me, I'd be wanting to know; What are these fret slots filled with? What are the exact specs of this fretwire? Do you have a replacement nut?

I'd ask some setup questions. And restring questions. Things that will matter after the bass is refretted. What do I care about concentric pots? Or potentially a refinish? Or a missing pickguard. Those are outside the scope of work.

You might go ask them a few questions. I wouldn't snatch it and run, just get some clarification. Make sure both of you know what you want. It may be this isn't the guy, and they're glad to be out of the job. Or just miscommunication. You would be surprised by how many people call me and want a "ballpark" number for fixing this or that. I just won't do it anymore. I have to look at everything in-hand, on my bench. Most of the time, the work is just general repairs and not a problem. It's hard, but sometimes I have to say to someone "this job is over my head, and you need someone else."

Good luck.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rayjay, mikewalker and Fun Size Nick
#16
Rayjay said:
Just dropped my bass off to get a refret. It's a Fullerton Reissue 62 jazz, made in 83 that had been converted to fretless at some point. These are such great necks I decided to take a chance bringing it back to full glory. I decided to use a new to me luthier, but took my time picking him for his lack of reluctance compared to the other guys I asked, and for his recommendations from some friends. Good experience but he had some interesting comments during the meetup.

First of all, nice guy, and he had a big collection at his house of mostly basses. No red flags with the house or the shop setup or any of the repairs I saw.

But first he was a bit baffled by the concentric pots, which he never saw before. He thought they were a mod.

He asked about me "taking it apart" but he meant it had no pick guard (Jaco style). I had to explain I liked the look and intended to use it like that, and have the pick guard if I change my mind.

Then he was concerned about the frets I bought (Dunlop 6230 nickels) - specifically, that they would match the radius of my bass's board. Well, to the best of my knowledge, a fret will conform to the radius regardless of what it is. Am I right?

Also, he asked if I happened to know the radius (if it was 12" or 9 1/2"?) so I said pretty sure its vintage spec 7 1/4" - but he was quick to retort they never made them that tight. I didn't bother to argue.

Then he asked if I was having him refinish the body. No! I said only what we had discussed which was fret only and anything related (new nut etc). Glad we discussed that....

Not exactly deeply concerned but that's where my bass is now! I'll update in a few weeks. Should be ok, right?!? View attachment 7529724
Click to expand...
Take it to someone else. There are red flags....
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Podgorny and Pontiac Thrasher
#17
Sounds a little concerning. There is a qualitative differene between a "tech" and a Luthier, though minus some kind of formal licensing procedure, I 'm not sure how you can confirm the difference. It seems like establishing some kind of track record of decent work seems like a bare minimum. Hopefully whoever filled the fret slots in the first place didn't over-cut them wider than the standard fret slot width.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Pontiac Thrasher
#20
Thumpin6string said:
I would have grabbed my bass and left.
Click to expand...
While backing out of the room. Very. Slowly.

I bought a used 80's G&L SB1 that was fretless. There were frets, but they'd been taken down to nothing and the neck sealed. Not sure if it came like that or was converted at some time, but it was a pro job. Turns out I didn't have a use for a fretless because I'm tone-deaf. I took it to the guy who sets up all my instruments to have it re-fretted. He's a very skilled luthier and did a fine job.
When I went to pick up the bass, he told me 'I wasn't sure how I was going to get those frets out'.

I guess my bass was his Beta Test Site. Sometimes you just have to wing it. :cool:
 
  • Like
Reactions: Podgorny, mikewalker and Pontiac Thrasher

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back