Your opinion on this fretboard condition, please

TeleGeir · April 26th, 2003, 04:22 AM

Hi all.

I was sent this close-up by a eBay seller. And my question to you all is simply: What is your opinion on the frets here. Must be changed? Can use for a while?? Will my bends stop dead in those grooves???

I'd know if I tried, of course, but that is not an option here. They can be replaced if needed, but I'd have to factor the cost into my bid, then.

Warning! While I have lessened the JPEG quality on this one, it is still 94K. So only click the link if you have the bandwith or the patience...

http://home.online.no/~ge-fj/TDPRI/frets.jpg

Oh, and FYI: It is an old MIJ custom this. The rest of the guitar looks great, age considering. A bit of saddle rust is all.

Thanks!

Geir :)

PeterUK · April 26th, 2003, 05:26 AM

Geir

I'd personally struggle with that neck. From the pictures, even a fret dress wouldn't address those speed bumps. I'd personally want new frets.

Good picture, BTW.

Regards

Peter

Colo Springs E · April 26th, 2003, 05:49 AM

...but those frets don't look bad to me. I've played guitars with frets that looked worse, and they played fine, intonated, stayed in tune, no major buzzing, etc.

-Eric

TeleGeir · April 26th, 2003, 10:55 AM

Hmmm... That is 50/50 for and against. Big help I am sure! :?

Thanks anyway, guys.

Geir :)

Kevin · April 26th, 2003, 11:22 AM

It's hard to tell how deep the divots are from a two-dimensional top view. My gut reaction, though, is that it looks playable....

Is it all the way up the neck, or just in the first five frets, or so? A partial refret may be the way to go...

Dacious · April 26th, 2003, 11:38 AM

If the rest of the neck is flat it's got one fretjob left in it - a careful fret filing. Be sure to back the trussrod off - get it flat first. Be careful recrowning not to mark the 'board.

Freewheeler · April 26th, 2003, 11:50 AM

In my experience and opinion the MIJ frets wear out faster and are softer than USA or MIM frets. I've got a '85 MIJ 62 RI and the frets looks just like in your pic. Still playable though.

The Snowman · April 26th, 2003, 12:08 PM

if yer playin at least 10's..I don't see a real problem....but in the near future, you'll probablly want new frets.....don

5965 · April 26th, 2003, 12:23 PM

I doubt you'd even feel them with 9's.

If you did, running some steel wool over them to smooth any hard edges or some very minor filing would eliminate the issue.

spyder · April 26th, 2003, 01:04 PM

Ho...looks to me like those frets have plenty of height left on 'em...the grooves will probably sand smooth without any filing...BTW, looks like the frets have been worked on before.....notice the flat spots in a few of them?....must have gotten a little lazy with the recrown file...maybe the phone rang or something...forgot where he left off...later, spyder.. ( a favorite of luthiers almost everywhere)

jazzguitar · April 26th, 2003, 03:32 PM

I think they need a dress up. As long as the neck is straight, I don't think new frets are needed (right now).

A fret dress is several hundred less than new frets.

Pedalworld · April 27th, 2003, 03:12 AM

Pedalworld · April 27th, 2003, 03:13 AM

:shock:

TeleGeir · April 27th, 2003, 04:53 AM

Thanks everyone. I am still undecided on whether I want to bid at all on this one. Especially since I already have my little red '62. But at least it got me a good feeling for judging fretwear.

The D-string is nothing special I think. Just got washed out in the JPEG compression.

Geir :)

Hambone · April 27th, 2003, 04:56 AM

At the least they should be levelled and dressed. They appear to be modern rather than vintage frets so with a proper dressing they should give you a bit of time before a refret. As someone else mentioned, if the wear is not uniform up the neck, it may be a good idea to have a partial refret with leveling done now.

Pedalworld · April 27th, 2003, 12:40 PM

TeleGeir · April 27th, 2003, 04:13 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll...gephotohosting

Took you right to the nice big picture. Looks great doesn't it?

Geir :)

telefreak · April 27th, 2003, 05:23 PM

Fine looking piece of kit. The frets don't look too bad, mine are worse and it plays just fine. I agree about MIJ frets wearing out quicker, but they're so good you can forgive them for that

April 26th, 2003, 04:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
TeleGeir Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 1,998	Your opinion on this fretboard condition, please Hi all. I was sent this close-up by a eBay seller. And my question to you all is simply: What is your opinion on the frets here. Must be changed? Can use for a while?? Will my bends stop dead in those grooves??? I'd know if I tried, of course, but that is not an option here. They can be replaced if needed, but I'd have to factor the cost into my bid, then. Warning! While I have lessened the JPEG quality on this one, it is still 94K. So only click the link if you have the bandwith or the patience... http://home.online.no/~ge-fj/TDPRI/frets.jpg Oh, and FYI: It is an old MIJ custom this. The rest of the guitar looks great, age considering. A bit of saddle rust is all. Thanks! Geir :)

April 26th, 2003, 05:26 AM	#2 (permalink)
PeterUK Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Nottingham, England Age: 47 Posts: 2,734 4 Photos	Speed bumps! Geir I'd personally struggle with that neck. From the pictures, even a fret dress wouldn't address those speed bumps. I'd personally want new frets. Good picture, BTW. Regards Peter __________________ I Facebooked your Mother.

April 26th, 2003, 05:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 4,854 5 Photos	I'm no luthier..... ...but those frets don't look bad to me. I've played guitars with frets that looked worse, and they played fine, intonated, stayed in tune, no major buzzing, etc. -Eric __________________ "Got my technique down and everything. I don't be ticklin' or nothin."

April 26th, 2003, 11:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
Kevin Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Terre Haute, IN Posts: 2,967	Hard to tell from that angle.... It's hard to tell how deep the divots are from a two-dimensional top view. My gut reaction, though, is that it looks playable.... Is it all the way up the neck, or just in the first five frets, or so? A partial refret may be the way to go...

April 26th, 2003, 11:38 AM	#6 (permalink)
Dacious Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Godzone Posts: 2,601 35 Photos	If the rest of the neck is flat it's got one fretjob left in it - a careful fret filing. Be sure to back the trussrod off - get it flat first. Be careful recrowning not to mark the 'board. __________________ My other Telecaster is a Thinline The Tele Bible, Ch 1, v 10 Love thy Telecaster, covet not thy neighbour's Strat!

April 26th, 2003, 10:55 AM	#4 (permalink)
TeleGeir Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 1,998	Hmmm... That is 50/50 for and against. Big help I am sure! :? Thanks anyway, guys. Geir :)

April 26th, 2003, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Freewheeler Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Helsinki, Finland Posts: 746 38 Photos	Weak MIJ frets In my experience and opinion the MIJ frets wear out faster and are softer than USA or MIM frets. I've got a '85 MIJ 62 RI and the frets looks just like in your pic. Still playable though.

April 26th, 2003, 12:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
The Snowman Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Philly Pa Posts: 763	if yer playin at least 10's..I don't see a real problem....but in the near future, you'll probablly want new frets.....don __________________ it ain't nuttin but the bluez....

April 26th, 2003, 12:23 PM	#9 (permalink)
5965 Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 724	I doubt you'd even feel them with 9's. If you did, running some steel wool over them to smooth any hard edges or some very minor filing would eliminate the issue.

April 26th, 2003, 01:04 PM	#10 (permalink)
spyder Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: chillicothe, ohio Posts: 530	frets... Ho...looks to me like those frets have plenty of height left on 'em...the grooves will probably sand smooth without any filing...BTW, looks like the frets have been worked on before.....notice the flat spots in a few of them?....must have gotten a little lazy with the recrown file...maybe the phone rang or something...forgot where he left off...later, spyder.. ( a favorite of luthiers almost everywhere)

April 26th, 2003, 03:32 PM	#11 (permalink)
jazzguitar Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Germany Posts: 280	Hi Tele-Geir ! I think they need a dress up. As long as the neck is straight, I don't think new frets are needed (right now). A fret dress is several hundred less than new frets.

April 27th, 2003, 03:12 AM	#12 (permalink)
Pedalworld Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 936	I cant decide... :?

April 27th, 2003, 03:13 AM	#13 (permalink)
Pedalworld Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 936	I cant decide... :shock:

April 27th, 2003, 04:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
TeleGeir Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 1,998	Thanks! Thanks everyone. I am still undecided on whether I want to bid at all on this one. Especially since I already have my little red '62. But at least it got me a good feeling for judging fretwear. The D-string is nothing special I think. Just got washed out in the JPEG compression. Geir :)

April 27th, 2003, 04:56 AM	#15 (permalink)
Hambone TDPRI Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Central Massachusetts Posts: 41	At the least they should be levelled and dressed. They appear to be modern rather than vintage frets so with a proper dressing they should give you a bit of time before a refret. As someone else mentioned, if the wear is not uniform up the neck, it may be a good idea to have a partial refret with leveling done now.

April 27th, 2003, 12:40 PM	#16 (permalink)
Pedalworld Banned Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 936	Show us! 8)

April 27th, 2003, 04:13 PM	#17 (permalink)
TeleGeir Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Bergen, Norway Posts: 1,998	This is the one! http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/ebayISAPI.dll...gephotohosting Took you right to the nice big picture. Looks great doesn't it? Geir :)

April 27th, 2003, 05:23 PM	#18 (permalink)
telefreak Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Essex UK Posts: 659	Fine looking piece of kit. The frets don't look too bad, mine are worse and it plays just fine. I agree about MIJ frets wearing out quicker, but they're so good you can forgive them for that __________________ I didn't grow up, I just got older.