Red Ryder
Friend of Leo's
Sherman, set the Wayback Machine for 1966.
I’ve never refretted my 66 Tele, I think the time has come, thoughts?
- Thread starter RickatAscap
- Start date
Just get an import replacement neck!
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RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
I already addressed that, I’m not 54 years old. Anything else?
SnidelyWhiplash
Poster Extraordinaire
OP, is there a tech close to you that you trust??? A '66 Tele needs an exceptional expertise & touch. It may be pricey, but worth it.
Red Ryder
Friend of Leo's
If you frets are not badly worn to the point that they are causing the strings to dead out or buzz there is no reason to refret. Take the time to find someone you can trust to do the job when it finally becomes a necessity. Till then just enjoy your old guitar.
redhouse_ca
Tele-Holic
It's pretty incredible and very cool you've had that since 68 and it's still your go-go. And the fact that it's the first regret. Way cool.
I was in a similar situation a few years ago with my 1963 Tele. I have owned it, and played it as my #1, since 1972.
It needed a refret something fierce, but I was apprehensive about having work done on it. I finally bit the bullet and took it to Danny Shoemaker at Straight Frets in Austin, TX.
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/my-63-back-from-the-refret.830554/
He did a superb refret and also a Plek job on it. Around $500 total if I recall. Best guitar decision I ever made, plays wonderfully now. I don't recall the wire size he used for the refret, but it was as close to the original thinner size.
He does do shipping, but I'd like to think you could find a reputable person more local to you.
https://straightfrets.com/
Some pics in my gallery https://www.tdpri.com/media/users/ddewerd.4898/
Go for it, you'll be glad you did.
Cheers,
Doug
It needed a refret something fierce, but I was apprehensive about having work done on it. I finally bit the bullet and took it to Danny Shoemaker at Straight Frets in Austin, TX.
https://www.tdpri.com/threads/my-63-back-from-the-refret.830554/
He did a superb refret and also a Plek job on it. Around $500 total if I recall. Best guitar decision I ever made, plays wonderfully now. I don't recall the wire size he used for the refret, but it was as close to the original thinner size.
He does do shipping, but I'd like to think you could find a reputable person more local to you.
https://straightfrets.com/
Some pics in my gallery https://www.tdpri.com/media/users/ddewerd.4898/
Go for it, you'll be glad you did.
Cheers,
Doug
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
I've decided to do 6230s if I can get them in Stainless, the problem is, I'm very careful about finding a Luthier that I feel comfortable with. I had one for close to thirty years, he's moved on to making his own basses. I'm in NYC, if you know anyone with who I would feel comfortable with, I'm very careful about that.
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
Thanks for that Doug, if I felt I had someone who really does great work, I would ship. I sense there's gotta be someone here in NYC Gruhn recommended I send it to him, I might just do that, we'll see, it'll be done within two weeks one way or another.
Thanks, Doug,
Rick
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
I've decided to do 6230s if I can get them in Stainless, the problem is, I'm very careful about finding a Luthier that I feel comfortable with. I had one for close to thirty years, he's moved on to making his own basses. I'm in NYC, if you know anyone with who I would feel comfortable, I'm very careful about that.
Thanks, Doug,
Rick
Yep, that was the first question that came to my mind. It had better be a darned reputable luthier IF it's maple AND you want zero damage to result.
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
Hi,
Actually, I first got it in 66, I was a kid, and it wasn't my main guitar at the time. I started on an SG, then a Les Paul, Firebird(Reverse) then I pulled out the Tele and began to learn how to fingerpick, for which I have yet to find a better guitar for that kind of work.
Thanks
Rick
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RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
That's my problem, Roger Sadowsky had been doing my guitars until he began setting up his line of Basses, where do I go from there? It's a Rosewood neck, if you know of someone, if they are really that good, I would consider shipping it.
Thanks for your thoughts,
Rick
Might not be a popular answer, but I'd probably trade necks and put the old one back in a box, in the original condition it's in now. When I modify anything of any significant value, I usually try to do it in a way that allows it to be returned to original, if possible.
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
It's a Rosewood, I had someone for close to thirty years. more or less, my guy, Roger Sadowsky moved on to start his line of basses, that was it. I should have gotten a referral from him, and probably still could come to think of it. I don't think I would be comfortable swapping out the neck, even temporarily, that's why the guitar feels the way it does, at least for me, I place huge importance on that. It wouldn't feel the same as I'm sure you know.
Thanks for your help,
Rick
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
However, that. would be taking away one of the things that makes this guitar what it is, the neck has worn in so nicely, and I'd lose that, I want to play this guitar the way it is, at least that's my take on it. I know of many people who would agree with it, and had it be any other of my guitars, I'd probably agree.
Thanks for your help and support,
Rick
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
However, that. would be taking away one of the things that makes this guitar what it is, the neck has worn in so nicely, and I'd lose that, I want to play this guitar the way it is, at least that's my take on it. I know of many people who would agree with it, and had it be any other of my guitars, I'd probably agree.
Thanks for your help and support,
Rick
Dismalhead
Doctor of Teleocity
I'd do some research to find a good luthier and have it professionally done.
If your car needs tires, you change them, right?
Get the refret.
Play some guitars with large frets to see if you like them.
If you want it the same, a tech can measure the last fret (the one least likely to be worn) and get you a similar size.
You could also get the whole neck refinished to as-new shape, but that's a 95% a cosmetic concern.
If you don't mind it looking substantially the same as it does now, just refret it.
I try to talk customers into letting me use slightly wider frets to cover the rough edge where the old fret was.
Get the refret.
Play some guitars with large frets to see if you like them.
If you want it the same, a tech can measure the last fret (the one least likely to be worn) and get you a similar size.
You could also get the whole neck refinished to as-new shape, but that's a 95% a cosmetic concern.
If you don't mind it looking substantially the same as it does now, just refret it.
I try to talk customers into letting me use slightly wider frets to cover the rough edge where the old fret was.
RickatAscap
Tele-Meister
That's why I've been putting this off, surprisingly, it's playable, but it's really time. I'm concerned about finding the right guy, maybe I'm making too big a deal about it, yet, this is really one of my finest guitars, yet, its time to move, if you know of anyone who is known for work on Vintage guitars, Fretting and such, I might ship if necessary, I'm in NYC, and I cant find anyone.
Thanks,
Rick
