Omaha, Nebraska
A proper refret is one of the highest-value repairs you can put into a guitar. When it's done right, the instrument plays better than it ever has: cleaner intonation, smoother bends, no buzz, no dead spots. Most refrets completed in under a week.
The Signs
Frets wear over time. It's inevitable. Most players don't realize how much worn frets are holding an instrument back until they play one that's been properly refretted.
Notes that play in tune open but go sharp when fretted, especially as you move up the neck, often indicate worn or uneven frets. A refret followed by proper intonation setup solves this completely.
Fret buzz that persists after a proper setup usually means the frets themselves are uneven. A fret level can sometimes remedy this; when wear is deep enough, a full refret is the correct answer.
Flat spots, grooves under the strings, or frets that feel rough under your fingers. When you can see or feel it, it's affecting your playing. Bends choke out, vibrato feels uneven, notes die early.
The Work
Fret Wire
We use Jescar wire exclusively, in both 18% nickel silver and stainless steel, across every profile they produce. Vintage, medium, and jumbo crowns are all available. The wire is specced to your instrument and your hands, not to whatever happens to be on the shelf.
For vintage instruments that call for it, we install period-correct nickel silver to match the original specification. If you want frets that outlast the instrument, see stainless steel refrets.
Binding & Finish
Bound fretboards and lacquer finishes require extra care. We handle both, including nibs on bound boards and finish touchup at the fret slots where needed.
A full refret involves more than pulling old frets and pressing in new ones. Done correctly, it involves careful assessment of the fretboard surface, addressing any relief issues before the new wire goes in, and finishing the work to a standard that makes the new frets indistinguishable from fine jewelry.
Step 1
The neck is evaluated for straightness and relief. Fret slots are inspected. The fretboard surface is assessed for levelness before new wire is installed. Any issues here are corrected first.
Step 2
Old frets are carefully removed with heated tools to minimize tearout on the fretboard. Slot cleanup follows: old glue removed, slots resized if necessary for the new wire.
Step 3
New frets are pressed or hammered in and fully seated. Each fret is individually checked for levelness and solid contact with the fretboard along its entire length.
Step 4
The fret plane is leveled across all frets simultaneously, then each fret is individually crowned, or re-rounded after leveling, to preserve contact area and playing feel.
Step 5
Fret ends are beveled, dressed, and polished by hand until they are indistinguishable from fine jewelry. The instrument is then set up completely before it leaves.
Vintage Instruments
Vintage guitars require a refret approach that accounts for their history, their construction, and in many cases their value. The wrong wire, or the wrong technique on a bound board, can do more damage than the worn frets it replaced.
On a collectible instrument, originality matters. We can advise on whether a refret is the right call, what wire spec matches the original, and how to approach a bound board without damaging the binding or the finish. Sometimes the right answer is a fret level and setup rather than a full refret.
These instruments have specific fret slot dimensions, original binding nibs on Gibson models, and finishes that respond poorly to heat if handled incorrectly. We've worked on enough of them to know what to expect and how to proceed.
Acoustic and archtop refretting involves the added complexity of humidity, hide glue, and the relationship between fret height, nut, and saddle. We factor all of it in and treat the refret as part of a complete setup.
Omaha, Nebraska
Tell us about your instrument and the shape its frets are in. Most refrets are quoted same day and completed in under a week. Prefer to talk it through? Call (402) 317-6942.