Aftermarket neck question

[LaMarr Bruister]

Do any of the aftermarket neck makers level the frets?

One of my strats needs a refret and it is my least favorite neck. This seems like a good opportunity to start from scratch and have stainless frets, which would be two plusses. If I need to have a luthier level and crown the frets from day one, the cost starts to get into the questionable range for me since I don't have a massive budget. I've read some great things about Parklane, but I've n ever used an aftermarket neck before.

Thanks!

 

[lammie200]

I have only had to touch up 2-3 frets on about 6-8 Allparts necks that I have purchased throughout the years. I also just received a Best Guitar Parts neck that needed no fretwork except for the fret ends. On about 3 other Best Guitar Parts necks that had stainless steel frets I didn’t have to do any fretwork myself.

 

[gwilde]

If you buy from a reputable builder like Warmoth, you should be ready to go, the cheaper you go, the more chance you may need work.

 

[revtime]

How low do you like your action? Im a medium action guy and all my warmoth necks were good to go. If you like ultra low action it really doesnt matter who you go with they will need work.

 

[rolandson]

Warmoth.

 

[LaMarr Bruister]

Warmoth.

On the Warmoth website they specifically say that they do not level the frets.

 

[Scott Baxendale]

If you buy from a reputable builder like Warmoth, you should be ready to go, the cheaper you go, the more chance you may need work.

More often than not, in a new neck that needs fretwork it is the environment that the neck was shipped to that can affect the frets. If you send a new neck to the desert it will probably need some fret dressing fairly soon and if it is sent to Georgia where it’s humid then probably not.

 

[Triple Jim]

On the Warmoth website they specifically say that they do not level the frets.

I don't know of any company that levels frets on new replacement necks. Not that I know them all, but Fender doesn't level frets on replacement necks either, for example. The two Warmoth necks I've bought were close enough to not need leveling. They even had a little fall-off out of the box.

 

[revtime]

No they dont. But Warmoth been doing it for a long time. For 75% of folks its close enough.

On the Warmoth website they specifically say that they do not level the frets.

 

[Kmanshaman]

Musikraft yes

 

[GrooVey]

On the Warmoth website they specifically say that they do not level the frets.

True. Same with Freestone. I have/had three or four Warmoth and three from Freestone. Never have had an issue. Each great out of the box. Never had high frets or sharp ends.

I take this more as a disclaimer to prevent unreasonable complaints.

 

[henderman]

Fret leveling yer tele.......101

I keep getting asked how to level frets, or does a compound radius come into play etc... so let's do it..... I know It's been done before, but there are many welcomed newcomers to Paul's party, and since this is the single best "mod" you can do to improve your tele, or any guitar for that...

www.tdpri.com

maybe you can do your own fret leveling, here is imo the best guide.

 

[rolandson]

On the Warmoth website they specifically say that they do not level the frets.

They don't usually need it.
Mine never have.

 

[Slartybartfast]

Do any of the aftermarket neck makers level the frets?

One of my strats needs a refret and it is my least favorite neck. This seems like a good opportunity to start from scratch and have stainless frets, which would be two plusses. If I need to have a luthier level and crown the frets from day one, the cost starts to get into the questionable range for me since I don't have a massive budget. I've read some great things about Parklane, but I've n ever used an aftermarket neck before.

Thanks!

Everybody says you have to have all aftermarket frets re-crowned but I've never had one that needed it. Five Musikraft, maybe four Warmoth, an Allparts, Mighty Might and a WD and no problems there - I think they do it. Why would they nicely round the ends and polish them so nicely just to have them not play right? Some had problems but it wasn't that.

 

[trapdoor2]

I've bought several from "Stratosphere", they've been fine right outta the box. I do my own setups and fretwork.

 

[greens]

All three of my Musikrafts have been perfect

 

[grumpah]

True. Same with Freestone. I have/had three or four Warmoth and three from Freestone. Never have had an issue. Each great out of the box. Never had high frets or sharp ends.

I take this more as a disclaimer to prevent unreasonable complaints.

The necks I have received from Freestone where I had them level, crown, and polish the frets were very nicely done.

 

[Mbroady]

I have a few Allparts necks floating around and they are all nice. But they all benefited from some fret work. Another thumbs up for Warmoth. You pay a premium but it’s a plug and play neck. No fret work needed.

 

[Butcher of Strats]

Yeah all my Warmoth necks need some fret leveling, just no way to squash frets into the slots with .001 accuracy.

 

[Stephen James]

None of my warmoth necks have needed it, but one of the 2 i've gotten used has had it done, i have no idea if it was needed or not. Fwiw, they are all Ebony or Pau Ferro slab fretboards..