Why are refrets coming up so much these days?

[sikoniko]

Hi,

I have noticed an upward trend in comments over the last couple years regarding the impact a refret has on a guitars value. I don't get this? What has changed? A bunch of new people in the vintage market / new collectors that aren't players? As long as I recall, this has NEVER been an issue when buying vintage... with the exception of perhaps an NOS / museum grade piece... which I suspect the majority of buyers are not looking for.

 

[Stratattack72]

Not sure . I've never owned a vintage Fender . But if I were fortunate enough to I'd do everything in my power to make sure it was playable. I am not a collector so value means nothing to me I am a player . SO that may have something to do with it People buy guitars sometimes as investments so making sure the value doesn't diminish makes sense.

 

[ripgtr]

Mine is on its 4th set of frets.
I have no idea. A guitar I can't play isn't any use to me.

 

[FuncleManson]

I refretted my '76 Strat with jumbo stainless this past spring. I don't know if I devalued it or not and don't care, because now it plays better. I replaced the pots too and it sounds better also.

That's what drives me a little nuts about the prevailing vintage guitar collector mentality. The huge prices themselves don't bother me. That's just supply and demand. But the idea that you can make a--say '59 Les Paul--objectively better by replacing worn out frets or tuners whose buttons have disintegrated and lessen its value by thousands(?) of dollars, is a little wacky. I'll never own one, but if I did and it needed new frets, it would get 'em.

 

[henderman]

every guitar i own has been re fretted or needs a refret.

i've done about 25 of them and i would never refret a valuable vintage guitar if i could get away with not having to for value reasons.

but for playing, get the size you like in stainless and do not look back is what i do.

 

[AV59]

The value of vintage guitars has increased quite a bit over the last few years. The price change to their value due to a refret has broken off from many people's indifference curve now. That's my guess anyway.

 

[MaartenX]

We

I refretted my '76 Strat with jumbo stainless this past spring. I don't know if I devalued it or not and don't care, because now it plays better. I replaced the pots too and it sounds better also.

That's what drives me a little nuts about the prevailing vintage guitar collector mentality. The huge prices themselves don't bother me. That's just supply and demand. But the idea that you can make a--say '59 Les Paul--objectively better by replacing worn out frets or tuners whose buttons have disintegrated and lessen its value by thousands(?) of dollars, is a little wacky. I'll never own one, but if I did and it needed new frets, it would get 'em.

Well spoken !

 

[Groundwire]

Every vintage guitar I own has been refretted. It’s generally the first thing I have done. This is like tires on a car. They get worn, you replace them.

That said, with the way vintage guitar prices have increased, I can see why there is a movement to keep things absolutely original, for fear of devaluing an investment. At that point they are collector’s items and not musical tools, which is sad IMO, but I do understand it.

 

[2aug82b]

Agreed. I would rather buy a guitar with a recent re-fret than one that needs a leveling/crowning from wear. Dumb

 

[Scott Baxendale]

Hi,

I have noticed an upward trend in comments over the last couple years regarding the impact a refret has on a guitars value. I don't get this? What has changed? A bunch of new people in the vintage market / new collectors that aren't players? As long as I recall, this has NEVER been an issue when buying vintage... with the exception of perhaps an NOS / museum grade piece... which I suspect the majority of buyers are not looking for.

It’s all BS and marketing hype. Dealers always want to buy low and resell high so any imperfections you have will be pointed out as devalued but when they resell it these same imperfections will either be overlooked, minimized or upsold as real relic patina. A professional refret should be almost imperceptible from the original fret job on most guitars. Perhaps, it’s only crappy refrets they are seeing?

 

[Handsome McClane]

Replacing frets is maintenance, like replacing a timing belt on a car. Just means someone played the heck out of the guitar enough to wear them down. So long as it was well done, I would see a new set of frets on a guitar as a bonus to the value - but then I'm a player, not a collector.

 

[Bazz Jass]

Hi,

I have noticed an upward trend in comments over the last couple years regarding the impact a refret has on a guitars value. I don't get this? What has changed? A bunch of new people in the vintage market / new collectors that aren't players? As long as I recall, this has NEVER been an issue when buying vintage... with the exception of perhaps an NOS / museum grade piece... which I suspect the majority of buyers are not looking for.

I've not heard this. At least not in the collector circles I move in. Refrets are par for the course along with neck resets on acoustic guitars.

All I can think is that if the guitar has pristine original frets the rest of the guitar will likely be pretty mint therefore more desirable?

 

[HSH Classic Vibe]

The only reason Clapton finally sold Blackie was because it had been refretted too many times and couldn't go through another refret. Sure, you could replace the fretboard, but then it is a different neck. So he moved on from it. That is absolutely something to consider when spending thousands - or tens of thousands - on a vintage instrument. One that has not needed refretting is worth a lot more to me. I am not alone. But since you presumably want to save money and have no issue with the state of the fretboard or frets, shouldn't you be glad that the worn out fretboards/frets are cheaper???

 

[crashbelt]

I bought this case queen maple cap 67 at the start of the year. Despite negligible fret wear, its in for a refret with 6105 wire because i couldnt stand the tiny low original frets. These things are for playing

 

[Believer7713]

I say refret it all day long. It's like the wrench that my grandpa welded back together. If the repair hadn't been done then it wouldn't be the tool it was meant to be. It would only be a big heavy paper weight.
Seriously, what good is a guitar that is unplayable. I could understand a museum piece but C'mon...even my display pieces that I build for charities are still playable in case the winner wants to use it as such.

 

[Groundwire]

I bought this case queen maple cap 67 at the start of the year. Despite negligible fret wear, its in for a refret with 6105 wire because i couldnt stand the tiny low original frets. These things are for playing View attachment 582613

Nice! My early ‘67 RW board Tele also got refretted this year with 6105. I also can’t stand tiny frets.

 

[sikoniko]

I've not heard this. At least not in the collector circles I move in. Refrets are par for the course along with neck resets on acoustic guitars.

All I can think is that if the guitar has pristine original frets the rest of the guitar will likely be pretty mint therefore more desirable?

I see it on instagram a lot. thats really the only social platform I use consistently these days.

 

[Believer7713]

Nice! My early ‘67 RW board Tele also got refretted this year with 6105. I also can’t stand tiny frets. View attachment 582786

I, too, hate small frets. These guitars were worth about half of what the refret is worth but they make the guitars sssooo much better.

 

[joebtone]

It’s all BS and marketing hype. Dealers always want to buy low and resell high so any imperfections you have will be pointed out as devalued but when they resell it these same imperfections will either be overlooked, minimized or upsold as real relic patina. A professional refret should be almost imperceptible from the original fret job on most guitars. Perhaps, it’s only crappy refrets they are seeing?

I don't fear getting re-fret jobs, I fear bad re-fret jobs.
I'll get my favorite AVRI neck re-done with jumbos and will pay for peace of mind.