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My first refret - please help!

alexreinhold

alexreinhold

Senior Member
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I have a 2002 Fender American Fat Strat (HSS) which I've played extensively for 23 years now. As you can imagine, the frets are worn out. The neck is 25.5" long, 9.5" radius throughout and the nut is 1.6875". This would be my first refret ever and I would love to put stainless steel on - but Reddit says I should 100% try nickel or silver first if this is my first refret - but I want stainless steel :-/

That said:
  • would you recommend doing a first refret with stainless steel?
  • can you point me to a good tutorial?
  • can you tell me which tools I will absolutely need?
Thanks!
 
You mean someone is saying it is easier to do nickel silver, than SS. It may be a little easier than SS, but I, personally, would say if you want SS go for SS.

Off the top of my head, you will need the following:

  • Old soldering iron for warming frets prior to removal
  • Fret Puller
  • Fret Bender
  • Fret Slot Cleaning Saw or similar
  • Fret Cutter
  • Fretting Hammer or Press
  • Fret Rocker
  • Straightedge
  • Usual tools, for levelling, bevelling crowning etc.
  • Patience

Here are some links to search so to get the idea of what each of the tools look like.


Stewmac also has a list of Esssential fretting tools they sell as a set.

Essential Fretting Tool Set - StewMac

Good basic tools you'll need to get started AND the definitive Fret Work Step-By-Step book!
www.stewmac.com www.stewmac.com


And now how to do it...





 
Last edited:
I’m with Stratamania.

SS takes longer to tool in some cases, but the payoff is worth it. The more you play on them, the more the strings essentially burnish the frets. It’s a long term win/win overall. I just finished a total SS refret on a 50 year old Takamine acoustic from the original owner. This fret job will outlive him.
 
Last edited:
alexreinhold said:
I have a 2002 Fender American Fat Strat (HSS) which I've played extensively for 23 years now. As you can imagine, the frets are worn out. The neck is 25.5" long, 9.5" radius throughout and the nut is 1.6875". This would be my first refret ever and I would love to put stainless steel on - but Reddit says I should 100% try nickel or silver first if this is my first refret - but I want stainless steel :-/

That said:
  • would you recommend doing a first refret with stainless steel?
  • can you point me to a good tutorial?
  • can you tell me which tools I will absolutely need?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Maybe find a cheapo neck to practice on first? I find it's always best to practice an new skill/technique on something that won't hurt too bad if you f it up
 
I refretted a Squier neck. I finally dialed it in, but it is a thankless, tedious, PITA and I never want to do it again. I wouldn't just give it a go on a prized neck IMO.
 
Perhaps you should consider getting a new neck. Roasted maple (no finish needed) with 9.5" radius, SS frets and GraphTech nut is about $350 + shipping.
Spud said:
I refretted a Squier neck. I finally dialed it in, but it is a thankless, tedious, PITA and I never want to do it again. I wouldn't just give it a go on a prized neck IMO.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the amazing advice everyone. Just noticed - I will have to pay close to 1000€ to get all the tools. Now the big question: will I buy two new necks (for much less €€€) or invest in my hobby? :-) I think I gotta sleep over it haha

Feel free to manipulate me.
 
If you are only pursuing this to accomplish the results from your own personal instruments, it may not be worth the long term investment of tools and practice. In most of our cases, we do this regularly. I still have a day gig, but I use my business, THE Guitar Whisperer for extra income to help make additional investments into itself to get more business and make additional principal payments on my mortgage with the goal of being completely debt free by the time I retire from my day gig in 8 years. Then, I’ll keep doing maintenance, repair, and mods for supplemental income and fun.
 

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TonyFlyingSquirrel said:
If you are only pursuing this to accomplish the results from your own personal instruments, it may not be worth the long term investment of tools and practice. In most of our cases, we do this regularly. I still have a day gig, but I use my business, THE Guitar Whisperer for extra income to help make additional investments into itself to get more business and make additional principal payments on my mortgage with the goal of being completely debt free by the time I retire from my day gig in 8 years. Then, I’ll keep doing maintenance, repair, and mods for supplemental income and fun.
Click to expand...
I am at a point where I can get/do everything I need done myself (at least to my satisfaction) but instead of whispering, there seems to be more swearing loudly involved.

I am the guitar yeller.
 
Is a European source like Crimson Guitars an option? I'm not fully up to speed on all of the duties & taxes involved, so I only know what I've read here on this forum in how much more costly buying a WM product is for Europe and Australia.
 
+1 on getting a junk neck to try on.
I've never done this but looking at the video, it seems like you have to develop a feel when pulling the frets out. A feel like is this fret going to rip out the wood or not. How do you dvelop this feel? By making mistakes.

Also why are you doing this? Is to save money ? You want to learn this technique so you can refret other necks ? Need a new challenge?

If you're just trying to save some money, I think you're going to be disappointed.

Hope this was useful
 
OK, I thought about this again. The two guitars I would like to refret are my two oldest guitars with loads of emotional value. I played thousands of hours on these necks and don't want to replace them. I managed to cut down costs of tools to 750€ (a refret job in Germany is 250€ each). And I will learn something new...

I think I will go for it.
 
NedRyerson said:
Is a European source like Crimson Guitars an option? I'm not fully up to speed on all of the duties & taxes involved, so I only know what I've read here on this forum in how much more costly buying a WM product is for Europe and Australia.
Click to expand...

Crimson is an option for some things, however as they are in the UK and no longer in the EU, depending on the company, there may be import taxes etc to pay on arrival into Germany or other EU countries.

There are other places to buy tools in the EUin fact, there is a thread about it. Sometimes though StewMac has stuff not always easy to get elsewhere.

alexreinhold

Thread 'Europeans - Where to Buy Stuff'

Living in Europe, I am regularly struggling to find products (e.g. Timbermate or Duplicolor) recommended here as they're simply not available in EU - and ordering from the US is usually a financial disaster. That's why I wanted to start this thread for all EU/UK-based people to share good shops and products. The main aim is to facilitate awesome builds of EU-based Warmoth customers. Here are some of my recommendations:

- www.thomann.de (DE) - for all kinds of parts, electronics, etc.
- www.spraydosenshop.de (DE) - for all kinds of high-quality lacquer (Spraymax, Duplicolor clones, etc.)...
  • Like
 
I pulled the trigger. Mostly on StewMac because they have a crazy sale for another 2 days (free shipping + discounts).

Here's my shopping list including customs an shipping.

1736692745463.png
 
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