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How long does it take a luthier to do a refret?

jbzoso2002

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May 10, 2009
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How long for refret & cust service question EDIT

How long does it take a luthier to do a refret and a custom
fit bone nut on a no binding LP in actual shop time?

Thanks Jimmy
 
Last edited:

Xpensive Wino

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How long does it take a luthier to do a refret and a custom
fit bone nut on a no binding LP in actual shop time?

Thanks Jimmy

Depends. I have had both done in a couple of hours. Depends on the tech and your relationship.
 

P.Walker

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Depends on the shop, workload, guitar in question, and any other extraneous factors, but the work itself is, like the first person said, a few hours.

For some problematic necks, it's a different story, but most of the time, most of those aren't worth refretting anyway.

I have a pretty good relationship with my luthier, and he can get mine done ready to be picked up next day or two.

As far as repair/maintenance goes, he says it's not difficult, but one of the most exacting, detailed, and still interesting jobs that he still does to this day. Man loves his frets- that's why I go to him.
 

jbzoso2002

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Im getting to be concerned with how my refret is going.

I have a friend that has had 2 refrets with this tech and
was very happy with the work.

I called him and was quoted 1 week, when I dropped it
off he said 2 weeks. I waited 2 weeks and called, he said
1 more week plus.

Called today, 3 weeks after drop off and he said mine is next.

I said well I would like this to get done soon, he said Thursday
and also asked me if I just want to pick it up today.

I was taken aback by that but said if you can get it done by
Thursday that will work.

Not happy with this, but we will see.

What do you think??

Jimmy
 

renderit

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While the work takes a few hours I would have suggested a week. I also can see a good guy getting backed up and would have suggested a month. The fact he started out short and is coming in long indicates he is probably just busy. But it could indicate he is avoiding it for some reason as well. Does he appear busy all the time?
 

jbzoso2002

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He is very busy, that is confirmed.

If he told me 3 to 4 weeks up front I would not have left it.

Jimmy
 

Xpensive Wino

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Im getting to be concerned with how my refret is going.

I have a friend that has had 2 refrets with this tech and
was very happy with the work.

I called him and was quoted 1 week, when I dropped it
off he said 2 weeks. I waited 2 weeks and called, he said
1 more week plus.

Called today, 3 weeks after drop off and he said mine is next.

I said well I would like this to get done soon, he said Thursday
and also asked me if I just want to pick it up today.

I was taken aback by that but said if you can get it done by
Thursday that will work.

Not happy with this, but we will see.

What do you think??

Jimmy

I think you need a backup guitar. :eek:la
 

marshall1987

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Refrets are normally priced at a flat rate, not by the hour.

So the time it takes depends.

For example: does the guitar tech use a PLEK machine? Are there any issues with the straightness of the neck, or fingerboard, or trussrod? Do you want the binding nibs saved? Do you need a new nut? Does the guitar have a maple fingerboard which might require touch up to the lacquer?

You could go on and on. I have used Phil Jacoby in Baltimore to do refrets on at least 6 guitars. Each guitar was different.
 

jbzoso2002

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Rosewood fret board no binding 1996 studio, he has no plek machine.

The prob I have is the quoted time, started at 1 week now 3 weeks plus.

At the most this takes 1 day.

I was ok with 2 weeks after that Im not happy.

I will pick it up Thursday done or not.

Jimmy
 

marshall1987

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Rosewood fret board no binding 1996 studio, he has no plek machine.

The prob I have is the quoted time, started at 1 week now 3 weeks plus.

At the most this takes 1 day.

I was ok with 2 weeks after that Im not happy.

I will pick it up Thursday done or not.

Jimmy

I'm confused as to what you are asking....Do you want to know how long it takes to refret a guitar? Or how long a given guitar tech might make you wait before he begins work on your guitar? The latter is impossible to generalize.
 

jbzoso2002

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My original question is guitar on bench, how long.

Looks like 1/2 day.

My second question/issue I was give 3 different time estimates, 1 wk 2wks 3wks +

If I was told 3 to 4 weeks upfront I would have made other arrangements.

Jimmy
 

jbzoso2002

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Still not done, getting real pissed off!!

I called Thursday and he said the frets are out but he ran out
of bone nut blanks.

He said he will get them Fri or Mon(4 weeks in) and that he would
call me Fri either way........no call and didn't answer my call at 5pm.

I just want this to be over.

Jimmy:dang
 

P.Walker

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hard to believe anyone is that busy to take 3-4 weeks, if not close to over a month for a simple refret. :hmm

As everyone has told you, a straight-ahead refret should take less than a day (at the most). It it takes more, it's backlogged work.

It's a damn refret, not an analogman king of tone.

Makes no sense.
 

jbzoso2002

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Got it back today and Im happy with the work,
It plays like warm smooth butter.

Jimmy
 
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