Top 42 How Long Do Guitar Frets Last Top Answer Update

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18 months before a fret-dress really isn’t unreasonable. depending on how good the factory work was, that guitar may have needed the work done the day it left the factory. Unless the frets are incredibly soft, it should be good for a couple years.How Often Do Guitar Frets Need To Be Replaced? Typically, you replace your guitar fret bars (refret) after 20-30 years. Whereas you can perform a fret dressing more often – every 3 years or so. Depending on the wear and performance of the guitar.Now, about those frets: You can think about your frets like the tires on your car. They’re a part of your guitar that gets a lot of direct use, and eventually, they’re bound to wear out. They need to be replaced every so often.

How often do frets need to be replaced?

How Often Do Guitar Frets Need To Be Replaced? Typically, you replace your guitar fret bars (refret) after 20-30 years. Whereas you can perform a fret dressing more often – every 3 years or so. Depending on the wear and performance of the guitar.

Do guitar frets wear out?

Now, about those frets: You can think about your frets like the tires on your car. They’re a part of your guitar that gets a lot of direct use, and eventually, they’re bound to wear out. They need to be replaced every so often.

How much should a fret job cost?

Refretting usually costs between $200 and $400, and it is worth it if you plan on playing that guitar. Especially if it is a more expensive one. Refretting cheaper guitars might not be a good idea since the whole procedure can cost more than you paid for the instrument.

How often should you polish guitar frets?

A clean fingerboard feels and looks better and will extend the life of your strings. However, a more long-term concern is your fretboard drying out, cracking, and wearing. For that, many manufacturers recommend every six months you should clean your fretboard with a specialty wood oil.

Can a guitar last a lifetime?

A guitar that doesn’t get much use and is stored correctly, can last forever. This depends heavily on how it’s cared for. Most vintage and collector guitars are many decades old and in great shape. They don’t get played much and are more for show.

How much does a fret dress cost?

Often it makes sense to go for fret dressing which typically costs between $60 and $100.

Can frets be repaired?

Usually when more than 7 frets need replacement a total refret is in order. Complete refret – Refretting the entire fingerboard is necessary when fret height is insufficient, wear is not confined to only a few frets, we wish to change the type of fret wire we use or radius of the board.

Is it hard to Refret a guitar?

Performing a complete refret job is about as big as a job can be in guitar lutherie – but don’t let that scare you away. If it’s done poorly, you can usually salvage the job by pulling the frets again and giving it another try. It’s an extremely valuable skill to have, and the core requirement for a perfect action.

Does Refretting a vintage guitar devalue it?

The new frets are installed . . new binding is applied, then scraped to once again create the nubs and the entire neck gets a refin. EDIT: However, it is worth pointing out that the rebinding and the refin will devalue a truly collectable vintage instrument even more so than a refret over the binding will.

Do stainless steel frets sound different?

Yes, stainless steel frets do sound different. I’ve owned a number of luthier made, steel string electrics, some with stainless frets and some with nickel silver. The stainless fret guitars sound brighter, especially when first striking a string.

Is Refretting a guitar difficult?

Performing a complete refret job is about as big as a job can be in guitar lutherie – but don’t let that scare you away. If it’s done poorly, you can usually salvage the job by pulling the frets again and giving it another try. It’s an extremely valuable skill to have, and the core requirement for a perfect action.


Ramping down the last 5 frets
Ramping down the last 5 frets


How long should frets last? – Ultimate Guitar

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How long should frets last? – Ultimate Guitar Updating My guitar is about 18 months old. I had it serviced the other day, and was surprised that the tech had done a fret dress. I would have thought that th…how,long,should,frets,last
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Guitar Refret: When, How Often & How To Know (Is It Worth It) | Strumming Bars

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Guitar Refret: When, How Often & How To Know (Is It Worth It) | Strumming Bars Updating Y ou do not need guitar refret very often – maybe after 20 years or so. Most people don’t need a refret job unless it has impacted their playing with bad tones and the guitar strings are buzzing.  I personally have done fret dressing a couple of times. Note that fret dressing is different from a …
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How Do I Know If My Guitar Needs Refret

Guitar Refret Vs Fret Dressing

How Often Do Guitar Frets Need To Be Replaced

How Much Does Guitar Refret Cost

Is It Worth It To Refret A Guitar

Can Refretting Damage Guitar

Does Refret Hurt Guitar Value

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Guitar Refret: When, How Often & How To Know (Is It Worth It) | Strumming Bars
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Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?” | Acoustic Guitar

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?” | Acoustic Guitar Updating Should I keep the vintage frets on my vintage Gibson for the sake of the guitar’s authenticity? What’s causing that mysterious metallic fret buzz? Ask the Expert!
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Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?” | Acoustic Guitar
Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?” | Acoustic Guitar

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How to Tell if a Guitar Has Bad Frets – YouTube

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How to Tell if a Guitar Has Bad Frets – YouTube Updating If you found this video helpful, please consider leaving me a one time tip at ko.fi or subscribing to my patreon for as little as $1 a monthhttps://www.patre…Bad frets, high frets, pitted frets, worn frets, lifted frets, unlevel frets, sharp frets, fret leveling, how to tell if a guitar has bad frets, low frets, buzzing frets, intonation, frets, drews guitar shop, west seattle guitar repair, used and intage instruments, www.drewsguitarshop.com, avoid bad frets, Looking at frets, fretted, fretz, buying used guitars, buying vintage guitars
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How to Tell if a Guitar Has Bad Frets - YouTube
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How Much Does It Cost To Refret A Guitar? Is It Worth it? – Rock Guitar Universe

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Much Does It Cost To Refret A Guitar? Is It Worth it? – Rock Guitar Universe Updating If you play your guitar for a while, there is a chance that you’ll need to refret it. Refretting is a process of replacing worn…
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The Cost Of Refretting A Guitar

Is It Worth It To Refret A Guitar

How Do I Know If My Guitar Needs New Frets

How Often Should You Refret Your Guitar

How Many Times Can You Refret A Guitar

How Long Does It Take To Refret A Guitar

Can I Refret A Guitar By Myself

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How Much Does It Cost To Refret A Guitar? Is It Worth it? – Rock Guitar Universe
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How Long Do Guitar Frets Usually Last? – Guitar Unit

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How Long Do Guitar Frets Usually Last? – Guitar Unit As it’s been sa at the beginning, guitar frets can last from few years to a few decades. It just depends on too many factors. Anyway, don’t forget to check … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long Do Guitar Frets Usually Last? – Guitar Unit As it’s been sa at the beginning, guitar frets can last from few years to a few decades. It just depends on too many factors. Anyway, don’t forget to check … Every guitar has to be maintained regularly. It means that you need to restring it after a while, clean the fretboard, adjust the action etc.…
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Things Affecting Guitar Frets Lifespan

When It’s Time To Refret Your Guitar

Conclusion

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How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe So how long do guitar frets last? Frets can last anywhere in a range of several years to decades. It depends on the fret’s type and material, the type of … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe So how long do guitar frets last? Frets can last anywhere in a range of several years to decades. It depends on the fret’s type and material, the type of … Often people forget that guitar frets do not last forever. When buying a new guitar, we tend to forget that the frets will wear off…
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Do Some Frets Wear Out Quicker Than The Others

Does Bigger Frets Last Longer

Can humidity affect the lifespan of frets

Are Capos Bad For Your Frets

Are Slides Bad For Your Frets

Can One String Material Wear Out Frets More Than Others

Is It Fretting Hand Technique Important In Frets Longevity

Are Coated Strings Bad For Your Frets

Can Hand Sweat Be Bad For Frets

How Many Times Can A Guitar Neck Be Refretted

Does String Size Matter

How To Prevent Fret Wear

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How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe
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How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe

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  • Summary of article content: Articles about How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe ‘Tis the nature of electric guitar. Realistically though it should take years and years before you’d need to really worry about it. My friend … …
  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe ‘Tis the nature of electric guitar. Realistically though it should take years and years before you’d need to really worry about it. My friend … Often people forget that guitar frets do not last forever. When buying a new guitar, we tend to forget that the frets will wear off…
  • Table of Contents:

Do Some Frets Wear Out Quicker Than The Others

Does Bigger Frets Last Longer

Can humidity affect the lifespan of frets

Are Capos Bad For Your Frets

Are Slides Bad For Your Frets

Can One String Material Wear Out Frets More Than Others

Is It Fretting Hand Technique Important In Frets Longevity

Are Coated Strings Bad For Your Frets

Can Hand Sweat Be Bad For Frets

How Many Times Can A Guitar Neck Be Refretted

Does String Size Matter

How To Prevent Fret Wear

Conclusion

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How Long Do Guitar Frets Last And How To Prevent Fret Wear? – Rock Guitar Universe
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How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? | Hobbycate

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? | Hobbycate Electric guitar frets last up to 20 or 30 years on average. However, some factors like the fret material, your playing frequency, and can … The life of a good set of frets depends on several factors. This article explains how long guitar frets last and signs that tell you when to refret your guitar.
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What Affects the Lifespan of Electric Guitar Frets

Signs That Tell You When to Refret Your Guitar

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How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? | Hobbycate
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How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? (on average) – Guvna Guitars

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? (on average) – Guvna Guitars Depending on: the material they’re made from, how often the guitar is played, the way the guitar is played and the way the guitar is stored – frets can last …
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What Affects The Lifespan Of Electric Guitar Frets

What Are You Doing To Cause Wear To Your Guitar Frets

Pressing The Strings Too Hard

String Bending

Slide Guitar Playing

Using A Capo

Strumming Action

String Gauge

Sweat Can Cause Fret Wear

Humidity Can Damage Your Guitar’s Fretboard

How Do You Know When It’s Time To Refret Your Guitar

Which Fret Type Is Best – Nickel Silver Or Stainless Steel

The Pros & Cons Of Nickel Silver Frets

The Pros & Cons Of Stainless Steel Frets

A Cautionary Word

What’s The Average Lifespan Of Electric Guitar Frets

Frequently Asked Questions

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How Long Do Electric Guitar Frets Last? (on average) - Guvna Guitars
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How Long do Guitar Frets Last? Guitar Fret Wear Lifespan

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How Long do Guitar Frets Last? Guitar Fret Wear Lifespan Guitar frets can easily last the lifetime of the guitar, or they could wear out within 1-2 years of heavy playing. The biggest factor in how long guitar … How long do guitar frets last? should you get the maintained or replaced? how do I know if my guitar frets need replacing
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How Long do Guitar Frets Last? Guitar Fret Wear Lifespan
How Long do Guitar Frets Last? Guitar Fret Wear Lifespan

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How long does it take to wear out frets? | Telecaster Guitar Forum

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  • Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How long does it take to wear out frets? | Telecaster Guitar Forum It depends on the fret wire size and type. If it is vintage wire about 6 to 9 months for a level (if there is such a thing with those) and about … A question for you pro’s out there… how long does it take to “wear out” new or near new frets? Hours of play, years of ownership, etc.?
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How long does it take to wear out frets? | Telecaster Guitar Forum
How long does it take to wear out frets? | Telecaster Guitar Forum

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Guitar Refret: When, How Often & How To Know (Is It Worth It)

You do not need guitar refret very often – maybe after 20 years or so. Most people don’t need a refret job unless it has impacted their playing with bad tones and the guitar strings are buzzing.

I personally have done fret dressing a couple of times. Note that fret dressing is different from a complete refret. More about that later.

In this article, I am going to discuss more about guitar regrets – with things like how do you know if you need a refret, refret vs fret dressing and other things like cost and worth.

If you are struggling to decide whether you need a refret or not, then this article is great for you. Read till the end and you should know all you need about guitar refrets.

Ask the Expert: When Is it Time for a Re-Fret? And What Is “Back Buzz?”

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From the July 2017 issue of Acoustic Guitar | BY MAMIE MINCH

Q: My question is about the frets on a vintage Gibson that is new to me. It’s a 1960s B-25 (solid spruce top and mahogany body with solid back and laminated sides, and a rosewood fingerboard) in pretty good shape, and it’s even had the plastic bridge replaced with a rosewood one at some point (I understand this is an upgrade). The frets seem like they’re original, but the first few are awfully flat and have deep divots. Should I keep the vintage frets for the sake of the guitar’s authenticity? Clearly, with the new bridge, it’s not all original. —Elizabeth, New York, New York

A: Congrats on the new old guitar. You’re right, replacing the hollow plastic bridge (and removing the tone-killing bolts that held it in place) is an upgrade for these guitars! I’ve always liked these—they’re neat Gibsons that were built to be less expensive, and having a rosewood bridge and bone saddle put on will really enhance the sound.

Now, about those frets: You can think about your frets like the tires on your car. They’re a part of your guitar that gets a lot of direct use, and eventually, they’re bound to wear out. They need to be replaced every so often. Like a new set of tires, especially with a nicer product, a re-fret isn’t cheap, but they feel so much better afterward that you’re always glad you did it. Most frets are made of 18 percent nickel-silver, which is softer than your steel strings and slowly wears down with use. Stainless steel and other harder alloys are also available, but if the frets are harder than your strings, the trade-off will be that your strings take the brunt of the wear; stainless frets might never wear out, but your strings will tend to break more often.

Guitar collectors do get geeky about small details being original, but the original frets will be cool only if they’re in usable shape. Vintage frets on working instruments are usually not going to be considered terribly special or irreplaceable. Frets are meant to be used. If they have light divots or some uneven wear, they can likely be leveled and dressed, but if they are so worn and gouged out that they don’t do their job anymore, it’s time for replacements. Your repair person will choose new fret wire of the same dimensions and the only thing you’ll notice when they’re done is how easy it is to play.

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Q: I have been hearing a mysterious metallic fret buzz when I use my capo above the fourth fret on my ’90s Martin. It’s so weird—I don’t hear it when I make chords up the neck, only when I use a capo, but it is pretty constant and really hard to ignore! Help! —Annie, Brooklyn, New York

There is nothing worse than playing a game of chase-that-buzz on your guitar. Of course without handling your guitar I can only speculate, but I have an idea of what this could be. If it only happens when you use a capo up the neck, and is consistent when you play, here’s a possible diagnosis: The problem is what’s called “back buzz.” It’s when the string rattles against the tops of your frets between the nut and the capo, and if you play with a capo often, it can be really annoying. Your repair person could do a couple of different things based on what else she notices about the guitar. She would probably start by making sure the truss rod isn’t overtightened. She might raise the nut slot for that string (by filling the slot, shimming the nut, or cutting a new higher one), or she might dress the frets to make sure that there isn’t one slightly high fret to blame. I feel for you; this is a pretty annoying issue and you shouldn’t have to suffer—get thee to the repair shop!

Mamie Minch is the co-owner of Brooklyn Lutherie. She is the former head of repair at Retrofret Guitars and an active blues player.

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This article originally appeared in the July 2017 issue of Acoustic Guitar magazine.

How Much Does It Cost To Refret A Guitar? Is It Worth it? – Rock Guitar Universe

If you play your guitar for a while, there is a chance that you’ll need to refret it. Refretting is a process of replacing worn frets with new ones so you can continue playing the guitar. While it is not the most common practice, it is something you’ll need to do after a while.

So, how much does it cost, and is it worth it? Refretting usually costs between $200 and $400, and it is worth it if you plan on playing that guitar. Especially if it is a more expensive one.

Refretting cheaper guitars might not be a good idea since the whole procedure can cost more than you paid for the instrument.

The Cost Of Refretting A Guitar

There are so many things that may affect the price when it comes to refretting. As you all know, each guitar is different, and there are many variations that depend on the brand, model, and so on.

The first thing that may have an impact on the price is the type of guitar, or more precisely neck. Usually, the price is different for bolt-on and set-in necks. Furthermore, the wood may also play a role in the price you’ll need to pay.

And if your guitar neck has the binding on it, it will only increase the price. And each part of the guitar or neck can further affect the price. Needless to say, if you have a vintage instrument that’s rather expensive, you will need to pay even more for refretting.

In essence, rosewood necks are a lot cheaper than maple, and you will need to pay less for bolt-on necks. Moreover, if your guitar doesn’t have binding, the price will go even lower. So the cheapest options are guitars like Stratocaster with rosewood fretboards.

The more expensive and fragile the instrument is, the higher the price will go. You might ask why this is the case, and why refretting is so expensive. Firstly, you might notice that I never mentioned the price of frets.

The reason for this is that you can get a set of frets for the guitar for around $10. But the process can be quite complex and requires a lot of work. Needless to say, you need to replace frets without damaging the instrument.

Is It Worth It To Refret A Guitar?

Yes and no. If you own an expensive instrument, refretting it is undoubtedly worth the price. Vintage instruments can cost a couple of thousands, and adding a few hundred on top of it is just part of maintenance.

If you own a Strat from the fifties or vintage Les Paul, you would want to keep it in the best possible condition, and you will need to invest in the guitar if you want to keep it playable. But what happens if you have your old instrument instead?

This is where you might face a problem. If you need to refret, let’s say, your first guitar, then it might not be worth the price. Unless you feel like it. But in theory, the guitar is worth a lot less than you’ll pay for refretting.

I already mentioned that the price is between $200 and $400, and if you have a $150 guitar, it might not be worth the price.

However, if you love your guitar, and want to fix it, then it is ok. You should ask yourself if it is worth repairing it and if you can afford it. If the answer is yes, then you should do it.

How Do I Know If My Guitar Needs New Frets?

Whenever you play the guitar, you will press the string against the fret. And each time you do this, it will leave a dent on the fret. Naturally, this isn’t something that you’ll notice after a couple of months of playing.

But after a few years, dents in frets will become more noticeable, especially if you play without vibrato. Using vibrato while playing can help you wear out your frets naturally and evenly which won’t cause you problems.

So, the first thing you can do is check your frets and see if they are worn out. But this isn’t the primary concern and even if there are visual differences, you might not need to refret the instrument.

If you were wondering whether your guitar needs new frets, all you need to do is play it. If there are notes that aren’t sharp, or if they are losing sustain or any other problem with notes, then you might need to do something about it.

But this doesn’t mean that you’ll need to replace frets. Sometimes, all you need to do is take your guitar to a local service, and they can file down frets and make them even. Instead of replacing all of them, they can often eliminate the problem with the existing frets.

How Often Should You Refret Your Guitar?

For the average player, it will take decades before they will need a fret job. But it depends on your playstyle, the amount of time you spend playing the guitar, the quality of the instrument, and so on. Many players spend decades using the same guitar without refretting it, and it is not the most common procedure.

If you have more than one guitar and you keep playing all of them, there is a high chance that you won’t need to refret it any time soon. Furthermore, your playstyle or how hard are you on the frets will also play an important role.

A lot of bending and vibrato will wear out frets faster, but the refretting time will still measure in decades. Needless to say, if you play five or ten hours each day, then you might need to consider refretting your instrument after a while.

How Many Times Can You Refret A Guitar?

Did you know that Stevie Ray Vaughan had to stop playing his favorite guitar? In early videos, you can see his Stratocaster named “Number One” in almost every show. But the guitar became nearly unusable near the end of his career.

The reason for this is because it had been refretted so many times that they couldn’t do it anymore. In the end, they had to completely replace the neck of the guitar.

But assuming that you are not touring as much as SRV did and that you are not playing heavy gauge strings, it is highly unlikely that you will face this problem.

So, there is obviously a limit to how many times you can refret the instrument. However, if you refret it every ten or twenty years and the job is done correctly, you won’t face a similar problem.

Regular players are a lot more gentle with their guitar than Stevie was, and you can easily refret it three or four times without any problems.

How Long Does It Take To Refret A Guitar?

It depends on how busy your luthier is. But even if they have nothing else to do, the answer is still not certain. For example, you will need to consider the type of guitar.

If you have a Strat, with a rosewood fretboard, the process will be significantly easier, and that means that they will need less time. On the other hand, a maple neck or some other wood with binding might take longer.

Furthermore, if they can’t remove the neck, it will just make the process a bit more slower and complex. But even if you take the worst-case scenario, they can still finish the work in a couple of hours.

Luthiers have a lot of experience replacing frets, and it isn’t something new they need to discover or learn.

Usually, you will be without a guitar at least a week. As you can probably imagine, luthiers have other customers and things to do, and they will need to find time to refret your instrument. But two or three days is probably the best possible scenario if you are leaving your guitar in a shop.

Can I Refret A Guitar By Myself?

So, can you refret a guitar by yourself? Sure, why not. The same way you could fix your car when it breaks. However, this isn’t something that I would recommend. Refretting guitar is not as easy as changing strings, and you will need appropriate tools.

Moreover, there are so many things that could go wrong, and if this is your only guitar, doing it by yourself might be a bad idea. Of course, if you have several guitars, and you take the cheapest one to have fun, then go for it.

All you need to do is remove the old frets, place new ones, and cut the excess parts and level the frets. That’s it. But there are so many steps to each process, and you need to do it without damaging the fretboard.

Furthermore, you need to ensure that each fret is the same size, and that is perfectly placed to avoid buzzing and problems with sound. While it might sound expensive, remember that this isn’t something you’ll do often.

And even if you have to pay $200 every decade, it might be worth leaving it to someone with more experience in the field.

for more on the topic you should check this video

Summary

Replacing the frets on your guitar is something you might need to do at one point. The reason people replace frets is that strings start buzzing and your guitar is unable to keep sustain and sharpness of each note.

Depending on the time you spend playing, and your technique, the frets on your guitar will wear out, and you will need to get new ones.

Now, the price of frets is not an issue since they are rather inexpensive. But the main problem is in the work you’ll need to do. You will need to remove each fret, place a new one, and cut the extra part, all while ensuring that each fret is perfectly placed and that there are no problems with the sound.

The whole process can be quite complex, so you might want to leave it to someone with more experience. Professional luthiers will do that for you in a couple of hours, and your guitar will be as good as new.

So you have finished reading the how long do guitar frets last topic article, if you find this article useful, please share it. Thank you very much. See more: how long do stainless steel frets last, fret dressing

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