Fret replacement costs

[BiscoMando]

There aren't many qualified mandolin luthiers in my area (Halifax, NS, Canada) and my local shop wants to charge me a base price of 150 for (something, maybe "dressing", i can't remember) and then 10 bucks per fret after that. bringing the total to $200 for replacing the first 5 frets.

It's not like my mandolin is crazy expensive to begin with. I only paid $1200 for my Eastman 615, but it's the best sounding mandolin I could afford and now within a year i've worn deep notches into the frets under the A string. it's making a nasty buzzing sound on these frets instead of the pleasant tone it used to make.

Should I go ahead and pay up the $200? How difficult is refretting? Should I trust it to someone that may be slightly less qualified?

[Tom C]

Mandolin Bros gets $550. They replace all frets if they need to be or not. Ben I was supposed to send mine back to Ben Wilcox who built it. 2 good things about doing that. He built it. charges a much more fair price.

[Bill Snyder]

Should I trust it to someone that may be slightly less qualified?

What qualifications does this slightly less qualified person have? If they are experienced in doing guitar set-ups and have refretted several guitars but no mandolins I would still consider them doing the work. If on the other hand their experience is setting up their own intruments and maybe working on a buzzing fret once I might be a bit leary.
If for $200 you get a really good job that makes you happy it is probably worth the cost. What is your experience with the shop that gave you the quote. Do they have a good reputation? Are they local to you? How quickly can they return the mandolin?
Besides the cost all of these would weigh into my decision on who to use.

[Timbofood]

Seems a touch dear to me but, I have not had any fret work done in years. Theoretically it is pretty much exactly what you think happens...old ones come out, new ones go in. That being said its much like filling a tooth... drill out the funky part then, fill it up and smooth it so the "fit" is right. Now, I don't think I want to try either project. The ones that do good work (in either profession) deserve to be paid for their education and time spent honing thier talent. If the guy that can do it for less says he will make it the way you want it "No matter what" that could be another consideration.

[John Flynn]

Multiple times, I've had fretting done well for as low as $10 US per fret, including leveling, dressing, etc. I would be leery of anyone who would charge less than that. On other occasions, I've also paid a bit more, which was fine, but I would not pay anywhere near $200 just for 5 frets.

I don't think it works well to compare the purchase price of the instrument to the price of the repair, though. The only real issue is will the money you spend give you a level of satisfaction in your playing that is worth it to you. For example, I have put at least $200 worth of work into a mandolin I only spent $250 on. It is a Parsons flat top that has needed fret dressing, new tuners, a new nut, a bridge shim and some minor structural repair. It was well worth it, because the result has been a great playing, great sounding "beater" mandolin that I have gotten lots of playing time on.

[BiscoMando]

thanks for the advice folks. it is definately worth it to me to have the instrument play well, since i'm in a band and this is the only mandolin i can afford for a long time. i'm just a cheapskate, i guess.

the shop is local and reputable, and usually returns repairs/installations in a few days or a couple of weeks at most. i guess i should just bite the bullet because this buzzing is just killing me!

[markishandsome]

Might as well get more than 5 frets done. Even if they don't have deep notches like the first 5, they probably aren't mint condition. I'd guess this repairperson charges such a high base price to inhibit folks from getting just a couple frets done, which is probably a pain for him. I'd do at least 7 (only 10% more than what you're already going to be paying).

[MikeB]

I don't think it works well to compare the purchase price of the instrument to the price of the repair, though.

This seems like a good point, insofar as it costs just as much to refret a cheapo as a high end mando.

Also, I happen to know the before Rigel went out of business, they charged $11 per fret. Just something to consider.

[Links]

Call me crazy, but I would learn how to do them myself. I learned to install frets by building banjos and it really isn't that difficult and does not require expensive tools. You do have to be careful chipping the fretboard when pulling them, but it ain't rocket surgery!

[Jerry Byers]

Call me crazy, but I would learn how to do them myself. I learned to install frets by building banjos and it really isn't that difficult and does not require expensive tools. You do have to be careful chipping the fretboard when pulling them, but it ain't rocket surgery!
True, if you want to invest in some good tools and have the time to refret. Personally, I would just recommend having a professional do it.

[Timbofood]

I have seen guys that were pretty good at fret work start lifting frets and heard..."ratzen cratzen puff puff" then a deep breath and the job continues. #I suppose, if you are so inclined, it would be a good thing to learn how to do. #Again, it's the execution rather than the theory that can be the hard part of the learning curve. then again all the afore mentioned people are, still at it, have their tempers in check and get satisfaction in the process.
I guess that is a rather rambling way of saying have someone do it or learn how.

[markishandsome]

Call me crazy, but I would learn how to do them myself.

You're crazy! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

I remember reading in some book or something many years ago something to the effect of "refretting is for some reason the first repair job many players attempt on their own instrument when it really ought to be the last." Unless you're good at this sort of thing and have done some instrument work in the past you'd more than likely end up paying for a refret anyway after you did an unsatisfactory job, plus paying to fix the chipped fretboard, screwed up binding, marred neck finish, etc...

I've made 4 fretted instrument myself, and will probably take them to a pro to have them refretted when the time comes.

[Bill Snyder]

...I've made 4 fretted instrument myself, and will probably take them to a pro to have them refretted when the time comes.
I am in about the same boat. I don't know if I would do it myself or not. Probably would depend on the instrument.

[MWM]

Expect the best shops to get around $25 a fret or $350+ for a full refret. Part time luthiers start at half that price. Take your work to who you trust and don't base it on price.

[JEStanek]

Does the amount of neck binding influence the price too? I would bet so.

I did a Builder Search for Canada (http://www.mandolincafe.com/cgi-bin/builders/searchdb.cgi?uid=default&view_records=1&keyword=canada&submit=Search+again) and found these listings. Some are for Nova Scotia area. You might consider calling some of them up for quotes too.
Jamie

[Ken Sager]

Take your work to who you trust and don't base it on price.
Ditto.

[John Flynn]

Expect the best shops to get around $25 a fret or $350+ for a full refret. Part time luthiers start at half that price. Take your work to who you trust and don't base it on price.
I just pulled out the reciept for my latest mando refret, which was about a month ago. The luthier has significant formal luthiery training, 10 years' experience, does luthiery full time, both for his own clients and for multiple music stores in our major metropolitan area and he has provided me great service and and great work over several repairs. Price: $15 a fret for five frets, including leveling, crowning and polishing. I do consider his shop to be one of the "best shops." There are places in town I that charge a lot more, but have messed up repairs for me and where I will not take work anymore. So I do take my work to who I trust and while I don't base that on price, I am lucky enough to be paying a lot less than you suggest and am happier for it. Just like with mando building, price does not always equal value.

[BiscoMando]

i don't think i'm at a point where i can refret it myself, although that would be quite satisfying if I could do it well. but i just don't have the resources to buy tools and the house i'm in is not my permanent house, i'm just renting. I guess "poor musician" applies perfectly to me.
i'm going to do a little more searching for repair shops in my area and then probably just bite the bullet and pay the 200 bucks. good idea about getting more frets done, the first seven are all pretty worn, actually.
how often do pickers usually have frets replaced? maybe i'm pushing too hard...

[james condino]

I see a lot of instruments that folks took to the local electric guitar shop to have refretted because they charge about half of what I do. Don't get me wrong, some of those folks are expert technicians, but some are clearly not. They regularly come back to me crying with a LOT of damage to their instrument- ripped up and chipped out fingerbairds, inlays sanded out, chipped bindings, dents in the back of the neck, a train wreck of a fretboard, and sometimes craks in the sruce from mad hammering of the new frets.

Ripping out the old ones and cranking in a new set of frets in as quck a time frame as possible is a completely different concept compared to having the work done by a very skilled and experienced professional. To finesse the job and inflict the least possible amount of #stress on an instrument takes a lot of time.

Cleaning up somone else's damage, redoing the fretjob properly, and setting it all up the way they wanted costs a lot more than my initial price. When you add up all of the money and frustrations, it usually adds up to hundreds of dollars they would have saved just by bringing it to the so called "expensive" folks first.

That said, I love the electric guitar shops staffed by 17 years olds. (I was one of those 17 year olds several decades ago....) The best thing about them is that they provide me with a pretty constant source of very expensive repair work to be undone....

j.
www.condino.com

[Fretbear]

How much he charges (it's the shop usually) is less important than how good he is. What you really want is to avoid parting with hard earned cash for a hack job. Check out his fretwork on guitars if you have to. I have seen guitar shop boys who have never touched an arch-top bridge (common on jazz guitars) much less a mandolin.

[BiscoMando]

The store is definately the spot to be for local fretted acoustic instruments. they have many mandolins, banjos, guitars and fiddles and are basically THE place to go for repairs and purchase of acoustic instruments. the owner builds very nice acoustic guitars. I'll be sure to talk to him about the binding and fretboard damage concerns before leaving my mandolin there. heck, maybe i'll even get him to sand down my neck to a speed neck like i've wanted for a few months now. i'm getting pretty excited about this now!

Thanks for all the advice folks,

Buzzing frets be gone!

- Jeff

[Michael Lewis]

One more point to consider, and this should be assessed by the person doing the refret, and that is the trueness of the fingerboard. All too often necks will settle over time and develop hollows and high spots. The fingerboard can be leveled when doing a complete fret job when all the frets are out of the fingerboard. This allows for the new frets to be their best, otherwise if the humps and hollows remain some of the frets will be nice and high while others have to be dressed down considerably, thus leaving less material to wear, thus a shorter life. So, ask how much for a complete job. It may not be that much more money for a much better (and longer lasting) job.

[8ch(pl)]

I live in Cole Harbour, if you like you can call me at 434-3138. I may be able to steer you to someone. I will probably be home this afternoon , or you can call me tomorrow afternoon.

[mandoscotia]

I would suggest you shop around in the Halifax area. There are more places to get work done than the one you are considering, I think.

Nate (from Lantz)

[Susan H.]

I'm having Nathan Fisher here in Colorado Springs refret my Eastman 615 for $300. He says it will take him about 2 to 4 days to complete the job and is actually putting on thicker frets for me. He has been mentioned before on the forum and he's advised me on guitar issues I've had in the past. John Ramsey (owner of Tejon Street Music) recommends Nathan for luthier work here, so you know he has to be good.

[MikeB]

I've had several fret jobs done--all very well, I might add. They should have been; I paid plenty, but fairly, for them.

But, this thread got me wondering....Luthiers: is the hardest part of refretting to cleanly remove the old frets? Or is it the whole job that makes it such a killer?

I'm certain that a couple of repairmen I've spoken to have priced themselves deliberately high, just to avoid having to do the job (which is totally fair practice, IMO). Anyway, I'm just wondering how the job breaks down between removing vs installing/dressing frets. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif

[jim simpson]

My least favorite part is crowning. Perhaps I need a new set of crowning files as I find this the most tedious. I think trying not to tear out wood while removing frets is also stressfull.

[Links]

Quote< "I remember reading in some book or something many years ago something to the effect of "refretting is for some reason the first repair job many players attempt on their own instrument when it really ought to be the last." #Unless you're good at this sort of thing and have done some instrument work in the past you'd more than likely end up paying for a refret anyway after you did an unsatisfactory job, plus paying to fix the chipped fretboard, screwed up binding, marred neck finish, etc...">

Mark #- well I guess I asked for it and you accomodated me!

I guess I should have clarified my remarks. #First, re-fretting instruments has always come pretty easy to me because I have a proclivity for detail work, am pretty patient, and have always "worked with my hands". #I realize that not everyone has #the interest in doing it, the patience (extremely important) or the dexterity. My mother was an arts and crafts teacher, so this sort of thing has always been second nature to me. #I have never done work for others, so I have never had to worry about doing it on a schedule or damagin someone else's instrument. #I have never damaged mine either, so I am very careful.

James Condino made some excellent points and ultimately who works on your instrument should be more about doing it right and quality as opposed to price (although there is probably a reasonable compromise). #It also seems reasonable to me that the "per fret" charge should be more for a smaller number of frets done. #There should be some economy of scale.

In retrospect, you'd be crazy to do it yourself #- # leave it to a highly trained professional #- # unless of course the fret job will cost you more than the original cost of the instrument #- # then go for it!