Km-675 re-fret

[mdmaynard]

Greetings Gang!

I had purchased a km-675 from the classifieds. I was having trouble getting it tuned so I took it to a local repair shop to find out it needed a complete re-fret job. The guy talked me into adding some money and trading it for a used Kentucky km-160 that he had already gone through and set up. I did the deal and regretted it after the fact. So I ended up getting a km-160 that cost me 700.00, I was frustrated.

I wanted the 675 back so i went back and bought it back, now I am wanting to get the refret job done.

My ignorance is going to show here (will not be the first time nor the last), but I called a local shop that has a very good reputation and they wanted to know if the neck was bound. What does this mean and how do I know if the neck is bound our not on the Kentucky km-675?

They quoted me a price of $300.00 for a complete refret and professional set-up (if the neck is bound), sounds reasonable to me.

[MikeEdgerton]

The KM-160 is a $230.00 retail mandolin (brand new). Find some other place to shop.

[Walter Newton]

Looking at the images from a quick Google search for a Kentucky KM675 yes it looks like the neck is bound - binding is the white/ivory colored trim along either edge of the fretboard, it makes for more work when doing a refret.

[mdmaynard]

The KM-160 is a $230.00 retail mandolin (brand new). Find some other place to shop.

Edited by MikeEdgerton on April 17 2008, 11:15

Not wanting to trash anyone, I know now and I cannot put all blame on shop. I was eager to have something to play right then and was upset that the km-675 needed so much work just to get it to be playable. The gentleman seen a good business deal as I was ignorant and eager at the same time However I do feel that a truly good shop would not be so eager to take advantage of a newbie in hopes of future sells.

I have done some research now and found a very reputable person Steve Hickerson from Tulsa Guitar and Electronics. Seems most bands around here take their instruments there for any repairs including mandolin's. He is just just way back logged and is out of town so he was trying to answer my questions by phone and that was the question that came up, whether the neck was bound or not.

Just to clarify my early post... when I left there with the km-160 I had 700 in it (500 I paid for the km675 and 200 for the km-160). This was on Friday, I went in yesterday and tried to undo the deal, but he would not, however I bought my km675 back for another 117.95.

So if I was to break it down I gave 500 originally for the km675, then another 117.95 to buy it back so I now I have the following:

used Km-675 617.95 invested so far (still needing refret)
used km-160 200.00

so I not as burned as I was originally, so I am a bit greatful. He could have sold it back to me for another 500.00 LOL

I just mark this down as a huge learning experience and I am planning on buying 1500 - 2000 mandolin next tax season :-) Had I been patient and just waited I could have taken all I spent so far 817.00 and gotten a decent used eastman that is the learning experience.

[TomTyrrell]

I'll be blunter than usual. Forget everything the first guy told you about the 675!

That mando might not really need a fret job. Let Steve look at it first before you commit to anything.

[mdmaynard]

Thanks for the info... I guess I have never seen mandolin without binding. It thought all had the trim down the neck. I appreciate the feedback.

[Caleb]

What a bummer of a situation. I have learned (the hard way) that trying to get out cheap usually costs me more in the longrun. #I bought a lot of cheaper guitars before finally settling in on a good one. #Then once I put a pen to all the junk I bought fixing up old cheap guitars, I could have had what I wanted all along. #Hope all this works out for you, Martin.