How Can I Find a Great Tech To Re-Fret My Guitars?

[TSJMajesty]

I've never had a guitar re-fretted. How would you guys go about finding a tech who does Andy Eagle-level of fretwork, who is also 100% careful with their customers' guitars?

I'm on the eastern shore of MD. Should I just call PRS and Knaggs?

Or is there someone any of you guys know in the Annapolis/Balt/DC area, or even better, the eastern shore of MD?


We have a local guy in my area whose name always comes up. But the one time I visited his shop with a friend (I was just accompanying my friend as an onlooker, so to speak), I watched him bump a customer's guitar on a table as he picked it up! He didn't even react.

I just cannot abide that sort of carelessness. I know myself well enough, when it comes to this sort of thing.

If I took my truck in to get new tires put on, and it came back with a new minor scratch, so be it. I don't care. But NOT when it comes to my guitars!

I'm nervous about not choosing the right person for my pickiness. Which is maybe why I've never had any of my other guitars refretted. My 1980 LP Custom and my 87 PRS Std 24 also need it done.

'Nother question- on my LP, will I definitely lose the nibs, or can they be saved somehow?

 

[Eagle]

Go and visit some techs and ask to see examples.
It’s possible to save nibs I do it from time to time but there are some considerable limitations if you do. The fingerboard must have no issues and require no levelling. The fretwire will need to be the same size and not really any taller than it was new or you run in to issues dressing the ends. You are in danger of losing a slight bit of width in order to make it look completely stock. The last one is almost nobody can do it really well and those that can change a LOT for the job. I would recommend you lose the nibs unless you really care about vintage details. Gibson binding used to be really thin and together with the slight bevel it can be almost impossible to save it . On newer pieces with wider binding is can be done successfully.
On vintage this ends up the pragmatic approach.

It’s effectively overlapping but by the time you dress the end it’s sitting at a similar playing width but with the extra height.
The alternative is a full overlap;

This is best but obviously different from stock.

 

[Eagle]

If you are having trouble finding anyone just send it to Joe Glaser (Nashville) he has a plek and does excellent work. He has a waiting list but that is a testimony.

 

[Eagle]

Here is a video showing someone saving the nibs (only really possible with the wide binding)

 

[TSJMajesty]

saving the nibs (only really possible with the wide binding)

It's a 1980 Silverburst, but it's been a player guitar.

 

[Eagle]

Close up pictures would help. It will be wide but it depends on how it was dressed.

 

[newholland]

watching with interest cause my 78 LPC could really use a refret as well and im up in hagerstown!

 

[newholland]

this region irritates me because theres access to buy things but terrible access to maintain them. and i never buy anything new. save for pete cage, who is awesome.

 

[Eagle]

this region irritates me because theres access to buy things but terrible access to maintain them. and i never buy anything new. save for pete cage, who is awesome.

Be safe and send it to Joe in Nashville. If you get steel it will outlast you.

 

[Warmart]

Supposedly, Joe Hazel worked with Knaggs at PRS.

https://www.tarotguitars.com/about

 

[Warmart]

watching with interest cause my 78 LPC could really use a refret as well and im up in hagerstown!

That's where I grew up! Been a long time since I lived there, in GA now.

 

[Eagle]

Supposedly, Joe Hazel worked with Knaggs at PRS.

https://www.tarotguitars.com/about

Putting frets in a new fingerboard is a completely different and massively easier job.
Getting everything out cleanly and preparing an old likely less than ideal neck is a separate deal that a builder doesn’t really develop. Repairing and building overlap but require different skill sets. Even diagnosing issues is something most builders have limited experience with.