When does a guitar need refretting?

[mercifulfuzziness]

Couple of weeks now playing the Strat I decided to put the Tele in the living room for those small 5-10 minutes where I have time for myself during the day with kids at home and/or being alone in the living room.

The Strat is smooth as butter after the guy worked on it. But now I notice that the Tele is not that smooth at all.

I am not sure what the English word would be: rub? Counterwork? Counteract? Thwart? Oppose? … the neck seems to be working against the fingers moving around?

Maybe it’s not refretting but smoothing things out?

 

[DrewJD82]

Only need a re-fret when the frets have been leveled and crowned to the point there's not enough fret material to work with to do it again, or if you just really hate low/tiny frets.

A good fret polishing can go a long way in breathing some new life into a guitar. If your frets are looking cloudy rather than shiny, I'd get some 0000 steel wool and hit them up with it. I generally hit my frets up once a year for that, or as needed for the guitars that get more play than average.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Only need a re-fret when the frets have been leveled and crowned to the point there's not enough fret material to work with to do it again, or if you just really hate low/tiny frets.

A good fret polishing can go a long way in breathing some new life into a guitar. If your frets are looking cloudy rather than shiny, I'd get some 0000 steel wool and hit them up with it. I generally hit my frets up once a year for that, or as needed for the guitars that get more play than average.

Ahh

So a refret is almost like a neck replacement?

This seems more like a polish fhing

 

[PLX]

So a refret is almost like a neck replacement?

That was Leo Fender's concept with the bolt-on neck..

No need to re-fret.

Just take out 4 wood screws, remove the tuning machines, throw the neck away and replace it.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

That was Leo Fender's concept with the bolt-on neck..

No need to re-fret.

Just take out 4 wood screws, remove the tuning machines, throw the neck away and replace it.

I think it just needs polishing. Not sure.

Maybe I will make a picture later. Would that help?

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

And



I
Am talking about the wood! Not the frets …

Sorry

 

[duzie]

Could the difference in feel be attributed to a fixed bridge on the Tele and a Trem on the Strat?
Is your Strat set up to float ?

 

[James Freeman]

View attachment 36743

That's a really nice looking fretboard.
I would suggest trying a re-crowning and polishing first, only then if you feel the frets are too low do a re-fret.
You will feel when the frets are too low when your fingers are rubbing on the fretboard when bending making it hard to play.

 

[duzie]

Rosewood or Maple debate in 3..2..1…

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Could the difference in feel be attributed to a fixed bridge on the Tele and a Trem on the Strat?
Is your Strat set up to float ?

Nope. It’s not set up to float.

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

That's a really nice looking fretboard.
I would suggest trying a re-crowning and polishing first, only then if you feel the frets are too low do a re-fret.
You will feel when the frets are too low when your fingers are rubbing on the fretboard when bending making it hard to play.

I feel so dumb but i meant the wood between the frets. They feel rough. Like working against the hands.

Just for some further info. You are looking at a American Tele from the 90s.

Better picture:

 

[duzie]

Are the fretboards made of different materials?

 

[mercifulfuzziness]

Are the fretboards made of different materials?

I have no idea! The Strat is a Mexican fender (first, not second).

I have no idea what a 90s Tele is made of.

 

[FuzzyAce]

The fretboard shouldn't be too much an issue because in most cases you're not even touching it unless the frets are just too low, or you use excessive pressure. The fretboard wood edges can sometimes be too sharp of an angle and feel uncomfortable, so that's why "rolled edges" are preferred by a lot of players. Although yours look fine.
Could be a number of factors why you are not feeling as comfortable with the Tele. String through design can add a bit more tension overall, so going down a gauge on strings could remedy that some. Setup, nut and bridge adjustment, truss rod, etc..