Refrets
When the frets are badly worn or you just want to change the size, it’s time for a refret. Nobody is more meticulous about fretwork than I am, and my process is thorough:
1. Fretboard is trued
2. New frets are pressed into the fretboard for consistency
3. Frets are leveled & crowned, ends are rounded for a silky, comfortable feel
4. Each fret is individually checked for precise height
5. Frets receive 2 stages of polishing
6. Frets are rechecked for precision
7. New nut is installed
8. Basic setup completed
Refret Prices
| Bolt-on neck, no binding | $300 |
| Bolt-on neck w/ binding | $350 |
| Set-neck, no binding | $350 |
| Set-neck w/ binding* | $400 |
| Gibson w/ binding overlapping fret ends; convert to fret ends laying on top of binding | $475 |
| Stainless Steel or EVO fret upgrade | $75 |
| Partial refret (1st 5) Each additional fret |
$120 $10 |
*Binding upcharge applies to any instrument where the tang or end of the fret are hidden.
Level & Crown (also called Grind & Polish)
Moderate fret wear can be fixed by grinding all of the frets until they lie in the same plane, then re-crowning and polishing the frets. This can generally be done repeatedly until the frets are down to about 2/3 of their original height. If the wear goes deeper than that, it’s time for a refret.
The Level & Crown service is included in a Premium Setup, so you might find it more economical to go ahead and get the setup done at the same time.
Level & Crown Prices
| Level & Crown | $110 |
| Level & Crown (heavy fret wear) | $135 |
| Level & Crown – new neck purchased through Kokotele | $95 |