Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
- gishuk
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Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
I think its probably about time I got the frets changed on my Jazzmaster as they're still the original ones from 62 and basically non existent at this point. I'm not worried about value as this will be a guitar I never sell, but I'm undecided on the size of frets to go for. I know I don't want massive jumbo frets, but something a bit larger than the vintage size would be tempting.
Obviously this is a personal preference thing, but whats the OSG thoughts on re-fretting vintage Jazzmasters? Would putting larger frets on it spoil the vintage feel?
Also having someone refret my guitar is new to me and to be honest a bit of a nerve wracking thing, I love this neck and don't want it spoiled.
Obviously this is a personal preference thing, but whats the OSG thoughts on re-fretting vintage Jazzmasters? Would putting larger frets on it spoil the vintage feel?
Also having someone refret my guitar is new to me and to be honest a bit of a nerve wracking thing, I love this neck and don't want it spoiled.
- Danley
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
To me small frets are *novel* and sort of interesting, but overall an impediment. I wouldn't afraid to go jumbo; they can be leveled down low later if you play the thing enough
King Buzzo: I love when people come up to me and say “Your guitar sound was better on Stoner Witch, when you used a Les Paul. “...I used a Fender Mustang reissue on that, dumbass!
- marqueemoon
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
Yeah. I have been putting this off myself.
Get out the calipers and measure some frets you like.
For my own guitar I’ll probably take it to Mike Lull or someone else with a PLEK, so some neck anomalies can be compensated for by a robot doing the fret level. I also explicitly don’t want someone planing the veneer board.
Get out the calipers and measure some frets you like.
For my own guitar I’ll probably take it to Mike Lull or someone else with a PLEK, so some neck anomalies can be compensated for by a robot doing the fret level. I also explicitly don’t want someone planing the veneer board.
- gringopig
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
I've had my '62 and a '65 Jaguar re-fretted with Jescar wire. It was with a vintage style fretwire that was the same width but a wee bit taller than the original spec. I can't remember the exact designation.
I've also had a Stratocaster and a Duo-Sonic done with Dunlop 6105 fretwire. In all cases the guitar played and sounded massively better.
Don't be afraid. Just get a good luthier and have a chat with him about what you want and what he should and shouldn't do.
I've also had a Stratocaster and a Duo-Sonic done with Dunlop 6105 fretwire. In all cases the guitar played and sounded massively better.
Don't be afraid. Just get a good luthier and have a chat with him about what you want and what he should and shouldn't do.
- zhivago
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
I've got big frets on my '61...Dunlop 6150, like the ones on my LP Custom...the guitar plays itself
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- jvin248
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
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I only fret and re-fret with Jescar Medium Stainless Steel fret wire. I used to chase medium jumbo trying to get more life out the standard fret materials but with stainless steel's superior wear characteristics I switched to regular 'Medium' wire. Last time you'll need to refret.
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I only fret and re-fret with Jescar Medium Stainless Steel fret wire. I used to chase medium jumbo trying to get more life out the standard fret materials but with stainless steel's superior wear characteristics I switched to regular 'Medium' wire. Last time you'll need to refret.
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- Mechanical Birds
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
How much can a motherfucker expect to pay for a PLEK regret deal? Them shits expensive?
- zip73
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
Have a Musikraft neck with 6150s and a Wildwood JM w 6105s. The 05s are a bit taller than the 50s, but both are great.
- gishuk
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
Thanks for the ideas guys. I think in retrospect the idea of not going for practicality over originality is rather silly in a guitar I never plan on selling, so I think I'll defiantly size up on the frets.
- Danley
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
Plan. Again, you can easily make large frets smaller if that’s ever needed; the reverse is less simple.
(I get that jumbos have a bigger footprint, but at a certain point Fender used wide/flat so it wouldn’t be totally ‘un-vintage’ in that respect.)
(I get that jumbos have a bigger footprint, but at a certain point Fender used wide/flat so it wouldn’t be totally ‘un-vintage’ in that respect.)
King Buzzo: I love when people come up to me and say “Your guitar sound was better on Stoner Witch, when you used a Les Paul. “...I used a Fender Mustang reissue on that, dumbass!
- Axolotl
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
At this point I have refretted all my vintage guitars (3 Jazzmasters, a Jaguar, a Mustang and a Mustang bass). They all play amazing. FWIW I used Fender medium/standard frets in most of them and I really like them. Not too tall, not too low, not too wide, not to arrow. I refretted my Mustang with vintage sized frets and while it plays amazing I definitely feel more comfortable with a bigger fret. Fender used this size on some 65/66 guitars.
- alexpigment
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
I think I paid $180 for a local PLEK job, and I think that was slightly discounted because he was trying to drum up business for his new machine. It made sense to me because I had some pretty serious wear on just the higher up frets, and so it wasn't going to be a simple job anyway. Honestly, it wasn't a bad price, but I ultimately didn't love the guitar and sold it, so it was a bit of waste.Mechanical Birds wrote: ↑Tue Sep 24, 2019 4:29 pmHow much can a motherfucker expect to pay for a PLEK regret deal? Them shits expensive?
- biro
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
just go 6105 and you won’t be disappointed
- Nelsclinesucks
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- zhivago
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Re: Having a vintage Jazzmaster neck refretted, what size?
Not at all...I just plug in and play awayNelsclinesucks wrote: ↑Thu Oct 03, 2019 4:44 amWanting to try this but worried about it losing that darker JM tone. Did you have any issues Like that?
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