Where possible I will recommend a fret level and crown over a guitar re-fret. However, sometimes extreme fret wear means re-fretting the guitar is sometimes the only option.
My standard fretwire for acoustic guitar re-frets is Jescar 37080 – a standard wire typically used to refret Martin guitars. However, I am happy to recommend alternative wires according to your playing preference, or fit specific wires if a customer has a preference.
Whilst the ideal situation is to level the fretboard as part of the re-fret, it’s understandable with some vintage guitars that it’s preferable to preserve the fretboard wear and patina as part of the guitar’s vintage appeal. In this situation, I will usually ‘partially level’ the fretboard, offering a sufficient seating surface for the new frets, whilst retaining the guitar’s vintage look.
I do not use CA glue for my guitar re-frets, as some luthiers recommend, but rather, Titebond wood glue. This is the same practice as used in the Martin Guitar factory. Using CA makes it very difficult to ever re-fret the guitar again. With Titebond, heating with a soldering iron releases the old fret cleanly and without noxious fumes.
I also offer re-fretting using hot Hide glue at an extra cost of £35 for the re-fret.
Whilst harder to work with, Hide glue provides a harder contact substrate than Titebond. I only use hide glue from one global supplier, which is extremely high grade and gram strength, and as such, offers better tonal transfer through the fret to the guitar’s neck and body.
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