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Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

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Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-10 4:51 AM (#525857)
Subject: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

I just bought the 1127GC from Dave.

It really could use a Partial Re-Fret...
There are dents in the first few frets that cannot be "dressed" away.
So I figure that I would just replace 1-4, maybe only 1-3.
I am looking at Stewmac Fretwire
Which should I buy?

I have ordered a 1/2" Fret Puller and Hammer and Fret Nipper.
I have an cheap Soldering Iron and a bucket-full of tools.
And I might go down to Goodwill and buy a junk guitar to practice on.
(WOW! That is actually a good idea that just came to me)
So which fretwire should I buy?
I was thinking Medium/Medium #0148... eh?

Any advice from wiser folks is always appreciated

seesquare

Posted 2016-06-10 7:53 AM (#525859 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
November 2002
Posts: 3611

Location: Pacific Northwest Inland Empire

Whatever matches, whatever is there already. "Don't overthink the plumbing". Though, you may need to yank one of the wires, to determine that- :-). I bought the Stew-Mac refretting kit, years ago. A bit spendy, but never regretted it. Just the fret rocker, is absolutely essential to the whole process.

Lonnie

Posted 2016-06-10 8:57 AM (#525860 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: RE: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
November 2013
Posts: 163

Location: Phoenix, AZ

Arthur, I found this fret wire on Ebay, and used it for a partial re-fret on my 1127 and my 1617, and it matched perfectly.

Not sure how to post the actual link, but this the Ebay item:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/171672683413?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-10 2:03 PM (#525866 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Thank You, Lonnie.
That actually looks like what I need.
Something low, to blend-in with the other frets.

Still looking for other opinions/options, so other 2¢ is appreciated.
I ain't gonna be starting this immediately.
Gotta collect supplies. (and mail is annoyingly slow)
Then I might just nut-up and become a Re-Fretting Maniac.

DanSavage

Posted 2016-06-10 7:09 PM (#525871 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316

Location: Pueblo West, CO

Per FlySig:

Ovation engineering drawing for fretwire, dated 5/5/92, which shows a crown height of .040" and a width of .078"

Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-10 9:43 PM (#525873 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

The eBay listing sez:
"Crown Height: .037" (0.94mm) Crown Width: .080" (2.03mm) Tang Depth: .050" (1.27mm)"

I will know if they look right next week.

DanSavage

Posted 2016-06-11 1:29 PM (#525881 - in reply to #525873)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316

Location: Pueblo West, CO

Yep. Those are close enough to the Ovation specs that I don't think you'll notice a difference without using a micrometer.

Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-11 2:09 PM (#525882 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Yeah... Frets 1,2 & 3 have divots on the "B" and "e" string, so that is about as far as I am going.
My crappy digital micrometer shows the height at the lower frets to be +/- .37"
Which is an amazing coincidence, cuz I had not measured them until now.
(I forgot that I own a micrometer)

According to my micrometer the width of the frets is about .81 ...
This is not a scientific grade instrument. I think that it was about $4 from China eBay.

Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-11 6:39 PM (#525883 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Okay, Here is the Sacrificial Guitar that I am gonna practice on...
I feel bad about possibly destroying a guitar...
But I might be able to remove some frets and put them back on, so it won't be totally destroyed.

I was playing "Aqualung", "Iron Man", "Cinnamon Girl", and anything else that I could think of that I could do without a "D" string, while waiting for the Streetcar.
So once I get the tools next week I will practice on this poor critter.

DanSavage

Posted 2016-06-11 7:33 PM (#525884 - in reply to #525883)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316

Location: Pueblo West, CO

I think you'll do fine. Re-fretting is a pretty straightforward job.

Lloyd

Posted 2016-06-14 5:06 AM (#525933 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: RE: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
March 2016
Posts: 13

Stew-Mac has a couple of items that I like. One is a pair of slotted shields for the fretboard that help prevent splintering when prying out the frets. The other is a funny looking saw for cleaning out the fret slots safely, especially if your fingerboard is bound.

DanSavage

Posted 2016-06-14 1:02 PM (#525941 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: RE: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
June 2012
Posts: 2316

Location: Pueblo West, CO

I agree with Lloyd. When I refretted my 1617, I ordered the following tools from Stewmac:

Chip Stoppers

Deadblow Fretting Hammer

Fret Cutter

Fret Puller

Refret Saw

Fret Slot Cleaning Tool

Fret Tang Nipper

Three-in-one Fret File

I knew that I was going to be using these tools more than just that one job, so I was willing to spend the money on all of these. For my next refret job on my 1619 or Alvarez PD100S, I'm going to build myself a fret bending machine using plans I ordered from LMI. (See: Steve Klein’s Do-It-Yerself fret bending machine)

Of these, the most essential would be the fret puller, fret cutter, fret slot cleaning tool, chip stopper and fret file.

Old Man Arthur

Posted 2016-06-14 10:21 PM (#525961 - in reply to #525857)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
September 2006
Posts: 10777

Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR

Are Ovation frets Glued-in?

Translation: Will I have to heat the frets to remove them?

Thank You.

Lloyd

Posted 2016-06-14 10:58 PM (#525964 - in reply to #525961)
Subject: Re: Which frets to buy for Partial Re-Fret.

Joined:
March 2016
Posts: 13

Assume they are. Soldering iron works well. Start heating at one side and use the nippers to pry the edge up. Move the iron a bit, heat, move the nippers, etc If you get chips, make sure you don't lose them so you can glue them back in with super glue. I'm sure you'll do fine.

Edited by Lloyd 2016-06-14 11:02 PM

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