Quote:
Originally Posted by Tico
If they care the fingerboard wood stays at its original thickness no matter how un-flat the unadjustable neck is, shouldn't they similarly care that the fret work replicates what was original.
Compression fretting is not 'authentic'.
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I'm not so sure. Martin invented the concept of compression fretting. I suspect that back in the day, they would plane the boards flat, and then install frets with oversized tangs to backbow the neck somewhat, and it would then (theoretically) go int a slight forward bow when put under string tension.
Sometimes you have to do a fair amount of planing to correct neck bow, but usually, it's just a few thousandths of an inch. Therefore the additional height of the new fretwire often makes up the difference in lost fingerboard material.