Quote:
Originally Posted by Bong Twang Ping
Can anyone tell me the minimum height of the existing frets to make a level and re-crown viable? My 1992 Ibanez Artist electric needs some levelling and crowning but the frets are very wide [compared with my Taylors and Stratocaster) at 2.6mm/0.10". The most worn frets have about 0.9mm/0.035" of height left, should this be sufficient for levelling? The neck is in good shape and straightens nicely using the truss rod under string tension.
Thanks!
|
It depends on how deep your worn divots are. Some folks can play on frets that are .025 high. Personally, I can't. You might want to consider a partial refret, or full refret. Talk to a qualified tech or luthier in your area and get his advice.
If a full refret is in order, congrats. Now you get to choose the fret size you like the most. Play a bunch of guitars, and take action, neck profile, and tone out of the equation. Just play the fret profile, and choose what you like the most.
Another reason that such a low profile can be problematic, is that is pretty difficult to get a proper crown on a fret so low. You can get close with a three corner file, or by rounding the tops with sandpaper being held with fingers, but it won't be a perfect crown. Which isn't such a bad thing, some folks (myself included) like the "school bus top" fret crown, as opposed to a semi-cylindrical shape.