Refretting vs replacing a Strat neck

Refret or replace?

  • Refret

    Votes: 5 55.6%

  • Replace

    Votes: 4 44.4%
  • Total voters
    9
PunkKitty

PunkKitty

Horny bag of electric meat
I have a '92 MIM Candy Cola Strat that I love. I bought it at a great price. But it needs a refret. So I'm weighing the options of replacing a neck against refretting a neck.

The cost breakdown looks like this:

new neck (Fender rosewood)
$200 - neck with nut
$ 75 - final set up, fret level, etc
$275

refret
$250 - refret with setup, level, etc
$ 60 - new nut
$310 - total

What can't be calculated is the wear on the original neck, and the mojo factor. American labor is more expensive than Mexican labor. So that accounts for the $45 difference. But it's frustrating that a new neck is less expensive than a refret. I'm also not taking into account the cost of new tuners.

What are your thoughts?
 
If I needed a refret on one of my fender guitars I would want bigger frets. So if you wanted you could change the fret size with a refret and have the guitar set up to play perfect with them.

On a new neck, why isn't the fret level already done before it's shipped?
 
mikesr1963 said:
If I needed a refret on one of my fender guitars I would want bigger frets. So if you wanted you could change the fret size with a refret and have the guitar set up to play perfect with them.

On a new neck, why isn't the fret level already done before it's shipped?
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In some cases, the frets are level. I'm looking at a worst case scenario.
 
I've had to make this decision a couple of times. New neck won every time. It was also an opportunity to try some new ideas so that was a factor.

I'm in a real dilemma with my Telecaster, though. I don't want to change a thing but the frets are getting to that point. Plus it's a maple board which I understand is more of a pain to refret due to the finish.
 
Just curious -- does the new neck have to be a Fender?

The Mighty Mite and StewMac necks (I think they are actually the same) seem to get good reviews if you're willing to get them set up.

I've been very happy with Warmoth necks, though I think they cause option anxiety.
 
USian Pie said:
Just curious -- does the new neck have to be a Fender?

The Mighty Mite and StewMac necks (I think they are actually the same) seem to get good reviews if you're willing to get them set up.

I've been very happy with Warmoth necks, though I think they cause option anxiety.
Click to expand...
I've found MM necks to be inconsistent. I really like the feel of Fender necks.

I'm leaning toward a refret. The neck is what made me fall in love with this Strat. And to me, the neck IS the guitar.
 
PunkKitty said:
I've found MM necks to be inconsistent. I really like the feel of Fender necks.

I'm leaning toward a refret. The neck is what made me fall in love with this Strat. And to me, the neck IS the guitar.
Click to expand...

I'll say this in favor of refrets: If you already love the guitar, it only gets better with a refret.

A refret on my Taylor acoustic made me completely lose interest in a new acoustic. In that case, a new neck wasn't really an option.
 
PunkKitty said:
I've found MM necks to be inconsistent. I really like the feel of Fender necks.

I'm leaning toward a refret. The neck is what made me fall in love with this Strat. And to me, the neck IS the guitar.
Click to expand...

From what you said, I think that you have made up your mind already.
 
If the neck is the reason for buying the guitar, then you'll want to keep it. A new neck makes it a different guitar.

Refret.
 
wagdog said:
Refret. You like the neck, the new one won't be the same. And, you'll be looking at that old neck thinking: I could build a guitar outa that.
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This was not true for me. I look at the old necks and think, "Damn. I played the hell out of that poor thing."

Of course now I'm looking at them thinking, "One more and I have a set of badass table legs"
 
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