The Electra Forums

Anyone know how the factory installed the frets? My 2275 needs new frets (or a new neck) on it's maple fret board. I seem to remember reading somewhere that some factories pressed the frets in vertically, while others installed them horizontally. Does anyone here know?

I got quoted $300 for a full re-fret, but I'm not sure if I want to go that route. The guitar has special sentiment, but for a little more and some patience I can probably find one that doesn't need repairs.

I've considered doing a re-fret myself, but it would be all new territory for me.

Opinions??

As far as I know, the only people who put frets in from the side was Fender. They don't anymore. Are you sure you need a full re-fret? Leveling and re-crowning can add a fair amount more life to a guitar.

If it needs a complete fret job and you can find a replacement neck, I would get the neck and then try to do my own re-fret. if not, leave it to a pro but shop around. $300 is not bad for a real pro job but is high otherwise.

If you know the neck radius you can buy pre-cut and radiused frets and install them yourself quite easily (I'm told). If the neck is in good shape levelling and crowning should be minimal. I'd say do it yourself and after installing, if it still needs tweaking by a pro, it should be a lot cheaper to have them level, crown, file etc.

Thanks for the replies, I'll take as much advice as I can get.

They are the original frets, I got the guitar brand new in 79, and it was my one and only electric for many years. Some of the frets have bad divots.

The luthier is a very trusted and reputable guy, I've known him for years. He does charge a little more for maple and bound necks which makes sense to me. He's got the right tools to remove the old ones, radius the new frets, and press them in. He charges $100 to re-level all the frets.

I've never tried to measure the radius, anyone know what it is for the 2275's?

having just done my first refret, I will say it was a bit harrowing... my results definitely look amatuerish, but I learned something... I bought the tools off of eBay, and for the most part they worked okay. I'm sure I should have had other tools and bench set-up, but I didn't... If you can find a spare neck, I'd go that route...

don't think I'd attempt another... oh wait, I am going to have to do one on the Electra Mandolin though....

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