Refret by sending only the neck out?

[LaMarr Bruister]

I've seen a few places that are advertising refrets by just sending the neck out. eg...Aperio, etc...

Is this a viable way to get a quality refret? Can the luthier make a correct nut with just the neck? I'm in a pretty rural area and all the reputable luthiers are well over an hour away...which doesn't seem tragic, but I have pretty bad arthritis in my shoulders that limits my driving. This would appeal to me given the lack of driving, but I'd rather inconvenience my wife with a couple drives than have a terrible refret

The last time I shipped a complete guitar in the case it was almost $100. Paying shipping both ways starts to get pretty crazy, but I could easily bubble wrap a neck in a mailing tube.

Is this viable?

 

[Believer7713]

I have done it several times. Normally when I do a refret by having one sent to me, I will mate it to a loaded body that I have on hand so I can check it from there. There will almost always be the final setup that only you can know how you want it. I normally mount it on a body so I can also get the nut filed pretty close to what you may like.
I also started using Pirateship.com in order to ship entire guitars. They buy the shipping in bulk and pass the savings on to you. The last full sized guitar cost me about $48 to ship acroll two states. Last week I shipped a guitar in two pieces (two separate boxes) and it only cost me about $18.

 

[GrooVey]

It’s reasonable.

 

[stratman323]

I wouldn't do it. A refret is too big a deal to do by mail order. I expect my guitar to be carefully set up after a refret.

 

[Will Lefeurve]

That's the beauty of a Strat.. you can remove the neck. Would I do it.. yeah, I don't see a problem.

Let the guy who's doing the refret know what gauge strings you normally use if you're going to have a new nut. The string clearance measurements for the nut are pretty standard anyway so its not a big deal. Oh.. and if the nut is going to be changed I'd go for a bone one.. much better than plastic, if that's what you have.

So yeah.. wrap it up well and get it in the post..

 

[rolandson]

Is this a viable way to get a quality refret?

Yes.

 

[stratocarlster]

Fender, Warmoth et al sell brand new necks with brand new frets...so yeah it's viable.

 

[Fireball XL5]

I've wondered about this as well?

Specifically, could it possible that the stresses placed on the newly refretted neck when strung up to tension when mounted on the surrogate body used at the shop vs. the the guitars actual body sitting at home differ to any extent to where the end result of a new fret job becomes less than optimal?

Final setup aside... Guitar necks can do weird things when strung up to tension. I guess the OCD in me questions if the surrogate body vs. actual body could have an influence?

 

[StratUp]

if you're good at set up, I don't see why not. That includes things like possibly shimming in the neck.

 

[Believer7713]

I've wondered about this as well?

Specifically, could it possible that the stresses placed on the newly refretted neck when strung up to tension when mounted on the surrogate body used at the shop vs. the the guitars actual body sitting at home differ to any extent to where the end result of a new fret job becomes less than optimal?

Final setup aside... Guitar necks can do weird things when strung up to tension. I guess the OCD in me questions if the surrogate body vs. actual body could have an influence?

It wouldn't be any different than swapping a neck you love from a body you don't love in order to make a guitar you do love.