good luthiers

[JPS1919A2]

hello to all, this question probably has been asked before, what do you look for in a luthier to work on your mando I need possibly a refret job done. any suggestions would be welcome. thanks to all.

[OldSausage]

I look for a really nerdy guy who is hyper-obsessed with details that seem laughably pointless to me.

[sunburst]

Unfortunately, there really aren't any credentials for luthiers. No state certifications, no licenses, none of that. There are some schools these days, and some graduates are very good luthiers, but most people have traditionally chosen, and still do choose luthiers by reputation.
What you want is someone knowledgeable, with experience, a good set of hands and eyes, and an understanding of the geometry and all other aspects of set up.
How far are you from Seattle? (My knowledge of Washington geography is limited.) I recommend Cat Fox if you are close enough.

[Tom Coletti]

A refret is [EDIT:] a very tricky subject in which a lot of things can and occasionally will go wrong, so it may be a good idea to check other setup aspects before considering a full refret, though. If all of the frets are slightly worn, but worn pretty much evenly, then a simple fret leveling can suffice to extend the life of your current set. Or perhaps something is buzzing and the action just needs to be raised slightly. However, if frets are very uneven, or if they're worn down almost to the fretboard itself, then a refret would definitely be a good choice.

If you have the guts and a general portion of luck, you could even get tools and fret wire from Stew-Mac and save yourself a lot of money in a DIY project. There's plenty of online resources to help you, including instructional videos and personal advice from luthiers. On the other hand, I know that it can be intimidating just thinking about taking tools to your instrument, so in that case, having a professional complete the task, especially this one, is a very safe and assuring option.

--Tom

[yankees1]

A refret is one of the more straightforward repair jobs that pretty much anyone with experience will be able to do for you. It may be a good idea to check other setup aspects before considering a full refret, though. If all of the frets are slightly worn, but worn pretty much evenly, then a simple fret leveling can suffice to extend the life of your current set. Or perhaps something is buzzing and the action just needs to be raised slightly. However, if frets are very uneven, or if they're worn down almost to the fretboard itself, then a refret would definitely be a good choice.

If you have the guts, you could even get tools and fret wire from Stew-Mac and save yourself a lot of money in a DIY project. There's plenty of online resources to help you, including instructional videos and personal advice from luthiers. On the other hand, I know that it can be intimidating just thinking about taking tools to your instrument, so in that case, having a professional complete the task is a very safe and assuring option.

--Tom

Might be straightforward but I had a complete refret from a shop in Tallahassee, Florida and the job was absolutely horrible ! Spaces between the fret wire and the finger board and loose frets !

[sunburst]

FWIW, I've been doing fret work for nearly 30 years and I'm still learning. It never ceases to amaze me how many things can go wrong, and how less-than-straightforward it so often is. This week, I once again fixed some frets that were poorly done by someone more experienced (and higher paid) than I. Fret work is one of the aspects of lutherie where experience makes the most difference... as long as the luthier is willing to continue to learn from his/her experience.

[Loretta Callahan]

I'd ask Ken Cartwright, he's a member here at the cafe and works in the NW Oregon area. He goes by the name mandomedic as I recall. He might be able to refer you to someone in your area.

[Pete Jenner]

FWIW, I've been doing fret work for nearly 30 years and I'm still learning. It never ceases to amaze me how many things can go wrong, and how less-than-straightforward it so often is. This week, I once again fixed some frets that were poorly done by someone more experienced (and higher paid) than I. Fret work is one of the aspects of lutherie where experience makes the most difference... as long as the luthier is willing to continue to learn from his/her experience.

I'm crap at fretwork. Maybe if I drop in on you in November you can tell exactly how crap I am at it?

Not that I'm asking for an invite... oh ok you got me I am asking.
Maybe just a cup of coffee and a sticky beak around your workshop ...and a chat about tonewoodish things.

[OldGus]

Gail Hester

[Leon Peoples]

I would send it insured back to the maker.
Best/joe

[Pete Jenner]

hello to all, this question probably has been asked before, what do you look for in a luthier to work on your mando I need possibly a refret job done. any suggestions would be welcome. thanks to all.

Is this your 1919 Gibson A2? If so, a good luthier will probably ask you if you want to replace the frets with narrow fret wire like the original or go with a more modern, wider option.

I'd take it to one of the many Gibson specialists.

[sunburst]

I'm crap at fretwork. Maybe if I drop in on you in November you can tell exactly how crap I am at it?

Not that I'm asking for an invite... oh ok you got me I am asking.
Maybe just a cup of coffee and a sticky beak around your workshop ...and a chat about tonewoodish things.

I'm not sure where I'll be when you are in Va. If I'm in my Va. shop, stop by! If not, are you going through Kentucky? The "new" (Kentucky) place is much more visitor-friendly anyway.

[JEStanek]

I have a question, re refretting, Would it be easier for a builder to just replace the board than to get the old tanged frets out? I think this might be easier and more economical with the access to pre cut boards, I guess the binding work may be an issue or if there was fancier inlay other than just dots.

Just a question. Like, if I had a decent stock mandolin with side and front dots. and my frets were shot, would it be cheaper/comparable in price to just do a full board removal and replacement, or have the frets pulled and replaced (for most of us this would be a 1-7 or 1-10 fret job, right...)?

Jamie

[sunburst]

A fingerboard has to be really trashed, or horribly inaccurate, to make replacement the choice over a re-fret. Even a couple of inaccurate frets can be moved with less work (and less chance of damage) than removing a fretboard.

[Pete Jenner]

I'm not sure where I'll be when you are in Va. If I'm in my Va. shop, stop by! If not, are you going through Kentucky? The "new" (Kentucky) place is much more visitor-friendly anyway.

Hadn't planned to but I will if you're there.
Where in Kentucky? (Google earth is my best friend - sad but true)
Actually I've been looking for a good excuse to visit my friend in Ohio.

[Wolfboy]

A fingerboard has to be really trashed, or horribly inaccurate, to make replacement the choice over a re-fret. Even a couple of inaccurate frets can be moved with less work (and less chance of damage) than removing a fretboard.

Maybe, but both options are feasible. A lot of prewar Gibsons had several frets badly enough misplaced as to make accurate intonation impossible - my 1920 A was one of them, and my repairman, the incredible Mike Andrews at Meadowood Music in Blandon, Pennsylvania, decided to replace the fingerboard rather than try to reposition individual frets. You'd never know now, looking at his finished job, that it isn't the original fingerboard. (And IIRC, John Reischman replaced the board on his Loar for the same reason.)

[George R. Lane]

You are closer to Missoula Mt. than Seattle, I would give this guy a call. I have hears good reports on him.

Montana Guitar Works
615 Pattee Canyon Dr Missoula, MT 59803
(406) 549-2206

[JeffD]

I look for a really nerdy guy who is hyper-obsessed with details that seem laughably pointless to me.

Glib as it is, there really is no better answer.

I have enough respect for the complexity of doing a refret that I know what I would not do. I would not go to a buddy who has taken up repair work on the side and claims to have gotten pretty good and will take your project for a real deep discount for the experience.

[Folkmusician.com]

A good re-fret is extremely tedious work and there are so many opportunities to cut corners if someone wanted to speed up the process at the expense of quality.

I can't agree enough with Sunburst..... It's like there is no such thing as a straightforward refret. Aside from reputation, I am not sure how you would go about choosing a luthier. The fact of the matter is, that most luthiers are under-qualified and of the ones that are capable, not all will take the time to do great work. You end up with a small percentage of top choices. Every large metro area should have at least one person that has risen to the top though. It is just a matter of hunting them down.

[Big Joe]

Jamie...it is much less expensive and easier to replace frets than to replace a fingerboard. Even if you replace the fingerboard the frets should go in after attaching the fingrboard so it can be properly planed and radiused before the frets are inserted. Rarely does an instrument need a new fingerboard unless it has been planed and refretted until the fingerboard is too thin to be functional any more. A proper refret will take care of many issues with an instrument and when properly done it should play and sound better than before.

[Andy Miller]

It never ceases to amaze me how many things can go wrong, and how less-than-straightforward it so often is.

No kidding. The more experience you get, the more ways you learn to deal with the infinite variations of refret problems. But understanding the results you need, and always being persistent until you get them, will put you ahead of the pack. The best credentials a luthier can have here are a bunch of refret jobs out there looking and playing great. Few instrument owners know or care what it took to get each one right.

[JPS1919A2]

yes, the mando in question is my 1919A2. from what I have been reading it is a matter of choice for narrow wire or the more modern wider option. I am rather concerned from what others have been saying that the frets on some prewar gibsons have misplaced frets and that will require a new fretboard or relocating the frets on the original fretboard. any thoughts on this?

[JPS1919A2]

how does one determine that frets are misplaced affecting the intonation?

[Bill Snyder]

Is the octave (played on the 12th fret) in tune? Does it play in tune going up the board? If the answer is yes to both questions intonation is not a problem. If the answer to either is no it could be the fret placement or some other problem.

[GKWilson]

JPS. I have found that luthiers are some of the nicest people.[ Probably inhaling to much dust.]
There are so many great luthiers in the Northwest. Many of them in Idaho. Just a day drive for you.
I would contact a few of them and see what they have to say. I'm sure that most of them know each
other and may even direct you to where you need to be. As for intonation, any luthier or tech should
be able to tell if you have a problem.