Official Luthiers Forum!

This has probably been addressed somewhere here in the past, but a quick search didn't come up with the info I'm looking for.

I want some input from the pro techs here regarding refrets to Gibsons with bound fret ends. What is the correct way to refret these guitars? Is it to try and save the little nubs of binding by cutting frets to the exactly length and positioning it between the binding (which seams extremely tedious, if not impossible to get as good a fit as the origonal). Or level of the nubs and refret as you would any other bound fretboard.

I’ve had a few of these guitars in where the customers wanted the new frets to extend right to the edge of the board, so I levelled the nubs and refretted as I normally would.

This past week I’ve had a really nice vintage arch top come in for a refret, with the bound fret ends. In this case the frets have been worn almost flat, and the nubs of binding with them.

Just wondering what the proper way to aproach these jobs is. And does the removal of these little nubs have a significant impact on vintage value?

Thanks everyone!

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Nix the nibs just be sure to set your client's expectations that this is what you are going to do. It does not harm the value of these instruments to do what it takes to keep them functional and to do so in a professional manner. This includes nixing the nibs.

Preserving the nibs does require rebuilding them and the techniques vary with the vintage of the thing and the subsequent nib material. It is tedious, most places will not do it and if they do they should and might charge accordingly, something like nearly double comes to mind.

We won't do it for "players" and I've never had any one inquire about preserving the nibs who did not forget the idea quickly when one quotes appropriately....

Hope you are doing great too Josh!

I think it's pretty common if the guitar has no vintage value to just shave 'em off and be done with it. I did it before on a guitar that also had loose binding. So I simply removed the binding and it actually worked out quite well. But the common method is to painstakingly fit each and every fret and then rebuild the nibs that you screw up. The right mixture of acetone and matched binding plastic will make a putty and melt into the existing nibs. I've never done it but I recall seeing a tutorial somewhere on it, perhaps it was even here.

I just asked that question about a week ago at the repair subforum

viewtopic.php?f=10137&t=49835

An updated on the guitar in my question - the owner agreed to nix the nubs, I just haven't done the work yet

Thanks guys, you confirmed what I was thinking. And since the nubs are pretty much gone already (fret dressing and wear) on this guitar I don't think the owner will have any issue with them being removed, but I will be sure to check with him first.

Freeman - It hadn't occurred to me to check the repair subforum, I need to check in their more often.

Hesh - Things are good here. Doing more building than repair, which is normal for me. But being the only luthier in a small town, and really the only luthier in a 1.5 hour radius I never now what will show up. Guy arrived recently with a couple nice Gibsons and a Tele that needed various repairs. One of these days I'm going to come take some of your courses. I'm sure they would be a big benefit to me.

_________________
Josh House

Canadian Luthier Supply
http://www.canadianluthiersupply.com
https://www.facebook.com/canadianluthiersupply?ref=hl
House Guitars - Custom Built Acoustic Instruments.
http://www.houseguitars.com

Josh you are always welcome and we would love to meet you too!