Fret Job or New Neck - which is better?

ido1957 · Nov 18, 2007

My guitar tech has done 2 fret dressings on my Kramer Pacer. When he was done the last time, he mentioned that a fret job was questionable because the neck was slightly warped :confused:

I think a fret job could be done, but wondered if replacing the whole neck would be too radical. If I take off the neck it takes away the "original" and scares me that the new/replacement neck might not fit or removal would damage the pocket area getting it off (glue??).

Anyone have any advice - good or bad?

Roguetitan · Nov 18, 2007

ido1957 said:
My guitar tech has done 2 fret dressings on my Kramer Pacer. When he was done the last time, he mentioned that a fret job was questionable because the neck was slightly warped I think a fret job could be done, but wondered if replacing the whole neck would be too radical. If I take off the neck it takes away the "original" and scares me that the new/replacement neck might not fit or removal would damage the pocket area getting it off (glue??).

Anyone have any advice - good or bad?

a good Luthierwill be able to trplace the neck with no sweat if the guitar has a noticably warped neck it needs to be replaced a refret is not going to solve the problem.
i suspect you are talking about either an acoustic guitar or an electric with a set neck either way installing a newneck is one of those things lithiers are trained to do.
if it is a money issue maybe you should consider buying a new guitar instead of having a new neck installed on this guitar

if the guitar is a collectors piece I say retire it and buy a new guitar. If it is not a collectors piece then a new neck installation will not effect the value of the guitar as far as depreciation, it would actuallly have a higher resale value because of the new neck.

muttley600 · Nov 18, 2007

Most of those Kramers had a bolt on neck so no glue. With a little research you should be able to find a replacement. It would take a bit of work to properly fit but nothing to demanding. If you do go that route make sure you get the right scale length.

Did the guy say where and how it was wared? A decent repair shop would be able to quote to fix it. I heat clamped and set two necks this week. If it's not to badly warped it can be put right. For the price those things seem to go for it's right on the cusp of being worth it unless you are really attached to it. If its warped so bad that a refret and fingerboard skim can't fix it it can still be heat treated to try and bring it back. Speak to a decent luthier or save up a buy a new one. Thats the deal really, as with doctors a secound opinion dosen't hurt.

ido1957 · Nov 18, 2007

He said it was warped right around the first fret. The dove tail joint is a little off - it's not a smooth joint, but has a bit of a separation between it. But it's not broken or anything, just a slight bump when you run your finger over it.

I could buy a used neck but would prefer a nice new one. Any idea whether Kramer necks of the 80's quality are even built anymore? I see really cheap Kramers now - like hundreds less. They can't have same quality of neck...

Another option would be a different brand with similar shape/quality. I'd like a rosewood fretboard (flatter style like my Pacer) with a couple of nice humbuckers.

muttley600 · Nov 18, 2007

ido1957 said:
He said it was warped right around the first fret. The dove tail joint is a little off - it's not a smooth joint, but has a bit of a separation between it. But it's not broken or anything, just a slight bump when you run your finger over it.

I could buy a used neck but would prefer a nice new one. Any idea whether Kramer necks of the 80's quality are even built anymore? I see really cheap Kramers now - like hundreds less. They can't have same quality of neck...

Another option would be a different brand with similar shape/quality. I'd like a rosewood fretboard (flatter style like my Pacer) with a couple of nice humbuckers.

Can I just clear up a few things? Warped at the first fret? Is it warped as in twisted or is it bowed back? If it's warped it should be a relatively easy fix at the first fret. Impossible to say how easy without seeing obviously.

What dovetail? I thought they were bolt on necks in which case it has a neck pocket and the neck is bolted on to the body. A dovetail is an entirely different joint normally found on fixed necks. Which do you have fixed or bolt on? Either way if it's a hump it should be fixable by removing one or two frets leveling and replacing the frets. You may even be able to sort it with a decent fret dressing. Where is the hump? What fret?

Is the fingerboard lacquered?

ido1957 · Nov 18, 2007

muttley600 · Nov 19, 2007

Impossible to tell from the photo's exactly how bad it might be. You'd need to have it close up and get a straight edge on it.

From his description.

fingerboard hump in nut area due to degradation at guitar's scarf joint construct

It's hard to tell what he's describing as well. Is the scarf joint failing? If it's just a hump then it can be fixed by removing the lower frets and planing/scraping it level and replacing the frets, two maybe three hours work, depending on severirty. If the scarf is going then he's right.

I'd like to know what the degradation is. Those joints normally fail completely so you can see them coming apart if not separating altogether.

Fret Job or New Neck - which is better?

ido1957

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