Refret

Replacing some or all of the frets in a fretboard and restoring the surface to a playable condition.

Frets wear into dips under the strings, and once the metal has been levelled as far as it will go the only remedy is to remove the old wire and fit new. A refret means heating each fret to soften the glue or the compression fit, pulling it without tearing the wood, cleaning and often re-radiusing the slot, then pressing or hammering new wire in and dressing it level, crowned and polished. It is major work, and the quality of the fretwork afterwards decides the instrument's playability more than almost anything else.

Example: A well-played vintage guitar whose frets are flat and pitted under the top three strings is a candidate for a refret.

Refret

See also