ballpark sum for fret dress?

grungebob

Never had one done before but got a guitar that needs it so any ballpark figure for a full fret dress would be helpful.

Suppose I could give it a go myself but that could turn it into a refret knowing my luck!

Fusionista

Depends, I've paid £80 and more. Some fret dressers definitely are better than others, so do your research beforehand.

grungebob

Thanks

Bogwhoppit

Why did I read this thread title as ...my frets need a dress for the ball.....

TheCurefan

I paid 110 at mansions, Exeter which included new bone nut and full setup.

grungebob

Cheers guys!

Megii

What kind of guitar is it grungebob? I seem to remember you live near Grimsby? where I reside (I was contemplating buying that Pacifica you had for sale). I have been doing my own fret level/dress/setup work for a while now - 7 of my own guitars, 1 for someone else, with IMO excellent results. But I could show you guitars I've done if you wanted to judge that for yourself, and could do the work for say £35? Just in case of interest anyway, cheers!

Paul_C

I charge £80, including post fret dress setup.

grungebob

It's the westone Prestige Cutlass after giving it a clean and tried the setup I wouldn't want to sell it in its present state. Once I've bought the Amp I need at the we I'll know what funds are left and look into it more and let you guys know. @Paul_c what's your location please?

ICBM

Paul_C said:

I charge £80, including post fret dress setup. 

I charge £50 to £80 depending on whether the fingerboard needs to be cleaned, sharp fret ends tidied up etc, if strings are included, and of course including the set-up.

What puzzles me is anyone who offers to do a fret dress *without* then setting the guitar up! You can't. It's just part of the job… even if it was set up perfectly before it will still need checking and probably a minor tweak, which is almost the same work as a set-up anyway.

The23rdman

I can without reservation recommend Megii as a tech for a fret dress. He did one of my guitars and it is perfect. 

Paul_C

ICBM said:

Paul_C said:

I charge £80, including post fret dress setup. 

I charge £50 to £80 depending on whether the fingerboard needs to be cleaned, sharp fret ends tidied up etc, if strings are included, and of course including the set-up.

What puzzles me is anyone who offers to do a fret dress *without* then setting the guitar up! You can't. It's just part of the job… even if it was set up perfectly before it will still need checking and probably a minor tweak, which is almost the same work as a set-up anyway.

I agree - I always used to do it, but not mention that the price included it, these days I do

streethawk

It's important to differentiate between a fret dress and a full fret level, crown and dress (which I'm sure is what @grungebob is after).

Dressing frets could mean simply polishing them, maybe rolling off the fret ends, the final stage of a full job. 

For a fret level, depending on the job, some work on the nut could well be required. 

I don't know why anybody wouldn't do a fret dress (polish) themselves, but techs do seem to offer that service. 

grungebob

Ah @streethawk see you have something there, yeah I seem to have my terminology wrong then,to just profile the ends and polish them I can and have done, but yeah this Guitar needs a fret level desperately it would seem.

bertie

TheCurefan said:

I paid 110 at mansions, Exeter which included new bone nut and full setup.

is that the bigger posher store ?

ICBM

By a 'fret dress' I would always mean a full level, crown and polish. Anything less is just a polish, really - and is only useful if the guitar is new and hasn't been finished properly. By the time it's had playing wear on it it will need a level and crown to do the job properly, however light.

streethawk

Disgusted and outraged at the carefree attitude towards semantics on this site.

All members reported and blocked. 

(semantic protection league. 2014).

The23rdman

streethawk said:

It's important to differentiate between a fret dress and a full fret level, crown and dress (which I'm sure is what @grungebob is after).

Dressing frets could mean simply polishing them, maybe rolling off the fret ends, the final stage of a full job. 

For a fret level, depending on the job, some work on the nut could well be required. 

I don't know why anybody wouldn't do a fret dress (polish) themselves, but techs do seem to offer that service. 

I can assure you that the job Megii did on mine was a proper level and dress. The guitar plays like a dream now. Hey, it sounds like I'm advertising, but he really did do a great job!

Megii

grungebob said:

It's the westone Prestige Cutlass after giving it a clean and tried the setup I wouldn't want to sell it in its present state. Once I've bought the Amp I need at the we I'll know what funds are left and look into it more and let you guys know. @Paul_c what's your location please?

The23rdman said:

streethawk said:

It's important to differentiate between a fret dress and a full fret level, crown and dress (which I'm sure is what @grungebob is after).

Dressing frets could mean simply polishing them, maybe rolling off the fret ends, the final stage of a full job. 

For a fret level, depending on the job, some work on the nut could well be required. 

I don't know why anybody wouldn't do a fret dress (polish) themselves, but techs do seem to offer that service. 

I can assure you that the job Megii did on mine was a proper level and dress. The guitar plays like a dream now. Hey, it sounds like I'm advertising, but he really did do a great job!

lol, it was indeed a full fret level, re-crown, dress and setup, including work on the nut slots, and thanks for the thumbs up 23rd!

TheCurefan

bertie said:

TheCurefan said:

I paid 110 at mansions, Exeter which included new bone nut and full setup.

is that the bigger posher store ?

It is, took me ages to find my way around.....

ThePrettyDamned

My LTD should get a fret dress.  I have notched frets, and my 17th-24th frets are now miles higher than the rest...

In fairness, it's had about 7 years of non stop playing.   

It doesn't play bad though.  It could use a fret dress, but the plan is to build my next guitar, then get both fret dressed at the same time.