Fret end dressing:
Changes in humidity can cause a fingerboard to shrink slightly, which may leave fret ends protruding and feeling sharp. This can make the instrument uncomfortable to play. We carefully file and smooth the fret ends along the sides of the fingerboard, then polish the frets for a smooth, comfortable feel.
Fret dressing (level, crown, and polish):
Normal wear and seasonal humidity changes can cause frets to become uneven, leading to buzzing or playability issues. We level the frets as needed, re-crown them for proper intonation and feel, and finish with a full polish to restore smooth playability.
Partial refret:
In some cases, the first few frets (typically the most frequently played positions) may become worn, pitted, or flattened while the rest remain in good condition. When appropriate, we can replace only the affected frets and then perform a full fret dress to ensure consistency across the fingerboard.
Complete refret:
When frets are too worn to be effectively dressed, a full refret is required. All frets are removed, the fingerboard is cleaned and re-radiused if necessary, and new frets are installed, leveled, crowned, and polished for optimal playability.
Pricing varies depending on the type of fingerboard and instrument. Please contact us for an estimate.
