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1973 Jazz Bass Refret Issues with Pulling Frets
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1973 Jazz Bass Refret Issues with Pulling Frets
Looking for some guidance here – I have a 1973 Jazz Bass with maple fretboard and fretboard binding in for a re-fret. The finish is of course built up thick and crackly along the frets, and although they’re not seated too nicely, the first few came out really tough and chippy even after scoring the finish really well. I’m aware that Fenders were fretted sideways until 1982, but because of the binding, pushing them out sideways is not an option (as far as I’m aware). Is there a preferred way of approaching fret removal on these Fenders with binding?
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9 Replies
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This was actually my first video. Let me know if this helps or not.
https://youtu.be/i1sWJutWlPY-
Thanks Ian, great tip for the lacquer. Any tips to avoid tearing up wood chips on a sideways-fretted neck if sideways removal is not an option (due to binding)?
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Have you tried the Stewkac chip reducers?
I have not. I’ve heard good things though. Are you using heat? Sometimes it helps to switch from the soldering pencil to the gun with the split tip to get a more even heat over the fret. I’ve done alright with heat and really small bites with the fret pullers.
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I’ve tried the chip stoppers in the past with mixed results but worth another go I guess. I will try the soldering gun with split tip and see if that extra heat helps. Thanks Ian!
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be careful not to singe the wood. Quick zaps and spread it far across the fret so the whole fret heats.
which fret puller are you using?
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Ok perfect. I use the newer StewMac fret pullers with the slightly narrower jaws than the older type in your video you shared. Are those your preferred pullers?
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The are, but only because of muscle memory. For what ever reason, the new ones feel like the lift more aggressively when you grip the handles and the jaws slip under the fret. I’m not sure why after looking at them both side by side. It’s probably just being old.
In general, I really only want the pullers to lift the fret just a little bit when I move them down the fret.
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Ah that’s good to know. I have the old ones as well but stopped using them because they had a notch in them. I’ll try them out on the un-notched side and see if it helps. Thanks again Ian!
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Great video and discussion- The OP asked specifically about a bound fingerboard with sideways frets. It didn’t seem these answers addressed a bound and sideways fretted board.
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