Refret Fender Coronado or Not?

[erikzen]

What would you do?

About 6 months ago I picked up a used Fender Coronado II. The guitar seems to be all original except for the back of the guitar, which someone decided to paint black. I've been playing the guitar for the last 6 months and I love the way it plays and it can get some great tones as well.

However, the frets are pretty much gone and as such there are some dead spots on the fretboard, especially higher up on the neck. My regular guitar tech gave me a quote to do the job for $350, which would include a complete setup as well.

I paid about $700 for the guitar to begin with so spending 50% of that for a fret job seems a bit much. On the other hand if it makes the guitar more enjoyable I could see holding onto it for a long time to come and I bought it to play, not to flip or hold as an investment. Considering how the finish has been "butchered" by the black spray paint I don't think it's worth even as much as I paid for it anyway.

Another option could be to buy a new neck for it. For $300 I could probably get a new neck and store the old one should I ever want to sell it in the future.

[erikzen]

Here's some shots so you can get an idea of the condition of the guitar, and also the black paint massacre.




Full Frontal by erikzen, on Flickr


Front Body by erikzen, on Flickr


Back Black Paint by erikzen, on Flickr

[AcornHouse]

I think a refret makes sense regardless of what you do with the guitar. If they're too low to be playable, than a refret will make it something that you'll play, and want to play!
Even if you think about reselling, too low frets will make it a hard sell.

Regretting is a maintenance expense. If a guitar is played, eventually they all need one. When I got my Guild X-170, the frets were low, but not flat. I decided to go for a refret (with gold EVO frets which will last much longer than nickel silver). It made the guitar so much more playable and enjoyable.

[zastruga]

I see a red guitar and I want it painted black...

[treeofpain]

A non-playable guitar is pretty worthless, so refret it.

[snouter]

$350 is crazy. With a neck you can remove, you can send it to a number of excellent luthiers around the country for a lot less. As AcornHouse mentioned, check out upgraded fret material also. Almost all my guitars and basses have Jescar Evo gold installed and I have a roll ready to go to refret one of my acoustics myself, which will be scary.

[vortexxxx]

I've never had a refret done but I suspect $350 is a fair price but you could shop around to see if you can find something cheaper. Just make sure that the Luthier you choose is good.

[Jaan]

I'd refret it. And it does cost more to get a refret on a bound neck.

[JRC4558Dude]

$350 for a full re-fret on a bound neck is not unreasonable.

If you like the guitar, you may as well make it play well. If you really wanted, you could always have the back of the instrument re-finished, too.

It's not a collectable guitar, but if you dig it, that's all that matters.

[straycat113]

Well when you picked it up you had to notice the guitar was going to need frets. Now my gut tells me with the butchered paint job and the guitar needing frets you did not throw that much scratch into it to get it. You sound like you are really digging the guitar so throw in the $300 for a re-fret. This is where I disagree with all the guys who say go the short route and just buy a new neck. Well in my case the last guitar I had re-fretted is the cheapest guitar I own (MIJ Fender Tele)and cost me $500 new back in 85.It was my main guitar for over a decade and I still have more hours logged on that guitar then all my others combined and it has not been in my regular rotation for a good 7 years. But by playing it so much the neck profile wore to wear it fit me like a glove. If you swap the neck it more than likely is not going to feel like it does now as well as a good possibility the sound of the guitar may also alter. You are in NY so I would take it too the city to 30th St guitars as Matty Brewster does impeccable fret work and is the guy I see when I need a re-fret. I also believe he still only charges $300. You do not have many options as there are not many people who are going to pay for a butchered Coronado that they cant play! The good news is you really like the guitar, so it is definitely worth it to you to have it done.

[2HBStrat]

I think the guitar is worth refretting. It's cool...

[dspellman]

Originally Posted by erikzen

What would you do?

I'd get it refretted and never look back. I'd probably also get the back refinished while I was at it.

Go with one of the longer-life fretwires (the EVO's excellent, but I'd personally go stainless).

I have a '49 ES 175 that I pulled out of a bin back in the late '60's; had been sanded to the bare wood, has fretwear and divots in the fretboard (but still playable), had a 1" x 3" hole and the old brown case looks like it survived a near miss with a grenade. I was told I was an idiot to even consider fixing it up (that would have been accurate at the time). I refinished it in the mid '70's and it's been a great guitar ever since. It's getting a refret within the next year, and a $350 refret would be $350 more than I paid for the guitar. No regrets.

[IPLAYLOUD]

Bound neck raises the price.

Glad you are loving that Coronado and getting sounds you like out of it.
Not many of us out there that can do that.
;-)

[guitargeek135]

I paid about $350 to refret a MIM strat....and now i love it more than ever. If you dig the tone or have already bonded with the guitar, a refret is 100% worth it in my opinion...even if some might say it's a sunk cost

[erikzen]

Thanks for all the replies. I definitely like the guitar and enjoy playing it even in its compromised condition. I did not spend a lot on it, but if I refret (and possibly refinish it) it may start to get a little out of proportion. If the money I end up spending gets up there, then I have to question if it's really worth it. That's really the only question. However in this situation, I could see being $1000 in (more if I refinish), and having a really cool guitar I like. If it gets me playing more than I guess it's worth it.

I must explain that while I have been playing guitar for many years, I would not consider myself a guitar player. When I was playing regularly I was more of a singer who accompanied himself on guitar or a singer that helped fill out the sound with some backing rhythm.

So I sheepishly must admit that I didn't immediately realize how low the frets were when I first picked up the guitar. I had never purchased such a well worn guitar before and kind of took the frets for granted.

I know my voice is not getting any better, so I'm trying to become more of a guitar player. While I have other, "better" guitars, this one seems to encourage me to play more for whatever reason.

As to the sound I get out of it, I understand its limited in what it can do (even in the hands of Jimmy Vaughn). It does not have a ton of sustain (made worse by the fret situation) and the pickups are weak compared to more modern electronics, but again, it is fun for me to play and inspires me to play more blues.

I thought the $350 price was fair, as mentioned by a few - not a great deal and not a rip off either. I've seen guys advertising on the internet for $150 complete fret jobs and I've read accounts of paying $450 or more. I trust the guy I got the quote from as well, as my friend owns the store. I can shop this around a bit but I would need to feel confident in the work. To me, I'd rather spend $350 with a guy I know and trust than to go to someone I don't know for less. Of course, recommendations from personal experience are always welcome.

Still sitting on the fence with this but am definitely leaning towards getting it done.