Thanks for the replies. I have found several, and Stewmac is one. Why do you say that it is not worth it unless you are going to do a re-fret? I have a wide range of prices, and likely abilities, though all of them are highly recommended. One guy said $100 roughly if I supply the pre-cut inlays, another was $250 (same with the pre-cut), another was around $600-700, and another was $100/hr. The latter two are well established businesses in Toronto, and both mentioned, as well as the guy charging $250, that it would be more time consuming leaving the frets in. Is this what you are referring to Scott?
Leaving the frets in is just a Mickey mouse way of doing it. You'd never get the fretboard level and they would never feel right IMO. Imagine sanding the inlays to radius and flush with the frets on. Especially between the higher frets. It's would in essence be kinda scalloped. I wouldn't do it but that's just me![]()
A re-fret should not have any adverse effects, if the luthier know what he is doing. If a fret is not removed carefully, the tangs on the fret can pull out some wood on either side of the fret slot. This can be remedied by heating the fret before its removal.
Personally I'd wait to replace the fret marker inlays until you need a re-fret, so you will save money. It really not worth replacing them unless you are going to have them replaced properly.