My 1971 RIC 4000 natural color bass needs new frets!

[DavyR]

My luthier said that since the fretboard is finished (glossy?) that new frets can not be installed unless you refinish the fretboard...
Any thoughts, etc. Thanks!

[jdogric12]

Pretty much, yeah. I won't be surprised if someone chimes in with some slick method for doing this without requiring a refin, but I'm not familiar enough with partial refin attempts to know one way or the other. If you're keeping it, go for it. If you plan to sell, it might fetch more in excellent condition with moderately worn frets.

[Kopfjaeger]

Yes. The varnish finish is applied after the frets are installed so with a re-fret you may notice the area where the old frets were. My luthier pulls the frets, plains the board to remove the old fret/varnish reference lines and shoots the board with fresh conversion varnish. if the varnish has yellowed, he tints it to match. he then installs the frets. This is so the fretboard is sealed and has a cleaner look.

Sepp

[cheyenne]

Can you post a picture of your '71?

[woodyng]

I had my 74 4000 refretted about 10 years ago. The tech did not strip/refinish the fretboard,and said all it would take to restore the shine to the finish would be to buff out the fretboard,which i declined. So,it is possible to do that,it just depends on if you want a factory-real job (sprayed frets) done or not...or it might also depend on the luthier. I've been playing the snot out of that bass for a very long time now....
And now i have another oldie ('72 4000) that needs a refret,and will be taking it to a pro shop for that as soon as i can make the trip,so will have to see what they advise....

[woodyng]

Can you post a picture of your '71?

Yes,pretty Please?

[DriftSpace]

I had my 74 4000 refretted about 10 years ago. The tech did not strip/refinish the fretboard,and said all it would take to restore the shine to the finish would be to buff out the fretboard,which i declined. So,it is possible to do that,it just depends on if you want a factory-real job (sprayed frets) done or not...or it might also depend on the luthier.

I had discussed re-fretting with both P.W. and Larry Davis; if I remember correctly: both said it was possible if the person doing the job is careful, and scores the finish with a sharp knife as close as possible on both sides of each fret, which enables frets to be removed without damaging the finish. Paul said something like "it won't be 'air-tight' like they are when they leave the factory," but -- especially if somebody like Woody had it done without problems -- it's probably not an issue.

[woodyng]

The guy that did my refret job in Memphis was a well-known "guitar-resurrecter" in town. He was able to do His voodoo to messed up guitars,and had quite a following when he was still working. He also hand built Fender strats and teles from blocks of wood to feel and play as much as possible like the vintage ones. He always wanted to build me a Fender custom,and i probably should have let him,I'm never very happy for long with Fenders....but i digress.
Sadly,his health has been pretty poor for several years now,so he's no longer doing much besides the occasional set-up. I do seem to remember him saying he had to score the finish along the sides of the old frets when he did my bass. We agreed to go with a somewhat heavier fretwire,too,which seemed to really improve all the playing aspects of the bass.

[spongebob]

I had my '74 re-fretted a few months back.

I used a local-ish custom guitar builder. His work on his own stuff is amazing.

The re-fret is brilliant - it's like playing a new/old 4001. The nut was low, so he created a new one using the same materials as the old. Same with the varnish - he researched, and used the same that Ric used back at the time.

I was thrilled with the whole job. Not the cheapest thing to do, but it's an instrument that I love, and never plan to part with. So I wanted it to be as good as it could be - and now it is!

[thx1955]

I had my '74 re-fretted a few months back.

I used a local-ish custom guitar builder. His work on his own stuff is amazing.

The re-fret is brilliant - it's like playing a new/old 4001. The nut was low, so he created a new one using the same materials as the old. Same with the varnish - he researched, and used the same that Ric used back at the time.

I was thrilled with the whole job. Not the cheapest thing to do, but it's an instrument that I love, and never plan to part with. So I wanted it to be as good as it could be - and now it is!

Ian,
I'd be very interested in seeing a few pics o the frets, especially at the outside edges where they meet the binding.

I"ve thought about having my March 73 re-fretted but when I discussed this with the folks in Seattle I was gong to use to do the job I was left uneasy on how the finished article would be

[Kopfjaeger]

ian,

How close to Seattle is Portland?? I have a luthier that does all my finish work. His shop is in Portland and he does phenomenal work!! He refretted my 72 as well as my 65. I'll shoot some fotos of the 72.

here is the 65.

The board finish was worn off in places. They pulled the frets, planed the board and shot it with tinted conversion varnish. From what I understand, the conversion varnish activates with the original conversion varnish finish.

Sepp

[ram]

I think it can and has been done - with care.... but unless you are totally sure, you may want another luthier to loo at it. I thought (and was told by one repair guy) that my '74 4001 needed a fret job years ago. I was bitching about the cost to a friend and he suggested seeing another luthier fix-it-up jockey.... and lo and behold I just needed a little fret dressing. Needless to say I was much happier and the cost was waaaaaay lower!

[thx1955]

Thanks for the pics Ian, looks like a great job, the source (very well known and high profile) I was going to use in Seattle told me that after the re-fret the frets would extend over the binding and there was no way around this. I did not care to have this finish on my 72 and have put off having it re-frettted as result.

Seattle to Portland is about the same as London Bristol so is an easy reach to find a great resource, and, there's a decent railway service in between too.

She does need to be re-fretted soon, and, I may end up contacting Larry Davis as well, given the superb workmanship he turns out.

Once again thanks for the pics, they helped a lot.

[woodyng]

I've used that same shop in Portland (from Sepp's recommendation),when i had my Cii defretted,and is the place i was referring to having my 4000 looked after. The name of the shop is the 12th Fret,and they do great work.
I think Seattle is about 200 miles(if that),from Portland.
(I live 350 miles away,so it is a bit of a haul.)
Of course the nice thing about the 4000 is there's no pesky neck binding to deal with,making it a much less labor intensive job.

[Kopfjaeger]

I've used that same shop in Portland (from Sepp's recommendation),when i had my Cii defretted,and is the place i was referring to having my 4000 looked after. The name of the shop is the 12th Fret,and they do great work.
I think Seattle is about 200 miles(if that),from Portland.
(I live 350 miles away,so it is a bit of a haul.)
Of course the nice thing about the 4000 is there's no pesky neck binding to deal with,making it a much less labor intensive job.

Woody, right you are. The Twelfth Fret is an awesome shop. Mark Walker turned me on to those guys. I send my stuff across country to them. Yea, I trust them that much.

Sepp