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I just picked up a sweet 1961 Kay Jazz Hollowbody for 200 bucks. It needs some new frets. Ive never had to do that before so im just wondering how much is it supposed to cost for a good fretjob?

$150-$300 depending on whether or not it needs a new nut... That's just from local experience with excellent techs...

jellyfishfuzz wrote:I just picked up a sweet 1961 Kay Jazz Hollowbody for 200 bucks. It needs some new frets. Ive never had to do that before so im just wondering how much is it supposed to cost for a good fretjob?

depends, binding?

It may need a fret job, or it's possible that it just needs a redress, which will run a lot less....Like others have said, it depends on a lot of things but
$1-$3 hundredish should be expected.

My les paul needed a refret which was done at guitar center because I bought the guitar used there and it was covered but it was going to be $220. They actually did a really nice job though.

Yeah its got binding on it. This is a 50 year old guitar and seems to have had lots of use. There is a bushing like thing between the neck and body just to lift the thin little frets up for low action. Im just so used to playing my tele with big frets. I guess these older guitar had these thin little frets on them. I don't know. I really dig the guitar though. Hollowbody is a totally different thing. I like it.

The binding might add some cost to the job. Is the fingerboard in good shape...? Does it seem "dried out" at all.....? Old cheap fingerboards ware prone to splintering when doing the fret removal, again adding cost to the job.

I never needed a refret, but I believe the music store I teach at has a starting rate of approximately $15/fret an it goes up from there depending on other factors.

Arrr, that be six doubloons for that there fret job!