Swap jumbo frets for 50s frets. Possible?

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 12:22 AM

I can't stand the feel of the massive frets on my 335 historic '63. I love the feel of tiny 50s frets, but don't like thick necks. Is it possible to replace jumbo frets with 50s style, or are the grooves in the fingerboard too big?

**abelljo** · 03-09-2016, 12:31 AM

In most cases the fret tang is larger on medium or jumbo frets and on installing smaller frets you can have the potential of lose frets. Some luthiers will use crazy glue to compensate, but I personally like when they sit snug in the fret grove.

Some luthiers can fill the slots by adding glue and some of the rosewood dust from sanding the fingerboard, but these are all remedies that never give you the same results on a snug sitting fret.

I'd personally leave it as is. If you absolutely hate it and will never consider selling it then try it, but remember that most players prefer the ease of play larger frets provide.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 12:56 AM

Thanks. I guess I'll have to save up for an original, or satisfy my small-fret lust with a 225.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 01:00 AM

I must be from another planet. I have normal sized hands but prefer thin necks, narrow string spacing and tiny frets because it's far easier for me to play with that kind of setup. Probably shouldn't be playing Gibson guitars except I love the sound.

**abelljo** · 03-09-2016, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by vaughanhughes

I must be from another planet. I have normal sized hands but prefer thin necks, narrow string spacing and tiny frets because it's far easier for me to play with that kind of setup. Probably shouldn't be playing Gibson guitars except I love the sound.

Maybe you're a mandolin player inside a guitar player's body. LOL No, just kidding. There are different people with different tastes. But most thin neck Gibson necks, especially those from the 60s and 70s had wide but short frets. Those fretless wonder frets that just cause so much strain on my hands. ugh.

When I'm doing a fret job I always pay attention that I'm going to a larger fret tang to get a good grip. There might be a a small fret wire out there with a large fret tang. But yo will have to pull a fret out to measure the tang or maybe you can research what Gibson uses. Find a very good luthier that can do this right, that's a nice guitar you have there.....

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 01:36 AM

Mandolin was close - actually I'm an orchestral violinist. A violin nut is about half the width of a guitar nut!

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 08:58 AM

Well it needs the frets leveled anyway. Perhaps they can be ground down a touch.

**icr** · 03-09-2016, 09:03 AM

You can get narrow fretwire with the same size tang as jumbo.

**Matt Cushman** · 03-09-2016, 09:38 AM

The tang must be more narrow than the slot for the frets to be installed. It is the barb or stud width that determines how snug the final fit of the fret is. It should be no problem to find a narrow fret that can be fitted to your guitar. If the studs are to wide they can be filed down for a perfect fit.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 10:42 AM

Thanks, people. Now to find someone here in Japan to do it. Hopefully not a problem, they do love their guitars here!

**travisty** · 03-09-2016, 11:25 AM

I'd be curious who you find to do it. Always looking to add to my Japan luthier/repair rolodex. The luthiers I know of in your general area are Matsubara-san in Osaka and Tsuji-san in Toyama but I expect there are more.

Please post a name/contact here if you can recommend.

FWIW, I remember something about a Kanazawa Acoustic Guitar Club, and from the last time I was through Kanazawa I know (by pure chance) there are a couple of "big box" stores there which do it - mostly I'd imagine for solid bodies.

**MaxTwang** · 03-09-2016, 12:02 PM

Originally Posted by vaughanhughes

Well it needs the frets leveled anyway. Perhaps they can be ground down a touch.

It is amazing what Gibson can get a Pleck to do! Everyone else Pleks to level the frets, Gibson Plek's to ensure every guitar needs a fret level.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-09-2016, 07:28 PM

Travisty, thanks for your comment. I'm actually a violinist and coming back to jazz guitar as a hobby after not even owning a guitar for 20 years. There are a couple of guitar shops in Kanazawa that have set up my guitars but I wasn't really impressed. If you can give me a link or number for the guy you know in Toyama I'd really appreciate it!

We have a little guitar jam session every month here in Kanazawa but the guys don't seem to care much about gear. Are you living in Japan?

**travisty** · 03-10-2016, 12:43 AM

I lived in Japan for 20yrs (Tokyo, but spent lots of free time up on the north coast in northern Niigata). Visit somewhat often.

The guy in Toyama is Tsuji Shiro. I actually don't know if he does re-frets for other guitars these days. He used to. A link is here: https://www.facebook.com/tsuji.guitars/
The workshop number is +81 763-66-2372.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-10-2016, 01:49 AM

Ok, I have heard of him. Haven't played his guitars but have seen them in Tokyo. I might try my luck! Thanks

**travisty** · 03-10-2016, 02:11 AM

The guy in Osaka is Matsubara-san. His page is at Mah / ????: repair
He also makes nice guitars. Given how absolutely beautifully-finished his guitars are, I would have zero qualms asking him to do repairs on a guitar I had.

I bought one of his (Serau Style 30) used in Japan a year ago and I like it quite a bit. The workmanship is great. The one thing which I don't completely like is his penchant for putting light wood accents inside ebony, like pinstripes. I could do without those - but they're done well.

I think Tsuji-san's guitars are in general quite nice-sounding, and in the vein of d'Angelico/d'Aquisto rather than Gibson. But they certainly do not all sound the same.

**vaughanhughes** · 03-10-2016, 02:29 AM

Thanks, good to know. Can I ask who you would recommend in Tokyo - I actually go there more than Osaka. I know the guys at Walkin' in Shibuya, but not sure if they do bigger jobs.

**travisty** · 03-10-2016, 04:06 AM

I actually only picked up guitar after I'd left Japan.
I'd probably recommend walkin just because I know them (and they're close to the station - used to live 8mins walk from Shibuya station on the other side). They actually deal with a couple people (because enough work comes through the door). If you go direct to the luthier, he'd charge less I bet.

You could also try hoochies in Shibuya or hobo's in Ochanomizu ƒAƒR[ƒXƒeƒBƒbƒNƒMƒ^[ƒVƒ‡ƒbƒv@Hobo's
(or any of the other majors in Ochanomizu - Shimokura is one I'd trust).

You could send an email to the guy at JAZZGITARREN and ask - I'm sure he'd know more, and he's based in the Tokyo area.