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I picked up the Guitar yesterday afternoon from Lark Street Music in Teaneck New Jersey.
The luthier, by recommendation of our very own QAMan (yes the same guy I bought the guitar from) is Ian Davlin. Well known on instagram as @martinluthierking did an EXTRAORDINARY job. He didn't add a mark to this guitar. All he did was make it the absolute, without question, finest guitar I've ever put my hands on. Not only does it sound amazing, but it is now the best and easiest playing guitar I've ever played. Ian installed EVO Gold 47/104 wire. The wire has a very subtle tint of gold in it. Very elegant. The feel of the wire is very close to stainless. It adds definition to every note played. A guitar like the GJS acoustically, makes wonderful sound. These frets accentuate every note so that every note played is hi-lighted with a clearly defined ring. Bass notes are strong and deep yet quicker to respond than before. With these frets, the guitar sounds more like a baby grand piano. Playability of the guitar has increased to level of perfection. I played for 2 hours absolutely no hand fatigue at all. The guitar wants to be pushed now. 2 hours of effortless playing and not a single hint of fret buzz anywhere.
I was afraid to do this and many of you recommended that I proceed. In retrospect, it was a brainer. Now, the GJS is the only guitar I will really ever need. It is my dream guitar. There is not a hint of disappointment with this guitar now. Everything about it is perfect. The best guitar I've ever touched.
Last edited by Max405; 03-26-2017 at 01:36 PM.
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03-25-2017 08:55 AM
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Very classy indeed !
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Well all-right!!! What a great looking fret job! Kudos to QAman for his good offices, and to you, Joe, for your patience, which will now be rewarded. Looking forward to hearing the beautiful music you will make with your dream guitar. Enjoy it in good health!
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The fretwork looks excellent, and it's really good to see such a fine guitar have such a successful outcome.
Proper fretwork contributes to the response from a neck, and the neck is very important for the whole guitar's sound.
This is true even where a note is not fretted, as the fingerboard reacts to all string energy into the neck in very important ways, and the fret tang compression fit in its slot has an effect on the fingerboard's sound shaping. That fret job can make a better "soundboard" even for an open string.
I'd like to someday be able to get a GJS, and if I ever do I'd wish for it to be in the condition yours has now: Beautiful and set for life (or at least a very long stretch!)
John
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I'm so glad to hear it! (And can't wait to HEAR it.)
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Wow - that looks fantastic. Really happy for you that it didn't disappoint !
Enjoy it for a long time in good health Joe !
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Joe,
The fret job looks magnificent and you have now optomized the potential of this guitar. Ian does fine work - he has over 20 years of fret installation experience, on both new and vintage instruments.
Most importantly - you are now able to play without fatigue that was caused by the increased fretting pressure needed against the flat frets.
Additionally, this is also valuable information for anyone else contemplating the replacement of Norlin period flat fret wire.
Thanks for taking the leap of faith and sharing your experience . Just remember - I am first in line should you ever decide to sell the guitar......but I doubt that will happen now.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk
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I don't know/remember if there were nibs before but IMHO it's good they are gone now. I have never seen any advantage of nibs from the players point of view - and seasonal shrinking and swelling of an ebony fretboard can make the binding crack. Also, protruding frets are easy to fix without nibs whereas with nibs some minor surgery is involved.
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Now, doesn't that look nice? Doesn't that look NICE? The EVO GOLD takes it up more than a notch.
I am glad I chose FW9665 aka FW47104 EVO Gold for my 2 Roger Borys builds.
Play her in good health, Max405. That is tony minus the gaudy.
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I bet you are happy to have your baby back home. The EVO looks good with the gold hardware. I do not like them on guitars with nickel or chrome hadware. I think you chose the perfect size. The work looks first rate. Did you play any cool axes when you were in Buzzy's store? Talk about a temptation factory......
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Originally Posted by Max405
I picked up the Guitar yesterday afternoon from Lark Street Music in Teaneck New Jersey.
The luthier, by recommendation of our very own QAMan (yes the same guy I bought the guitar from) is Ian Davlin. Well known on instagram as @martinluthierking did an EXTRAORDINARY job. He didn't add a mark to this guitar. All he did was make it the absolute, without question, finest guitar I've ever put my hands on. Not only does it sound amazing, but it is now the best and easiest playing guitar I've ever played. Ian installed EVO Gold 47/104 wire. The wire has a very subtle tint of gold in it. Very elegant. The feel of the wire is very close to stainless. It adds definition to every note played. A guitar like the GJS acoustically, makes wonderful sound. These frets accentuate every note so that every note played is hi-lighted with a clearly defined ring. Bass notes are strong and deep yet quicker to respond than before. With these frets, the guitar sounds more like a baby grand piano. Playability of the guitar has increased to level of perfection. I played for 2 hours absolutely no hand fatigue at all. The guitar wants to be pushed now. 2 hours of effortless playing and not a single hint of fret buzz anywhere.
I was afraid to do this and many of you recommended that I proceed. In retrospect, it was a brainer. Now, the GJS is the only guitar I will really ever need. It is my dream guitar. There is not a hint of disappointment with this guitar now. Everything about it is perfect. The best guitar I've ever touched.
Holey moley what an emphatic recommendation!
I was toying with getting one of my guitars refretted (it's passable to play because I was playing fingerstyle-but now I'm transitioning to pick-and-fingers, so the buzzes are becoming painfully obvious).
On such a strong recommendation, I'm going to get it refretted using those same frets. When I find the time (I'm back to working 80-90 hours a week
)
My question to you is: would it make a difference if the guitar is a plywood guitar? I.e., is there better or optimal fret choices for carved vs plywood axes? (apologies for my ignorance if this is a silly question).
The guitar I am planning to get refretted is a Gibson Howard Roberts oval hole custom.
Thanks again!
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Gold frets & gold hardware make a guitar pop in an elegant sort of way! I ordered a Warmoth with the Jescar Gold Evo .047/.104" frets a few years ago, and I've since had all of my guitars frets replaced with them by a local fret wunderkind. I love that all of the fretboards are level and straight. The relief is set to "0" on the high "E" of my guitars. They all play like buddha with low action.
Congratulations to you, and it sounds like the wait was worth it! JeffLast edited by helios; 03-25-2017 at 03:32 PM.
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Thanks MB! Originally Posted by medblues
when I brought in the guitar, Ian took it in his hands and said "oh my god, this is a 76? I thought it was a modern guitar." It's a beauty. I couldn't have asked for more. Originally Posted by citizenk74
Well all-right!!! What a great looking fret job! Kudos to QAman for his good offices, and to you, Joe, for your patience, which will now be rewarded. Looking forward to hearing the beautiful music you will make with your dream guitar. Enjoy it in good health!
John, you know, I thought I was imagining that. The open strings even sound better. I asked Ian to put the existing strings back on for 2 reasons, 1. Im cheap and they were only a month old, 2. I wanted to see if I actually heard a difference, taking new strings out of the equation. Open strings even sound better. It's amazing. Originally Posted by john_a
I hope your GJS is a 41 year old brand new guitar too!
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thanks RythMman. I was gonna do a video, but I figured you guys are sick of hearing me play so much. Originally Posted by ThatRhythmMan
Dennis, I will buddy. The guitar absolutely blows me away every time I play it. Thanks Originally Posted by Dennis D
QAman, yes the fatigue is non existent. My thanks again to you and the gentleman, god rest his soul who kept this guitar in pristine shape for all those years. It's a shame he never played it much. Originally Posted by QAman
And like I said when we talked yesterday.. it's yours in about 35 years. Bring a shovel with you..
thanks bro.
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OD, the nibs were there, but they were as low as the frets. I don't miss them But I do like them. I keep my guitars properly humidified so the neck never shrinks. I never had a binding crack on my watch. Thanks. Originally Posted by oldane
i think you are gonna love the frets Jabbs. They are elegant and purposeful. They are crazy good. Originally Posted by Jabberwocky
I didn't play anything at Lark. A couple of nice guitars caught my eye but it's a very small shop. If I was to play something in the shop, then I'd have a customers ass right in my face. The chair is like 5 feet from the counter. Very tight in there. I need to be comfortable when I play. Plus I don't think Buzzy likes me very much... thats ok. Originally Posted by Stringswinger
Yes I missed my Johnny. But BooBoo kept me very happy..
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Max, i'm happy for you! I'm looking forward to hearing it. And .... can you post a photo showing the whole guitar, i'm wondering how the golden frets look like in "the big picture".
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gee, I would rather have seen the Julie Andrews surprise topless shot from Victor Victoria.. I've never been the same since! Thanks Neatomic. Originally Posted by neatomic
thanks NSJ. You know, that is a really good question. I suppose it would accentuate the sound of any guitar. These frets add definition. So the guitar would sound more complex. Originally Posted by NSJ
Holey moley what an emphatic recommendation!
I was toying with getting one of my guitars refretted (it's passable to play because I was playing fingerstyle-but now I'm transitioning to pick-and-fingers, so the buzzes are becoming painfully obvious).
On such a strong recommendation, I'm going to get it refretted using those same frets. When I find the time (I'm back to working 80-90 hours a week )
My question to you is: would it make a difference if the guitar is a plywood guitar? I.e., is there better or optimal fret choices for carved vs plywood axes? (apologies for my ignorance if this is a silly question).
The guitar I am planning to get refretted is a Gibson Howard Roberts oval hole custom.
Thanks again!
Sorry you are working so much. I hope it's a job that you enjoy.
And THANK YOU for posting!
wow, that's cool. These frets are really all they are cracked up to be. Subtle but certain. Every note is defined. Originally Posted by helios
Thanks Helios!
ok.. let go of my arm... im working on it. I promise. Originally Posted by fws6
We need new soundclips now !
for all we know it sounds terrible after the refret.....
Thanks guys.
Joe DLast edited by Max405; 03-27-2017 at 09:02 PM.
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thanks Brian. He really did a great job for sure. Neat and tidy. No imperfections at all. Originally Posted by Brian B
So much truth here.
Looks like the fellow did a really clean job of it. Enjoy it.
Thank you JazzNote! Ok I will post something pronto. Originally Posted by JazzNote
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Full body shots.
Posting pictures from a iPad is mega frustrating..Last edited by Max405; 03-25-2017 at 04:59 PM.
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What do you like better bro ? L5 or JS neck. The JS has a very flat fretboard just like a Super 400 has.
Also do you like 25x1-3/4 or 25.5x1-11/16 better ?.......just wondering. AAA+++ fret job ! Congrats.
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its hard to say. This now FEELS like an L5 neck. Just a hair shallower. Honestly, I don't notice the nut width but I do notice the scale difference. I play anything I know on either but the 25" is easier to navigate. Originally Posted by vinnyv1k
Now I know why you like the Wine L5. These frets really add definition. They should call them 3D Gold frets.
Thanks for convincing me that it was the right thing to do. As usual, you were right..
JD
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Not sure this size question had been answered, ( and sorry if it was ), but relative to a standard WesMo fretwire, is this wire larger, wider, the same ? I am guessing the material is different, just not sure about the size.
Thanks.
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I think this is a close as you will come to modern day Wes wire.
Gibson installs them standard on at least one brand new Wine L5 Wes that know of.
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I think you have the cleanest JS in the world bro. Hard to believe it is 41. Gorgeous.
Matt Cushman made me a guitar a lot like a JS around 2005. It was 25 inch scale. 1/2 makes a big difference. Really nice to play.
For me sometimes 25.5 feels a little long and 24.75 a little short. Too bad Gibson doesn't make the JS anymore.
The LeGrand has the same L5 neck spec plus they carve them too thin or at least the one I had.
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Congratulations Joe.
You are someone who is keeping the Johnny Smith flame burning by playing his classic tunes his way, with his sound, now on "his" guitar. The frets look so nice. I've adjusted to the skinny frets on my VOS1959 ES175 without much problem, but I definitely prefer the more modern type of frets.
No "hint of gold" about these frets. They just dazzle with the gold hardware and set the whole guitar on fire!
I enjoy your utter delight in this good outcome with this superb guitar, which couldn't have a better curator than you!
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