Hey Everyone,

I am new here and this is my first post.

I have an old Ibanez beginner electric that I used to play. I have decided to fix it up and get it into playable condition again. I have also been trying to learn how to do guitar set-ups myself as I am growing tired of sending my guitars into music shops and paying so much money just to have someone make minor adjustments. (So I am very inexperienced when it comes to guitar repair and set-ups).

I have noticed that from a few years of playing this guitar it has a few dents or very tiny flat spots on certain frets (mostly the frets nearest to the headstock). I have also noticed that when playing certain chords on these "flat spots" certain notes sound sharp or out of tune. I am not sure what exactly needs to be done to fix this problem. Do I need to have someone level all the frets, should I have it re-fretted or because the dents are so small will a good fret polish or clean-up help? If I need to get it re-fretted or have the frets levelled how much will this cost me?
Here is a pic of the neck. Hopefully you can see the fret wear (It is really tiny but I am sure it is making a difference in the sound).

I think leveling the frets down might solve your problem though I'm definitely not an expert on the subject. I think the frets might feel a little too flat for you and you can only take off so much from a fret... Refretting is quite expensive but you have to consider the time that goes into it.

Oh and welcome to the forum!

Reguires a fret dress (which does require special fret files), whilst I understand your apprehension, if you take it to the right person you'll find the money is well worth it? Where are you based?

Thanks for the replies.

I am based in Johannesburg Westrand side

How much will it cost me (roughly) to have the frets leveled and dressed ?
It is a cheap guitar so if the job is really expensive then I am not sure if it is going to be worth it.

That wear doesn't look so bad. Are you using very light strings perhaps? Sharp notes could just be due to too much fretting pressure, which is much easier to do on lighter strings, especially if there's a lot of height left on the frets. I wouldn't worry about that kind of wear for another few years, personally. Both my guitars have way worse wear than that and its not a problem yet.

I agree a bit of light crowning is needed easy to do yourself

Westrand you can use:

1) Anthony Kuun +2774 459 2911

2) Neil from Rude Rock pickups +2772 301 2143 might be willing to help although pickups are his main thing

3) Grant Fouche ....cant find his number ATM

BrianSlatter wrote: @ez I think you're right. Since I bought the guitar (in 2009) I've always used 9s. I'm thinking of putting heavier gauge strings on now. Do you think that might help a little? I think I'll just give it a good setup and leave it until it gets worse.

You'd feel much better if I shared a pic of my frets ? Mine looks like that after about 3 or 4 months, easily. Heavier strings will help a lot. I use 10s, I wouldn't try 11s if coming from 9s, heavier strings are more work but 10s are kinda just right for most people.

Here's some typical frets on my goldtop.



They were completely unworn in 2011 when I got this guitar, the previous owners didn't know what they had ?

Feel better?

I see the wear you have goes more evenly across the fret (or maybe it's just me)
Haha thanks yes that does make me feel a bit better.

BrianSlatter wrote: I see the wear you have goes more evenly across the fret (or maybe it's just me)
Haha thanks yes that does make me feel a bit better.

Yeah, it wears most were you play most ?

I have craters under some of my strings and I haven't really noticed anything going out of tune.

I think you may be fretting too hard with light strings.