LH575 Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 So I have a H555 and a H157. Great guitars - play and sound great, but the fret nibs drive me nuts. It seems whenever I "pull off" of the high E, I hit the fret/nib joint. Really annoying, so much so that I don't really play these guitars. I'll pull them out for a few minutes, hear that string "ping" when the string hits the joint, then put it back in it's case. So, what to so? Get a refret and get the nibs removed? Seems a bit overboard. Or sell/trade both for a 535 and a 150? Opinions?
Jazzpunk Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 If you like the guitars, I say go for the fret job.
TalismanRich Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Is it hitting the binding, or is it, as is on my 157, that the E string is perilously close to the edge of the fret? I find that if I'm being sloppy and pull down on the string I can pull if off the fret. I've considered taking a different approach, have nut adjusted to move the E just a touch inward. If I was playing the 157 out and had to depend on it for jobs, I would have already done that. FWIW, my 535 does not have the problem. Is it something they do with guitars with binding? You might ask Rendall if they do the frets differently between bound and unbound necks.
GuitArtMan Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 I have the answer and his name is Michael Tuttle of www.bestfrets.com Here are some pics of my old 535 I had Micael refret for me - it now resides with jazzpunk.
Gitfiddler Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 The best solution is as GuitArtMan suggested. Get a refret and have a bone nut installed at the same time. I did that for my 157 and have zero regrets. The only drawback is the cost. But the increased playability turned it into a whole new gitfiddle. (I love those close-up shots of Tuttle's workmanship!)
Kuz Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 I honestly have never had this issue, so sorry I can't help.
TalismanRich Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 I have the answer and his name is Michael Tuttle of www.bestfrets.com Here are some pics of my old 535 I had Michael refret for me - it now resides with jazzpunk. What does a refret/nut job like that run?
LH575 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Posted September 2, 2009 Thanks for the replies guys. I was under the impression that the 535s and 150s had plain necks - no binding I was wrong on that. Looks like the refret is the only way to go. Hmmmm. GuitArtMan - That is a great looking fret job! Still thinking - refret or sell..
Jazzpunk Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 GuitArtMan - That is a great looking fret job! Still thinking - refret or sell.. Sounds like you've just got GAS! I'm sure the refret on the 535 I bought from GuitArtMan was pricey but it is simply awesome. I already had some fret work done on my newly purchased 575 which brought it up to snuff (for my personal standard of taste that is) but I think about sending it to Michael every time I pick up my 535! If I wasn't savin' up for another Heritage, I already would have lol.
LH575 Posted September 2, 2009 Author Posted September 2, 2009 Nope, no GAS here! Just got my rebuilt H575. The original had issues, so Heritage rebuilt it. Originally it had neck binding (and nibs), but I had the rebuild made without neck binding. I like it the new one so much better without the binding/nibs, that now I wish my other Heritages had a binding-less neck. Seeing as I never play them, they might be going into the For Sale section pretty soon!
Jazzpunk Posted September 2, 2009 Posted September 2, 2009 Just got my rebuilt H575. The original had issues, so Heritage rebuilt it. Originally it had neck binding (and nibs), but I had the rebuild made without neck binding. Was that work you had done under warranty or did you pay for it? Just curious as I had contacted Heritage about some issues I had with my 575 and after a couple, 'Thanks for your patience, we're looking into it' type e-mails they just blew me off! Maybe since I had already paid to have the work done they just didnt want to deal with me. Anyway, just curious as I'm always reading about pleasant experiences that are contradictory to my own.
paul144 Posted September 3, 2009 Posted September 3, 2009 I'd try a new nut and bridge saddles, you could pick up a little slack back there to adjust the high E string. I had a Hamer that did that, and it solved the problem.
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