How much is too much restoring a les Paul custom?

[Evh5150]

Hey guys, I got a 1987 Nashville made Gibson Les Paul Custom. It needs new paint, more than likely a new fret job. How much does it cost for a refretting job with binding usually? I will be doing the paint which I am not worried about, as it will be replicated like the limited run Gibson Randy Rhoads VOS Les Paul. I'm in it $1000 just the guitar. What's your opinion?

 

[blackba]

A refret cost me $400 on my '73 LP custom. I left the paint original. I would say if you put less than about $1000 getting it gone over, it will be worth it. As for the refret, I would recommend asking for some recommendations of who to do the work in your area.

 

[thiswaythatway]

$400 for a refret? Isn't that steep?

 

[rlord1974]

A re-fret of a LP Custom by any decent luthier in my area will also run at least $400, closer to $500.

 

[thiswaythatway]

I was thinking of getting my 77 standard done. There's a guy in my area with a good reputation and his price for a bound non maple board is $250, unbound is $200. I'm not sure how much more an LP standard or Custom will run. Plenty of butt-sniffers on TGP have given this tech very good reviews.

 

[reverymike]

I've had my Standard refretted by one of the best in the biz for around $200-$250. Not sure if a Custom would require additional work or not.

 

[blackba]

A re-fret of a LP Custom by any decent luthier in my area will also run at least $400, closer to $500.

That was my findings as well. The Luthier that did mine said the binding was part of the driving factor in the price. He did a great job and I am very happy with the refret, I love that LP custom, just wish my neck/shoulder would heal faster so I could play it more.

 

[rupe]

Customs will typically cost more because ebony is much more difficult to work with. It takes far more time pulling the old frets as you have to be much more careful not to break chips out of the board...maple and rosewood are fairly easy to pull the old frets out of. Binding also makes it more difficult to finish the fret ends.
That said, $400 is the going rate for SS...nickel should be a bit less.

 

[Ventura]

I'd care less about the price than I would making damn certain the re-fret was done perfectly.

If there's one way to seriously fuck a guitar right up, it's by botching a re-fret.

Just IMHO.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Customs will typically cost more because ebony is much more difficult to work with. It takes far more time pulling the old frets as you have to be much more careful not to break chips out of the board...maple and rosewood are fairly easy to pull the old frets out of. Binding also makes it more difficult to finish the fret ends.
That said, $400 is the going rate for SS...nickel should be a bit less.

Yes, in this video you can see where he's getting chips coming out, and it's a custom. Looks like my standard will save me about $150.

 

[Evh5150]

Ok. I can still back out of the deal at this point. I haven't paid for the guitar yet. Should I stay or bail?

 

[gbsmusic]

$400 is fine if he is doing a fret edge binding refret but if he's shaving the binding thats too much.

 

[bigdaddyd]

If you paid $1000 for it and everything else is good, I think $400 for a good job, especially if it is getting plek'd is great, plus whatever paid is up to you. Think of it this way. A Zakk Wylde sig is nothing more than a copy of his '80s custom. All of my Gibsons are from the late 80s and early 90s. It was a very good time for them. If you can spec it your way, it is a very good way to go and I don't think you a paying too much. If the body and neck have problems, or you are going to start swapping everything else out...then you might rethink it. Also, if you are keeping it, it is definitely well worth it. If you are selling it, I still think you are at the point of getting your money back, since they are bringing good money..just don't start changing all the parts and expecting to make the money back on wiring, pickups, tuners, hardware....The stock parts are good on these guitars.

 

[Evh5150]

The tuners are stock grovers. Pup's have been replaced by seymour jb/jb59's, one pot was replaced with a dimarzio pot. Comes with ohsc chainsaw.

 

[rupe]

Customs will typically cost more because ebony is much more difficult to work with. It takes far more time pulling the old frets as you have to be much more careful not to break chips out of the board...maple and rosewood are fairly easy to pull the old frets out of. Binding also makes it more difficult to finish the fret ends.
That said, $400 is the going rate for SS...nickel should be a bit less.

Yes, in this video you can see where he's getting chips coming out, and it's a custom. Looks like my standard will save me about $150.

What video?

 

[thiswaythatway]

Customs will typically cost more because ebony is much more difficult to work with. It takes far more time pulling the old frets as you have to be much more careful not to break chips out of the board...maple and rosewood are fairly easy to pull the old frets out of. Binding also makes it more difficult to finish the fret ends.
That said, $400 is the going rate for SS...nickel should be a bit less.

Yes, in this video you can see where he's getting chips coming out, and it's a custom. Looks like my standard will save me about $150.

What video?

oopps.

 

[Schaf]

What's wrong with the finish? Nothing looks cooler than a Les Paul that has checking in the finish and has some wear (see John Sykes).

I think Rupe is right about the ebony. Also, with the bound necks, a lot of care has to be taken with the fret nibs. If you leave them on, it takes a lot more time and care to work around them.

With that said, personally for me, if I was just going to play it and keep it forever, I wouldn't care one way or another about the nibs. If its something that is an investment for resale then yes. But if you refinish that guitar, it'll kill the resale even if it is beat up.

 

[Evh5150]

The finish is non original and definitely a bad paint job.

 

[Schaf]

I think a grand is too much. Refret and a bad non original paint job. You'll be hard pressed to get your money out of that. I'd pass unless they were willing to come down a couple hundred.

 

[Evh5150]

Agreed.