• Fret Leveling (Level, Crown, and Polish): This is the process of filing down existing frets to a uniform height to remove uneven wear, pits, or grooves caused by strings. It is recommended for fixing minor buzzing and inverting, keeping the original fret wire, and is a less invasive, more cost-effective repair than a full re-fret.
• Re-frets: Required when the frets have been leveled too many times and are too low, or if they are severely worn down. This involves removing old frets, dressing the fingerboard, installing new fret wire, and leveling/polishing. Haywire specializes in this service to restore play-ability to worn-out necks.
• Pricing & Options: Haywire offers re-fret options at $12 per fret for standard necks and $15 per fret for bound necks.
• When to choose which: If the frets are still high enough to play comfortably after a light filing, a level is sufficient. If the frets are low, causing string chatter on the fingerboard, or the notes cannot hold tune/sustain, a re-fret is required. 

A notched straightedge for guitar neck being checked for straightness, string buzz, action and intonation for guitar setups and leveling.

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• Purpose: Evens out all frets to the same height, eliminating high spots, fret buzz, and “dead spots”.
• Process: Includes crowning (rounding the tops) and polishing for smooth string bending.
• When to Use: When frets are slightly uneven, or when a new guitar needs a better setup for lower action.
• Goal: To maximize play-ability, sustain, and comfort without replacing the wire.
  Haywire Custom Guitars +3

• Purpose: Replaces worn-out or damaged frets with new, high-quality fret wire.
• Process: Removes old frets, treats the fret board, and installs new wire for a “like-new” feel.
• When to Use: When frets are worn too low, have deep ruts, or are too damaged to be leveled.
• Cost: $12 per fret for standard, $15 per fret for bound fret boards.
  Haywire Custom Guitars +4

• Action: Both services aim to allow for lower string action without buzz.
• Approach: Haywire prefers less invasive methods first (leveling) to preserve original fret wire.
• Diagnosis: If strings buzz and have poor sustain due to ruts, a re-fret is usually necessary.
  Haywire Custom Guitars +3. Low guitar action can never be achieved on electric and acoustic without fret leveling and string buzz will always be present.

Haywire Custom Guitars, Guitar Neck Re-fretting and fret leveling.