Factory frets? Or was this on purpose?

[E-Type]

I’ve had this ‘74 D25 for about two weeks. My only complaint is the bevel on the frets. Someone filed these such that the angle starts directly beneath each E string. So easy to pull the high e down the side of a fret. Was this what it was like in ‘74? Or was this done on purpose later? Any reason you’d want them like this? Any ideas?

 

[cupric]

I would not want them like that. I cannot tell from the picture if its s refret.

 

[beinhard]

Among the many Guilds I have owned I have never seen any like that.

Looks like fingerboard edge has been rounded by filing board and frets.
Some players like the fingerboard rounded, but doing this to the frets only causes problems IMO.

beinhard

 

[walrus]

That would not work for me! It looks like someone did that, not factory...

walrus

 

[Tiki295]

An overzealous fret dressing

 

[swiveltung]

Never seen that stock.

 

[GAD]

That ain’t right.

 

[Uke]

Looks like this would make for a miserable playing experience!

 

[GGJaguar]

That would make me crazy.

 

[E-Type]

Ok, so I can still return it to GC. But I otherwise love it. Damn.

 

[chazmo]

I'd probably return it, but you could get it refretted, E-type... Are all the frets ramped this way or was it just the low frets? I.e., it might not require a complete refret. If it's just one or two frets, it might not be a big job. Gotta' weigh your priorities here.

Anyway, good luck.

 

[E-Type]

I'd probably return it, but you could get it refretted, E-type... Are all the frets ramped this way or was it just the low frets? I.e., it might not require a complete refret. If it's just one or two frets, it might not be a big job. Gotta' weigh your priorities here.

Anyway, good luck.

Good shout! It's really frets 1-12 that are like this, but because the fretboard widens more than the strings, it is mainly an issue for frets 1-5 or 6. I'll check in on that cost (my guy said it was $350 to redo it all).

 

[wileypickett]

It's possible Guitar Center might adjust the price to take a refret into account. If I loved the guitar, as you seem to, I'd certainly give it a shot.

How much they might be willing to shave off the price often depends on how amenable the manager is in a given store, but I've had some success haggling.