How do I know if my guitar needs a refret?

Not every worn or buzzing fret means a refret. A lot of the time, a fret level solves the problem for a fraction of the cost and effort. Knowing the difference matters before you spend money on the wrong repair.

Signs pointing toward "maybe just a level"

Mild to moderate wear, buzzing concentrated in a few specific spots, frets that still have reasonable height and width remaining. A level removes a small, even amount of material across all frets to restore a flat, consistent plane — it works as long as there's enough fret material left to work with after leveling.

Signs pointing toward "you probably need a refret"

• Frets worn down to noticeably flat spots or grooves you can feel with a fingernail
• A level has already been done once or twice before, and there's not much fret height left to sacrifice
• Frets are loose, lifting, or visibly separating from the fretboard
• You want to change fret size or material (like upgrading to stainless steel) rather than just restoring what's there

The rough rule of thumb

Frets can typically handle one, maybe two, levels over their lifetime before there's not enough material left to level again without making them dangerously low and thin. If your guitar has already had a level or two, and it's buzzing again, a refret is very likely the honest answer, not another level.

Why this decision matters

A level is a relatively quick, inexpensive service. A refret is a bigger job — removing old frets, prepping the board, installing and dressing new ones — and costs accordingly more. If you're not sure which category your guitar is in, that's a five-minute visual and measurement check, not a guessing game.