DGT with standard size frets?

[cmcgrath]

Just curious, has anyone here refretted a DGT with standard PRS frets? If so, any issues?

 

[Greywolf]

the tall frets are a main feature of the DGT , mine plays so easy with the 11's , everyone who plays it can't believe that the frets are that tall or the strings that big ... I can't imagine changing . If I want standard , I'd just pickup one of my mcCarty's .

 

[cmcgrath]

Thanks! I've been debating on sending it in to PTC for a refret. I really love the neck shape because of it's similarity to the pattern regular, which as you probably know, they no longer offer on the core models. I'm a pretty light player and do a lot of legato playing (Satriani, Vai, Van Halen etc..) so I found that my hands get pretty tired a lot faster with the tall frets than on my McCarty, but I like the neck profile much better. I thought about getting a Private Stock, but obviously a refret is way cheaper! I bought the DGT used and it came with 10's on it...being the "shredder" type of player I am, I was a bit hesitant to try those out.

 

[DISTORT6]

Thanks! I've been debating on sending it in to PTC for a refret. I really love the neck shape because of it's similarity to the pattern regular, which as you probably know, they no longer offer on the core models. I'm a pretty light player and do a lot of legato playing (Satriani, Vai, Van Halen etc..) so I found that my hands get pretty tired a lot faster with the tall frets than on my McCarty, but I like the neck profile much better. I thought about getting a Private Stock, but obviously a refret is way cheaper! I bought the DGT used and it came with 10's on it...being the "shredder" type of player I am, I was a bit hesitant to try those out.

Absolutely. YOUR guitar should be comfortable and the way YOU want it.

 

[deathworlder]

How worn are your frets?
What about re-level and re-crown?

 

[WEDGE]

The frets are the reason for a DGT for me. Love them jumbos.

 

[doublescale1]

The DGT is a Signature Model that adheres to the spec's David Grissom wants. They would not offer it with anything that was not on his spec list but still had his name on it. They would re-fret one for you I suppose, a quick email to Cust. Serv. will get you an answer. You'll most likely have to find a guitar tech that will either file the factory frets down for you or simply re-fret the instrument.

 

[Bogner]

Make The Guitar Your Own So That It Works For You And Serves Your Wants/Needs.

 

[László]

I have a DGT with the stock frets and I play it with .011s. It’s perfect for me, I can’t deal with the rubbery feel of strings lower than .010s anyway.

BUT

I’m not you.

If you prefer smaller frets, what the heck, put smaller frets on it. It needs to be playable for you, not for someone else, right?

 

[ruger9]

I love the tall frets...(altho stainless steel would make them perfect, despite Grissom explicitly not liking them LOL).

I wish I could get one with a less bulky neck, it's a little fat for me... SS frets and a slightly smaller neck, the DGT would be my #2, instantly. It's got the TONE, but the feel could be better for me.

 

[Black Dog]

My first PRS guitar was a SE standard 24 in tobacco burst. I didn't care for the pickups and the 24 frets on this guitar so I sold it. I still wanted a PRS guitar so I looked into a 22 fret model. I looked into the DGT SE and the specifications said it had a chunky neck and tall frets. I can play a guitar no matter what the neck profile is so I decided to purchase a DGT SE. When it arrived I noticed the chunky neck and tall frets but after playing it for five minutes I got used to the neck. This guitar plays and sounds great. I play it with Ernie Ball Mighty Slinky 8.5. The guitar is a keeper.

 

[cmcgrath]

How worn are your frets?
What about re-level and re-crown?

They're actually not worn out at all. I'm just having a hard time adjusting to the jumbos, so I was thinking of refretting because I really like the neck carve with the narrower fretboard.

 

[cmcgrath]

I have a DGT with the stock frets and I play it with .011s. It’s perfect for me, I can’t deal with the rubbery feel of strings lower than .010s anyway.

BUT

I’m not you.

If you prefer smaller frets, what the heck, put smaller frets on it. It needs to be playable for you, not for someone else, right?

I think so...I'm really bummed that the pattern regular (my favorite) is no longer offered and this neck is actually a little nicer. Plus I like the thicker McCarty body, so maybe modding it a bit will be perfect. I guess I can always refret it again if I want to go back to the jumbos

 

[cmcgrath]

I love the tall frets...(altho stainless steel would make them perfect, despite Grissom explicitly not liking them LOL).

I wish I could get one with a less bulky neck, it's a little fat for me... SS frets and a slightly smaller neck, the DGT would be my #2, instantly. It's got the TONE, but the feel could be better for me.

Thanks. I'm just having a hard time with them. My McCarty is just way easier I find to play the faster legato runs on. The taller frets make it more challenging for sure. Lol...my aging hands tend to get a bit tired much quicker on the dgt's taller frets. Though, bending is fun, I will say that.

 

[cmcgrath]

Maybe I'll wait a bit longer and see if I take to them. The guitar sounds great and looks great. The layout is great too.

 

[László]

I think so...I'm really bummed that the pattern regular (my favorite) is no longer offered and this neck is actually a little nicer. Plus I like the thicker McCarty body, so maybe modding it a bit will be perfect. I guess I can always refret it again if I want to go back to the jumbos

Oddly enough, I played my 30th Anniversary CU24 Private Stock with the Pattern Regular neck today, and yesterday evening the DGT. They’re close enough that I don’t really notice a difference, except that the DGT has become my favorite guitar.

This, despite the fact that my CU24 has .010s, while the DGT has the stock .011s. The taller frets took a minute to get used to, but after the first day all was well.

As you say in a later post, maybe it’s a good idea to hang in there for a while and make the decision later.

 

[cmcgrath]

Oddly enough, I played my 30th Anniversary CU24 Private Stock with the Pattern Regular neck today, and yesterday evening the DGT. They’re close enough that I don’t really notice a difference, except that the DGT has become my favorite guitar.

This, despite the fact that my CU24 has .010s, while the DGT has the stock .011s. The taller frets took a minute to get used to, but after the first day all was well.

As you say in a later post, maybe it’s a good idea to hang in there for a while and make the decision later.

Thanks for the info. I sold my CU24 with the pattern regular a few years ago. Love that neck, but prefer 22 fret guitars and I took it for granted that the pattern regular would always be in the core line up. I'll try the guitar out with 11's on there , see how that feels since a lot of people seem to like them. I thought about a private stock guitar. Basically it wouldn't be too far off from a production model, so probably not worth it. Essentially it would just be a McCarty or a DGT with a pattern regular neck, maybe an ebony fretboard..

 

[László]

Thanks for the info. I sold my CU24 with the pattern regular a few years ago. Love that neck, but prefer 22 fret guitars and I took it for granted that the pattern regular would always be in the core line up. I'll try the guitar out with 11's on there , see how that feels since a lot of people seem to like them. I thought about a private stock guitar. Basically it wouldn't be too far off from a production model, so probably not worth it. Essentially it would just be a McCarty or a DGT with a pattern regular neck, maybe an ebony fretboard..

There’s something to be said for Private Stock guitars even if they aren’t much different in specs than production, but of course that’s a whole ‘nother topic!

I like the .011s because I think they sound a little fuller. I realize this is controversial to some folks, but that’s my experience, and there was a ‘That Pedal Show’ video where they recorded guitars with various string gauges and played them back to back.

The sonic differences were plain as day, at least to me.
I like the added stiffness for rhythm playing, the strings aren’t wobbling all over the place and going out of tune,

But once again, not everyone will share either of these opinions. I’m fine with that!

 

[Greywolf]

While not a popular choice , rather that refret there is an option . I think you should give it some time ..but you can use a radius block and 320 grit to uniformly lower the fret height. You can gradually take them down to a more acceptable height . A bit time consuming , and you would force a refret if you ever wanted to sell it to a DGT fan. https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...sanding/aluminum-radius-sanding-beam-18-long/

 

[cmcgrath]

While not a popular choice , rather that refret there is an option . I think you should give it some time ..but you can use a radius block and 320 grit to uniformly lower the fret height. You can gradually take them down to a more acceptable height . A bit time consuming , and you would force a refret if you ever wanted to sell it to a DGT fan. https://www.stewmac.com/luthier-too...sanding/aluminum-radius-sanding-beam-18-long/

Thank you. I appreciate everyone's advice. i will check that out