Ibanez Prestige RG655 Can It Be Saved? | Stainless Steel Refret & Electronics Repair (Part 1)

This Ibanez Prestige RG 655 has seen better days. After more than 10 years of heavy playing, this guitar is seriously worn in. The frets are completely shot, the electronics are acting up, and the body tells a story of countless gigs, sessions, and hard use. Scratches, dings, finish chips… this guitar has lived a life. This video is Part 1 of a full restoration and refret series. The exact number of parts isn’t set yet, because this project deserves the time and detail it needs. In this first episode, I focus on fixing the electronics and starting one of the most demanding jobs in guitar repair: a stainless steel refret. What’s covered in Part 1: Fixing a loose output jack Cleaning scratchy pots Servicing the 5-way switch Removing the old, worn frets Leveling and preparing the fretboard Installing new stainless steel frets using a fret press Trimming, beveling, and shaping the fret ends Stainless steel frets are extremely hard and challenging to work with, but they offer incredible durability and feel when done right. By the end of this video, all frets are installed and the fret ends are fully shaped, but the final fret leveling and polishing will happen in Part 2. Later parts will also cover fret leveling, setup work, and likely finish touch-ups to address the cosmetic wear. If you’re into guitar repair, luthiery, refrets, or just love seeing a hard-used instrument brought back to life, this series is for you. Subscribe so you don’t miss the next part.