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That sounds awful man, hard to believe there aren't any good shops 'round your way to be honest? I'd have expected the vintage guitar scene was going well over there considering the success of "vintage guitar" bands like King Gizzard / Murlocs / Glass Beams etc.
All this chat made me go and have a look at the Gretsch Custom Shop page on their website...
Nahguavkire-
I did find a good guy eventually, Matt's Guitar Service, a very unassuming, humble guy but a great luthier and he's pretty cheap too.
I need to take my Tele Deluxe in for a refret, Matt dressed the frets last time when he really should've just called me and said it was time to do it. He'll knock the price of the fret dress off the cost of the refret, he's a gent.
So this Deluxe refret. Keep the lacquer/poly on the fretboard or start again? It's chipping away all over the place. I know it's a bone of contention in some quarters. These 70s necks were total bastards, half poly/half nitro.
RonAsheton
Wow, they sound amazing! In stark contrast to my experience at one of the premier guitar shops in Brisbane who took over 18mths on a refret. The shop owner forgot about my guitar (even tho' it has a very distinguished punk rock provenance!), the luthier/tech was having some emotional issues at the time and couldn't face doing the job, apparently the frets were quite difficult to get out. 🎻
A total farce, I never went back.
I haven't had a lot of luck over here, that other prick snapped the neck on my '59 Junior when it was in for a refin.
BTW I LOVE that Gretsch.