Cheapest way to relevel a neck?

[junior tulip]

I have a Fender JV Modified 50's and it pisses me off with choking frets at the 12th fret. I suspect it's uneven frets, but I have yet to get a fret rocker in order to check that. Does anyone have a list of cheapest tools one could utilize in such a job? Ideally I want to do a refret, but I guess I will strive away from said idea because it requires more money than I currently have. I aim for around 300 USD. I also have an idea of getting clearance necks from GFS (GuitarFetish) in order to practice releveling on those. (maybe buy 2, 30 USD each). Grateful in advance to whoever replies

Forgot to add - I already have things like a feeler gauge, radius gauge and allen keys

[somber pecan]

a refret costs around 300 usd

and i also wouldnt go for "Cheapest tools" unless you want a cheap ass job

at minimum you'd probably spend 200-300 in decent tools for fret dressing

[junior tulip]

Gotcha

[junior tulip]

I'd rather learn it myself in the long run

[latent wadi]

I would say if you are on a budget at least purchase a fret rocker to confirm you have a high fret, also can add relief to the neck in the short term. Tools are another matter.

[junior tulip]

Fret rocker is a good start. The thing with neck relief is that my neck already has a slight concave, so I wouldn't speculate that it's an issue/didn't have problem like that in the past

[dry nymph]

choking at the 12th sounds more like a bad setup to me ... probably adjusting your trussrod/neck relief already can help

[junior tulip]

I'll spend more time on diagnosis in that case